Crabapples (Malus spp.) get a bad rap! Many gardeners associated them with the old diseased and pest prone varieties planted a half-century ago. Modern cultivars make nice small ornamental trees. The new cultivars exhibit exceptional resistance to five serious diseases of crabapples: apple scab, fire blight, cedar-apple rust, leaf spot and powdery mildew. Three of […]
Archive for the ‘compact tree’ Category
Three Beautiful Ornamental Crabapples
Posted by Hugh on April 4th, 2014
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Bee Favorite, compact tree, Crabapple, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Ornamental fruit, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Weeping habit, winter hardiness 
Comments Off on Three Beautiful Ornamental CrabapplesYoshino Flowering Cherry Is Southern Favorite
Posted by Hugh on March 21st, 2014
In The Southeast U.S. most ornamental flowering cherry trees (Prunus spp.) are challenged by summer heat and humidity. ‘Yoshino Cherry’ (Prunus x yedoensis) continues to be the top performer in the group (USDA hardiness zones 5-8). In 1912, the Japanese government gifted the United States 3000 Yoshino flowering cherries. In the years that followed, Yoshino […]
Posted in acidic soil, compact tree, Flowering, Fragrant, mulching, Pruning, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Winter bark, winter hardiness, Yoshino cherry (Prunus) Comments Off on Yoshino Flowering Cherry Is Southern FavoriteEarly Spring Flowering Okame Cherry
Posted by Hugh on March 3rd, 2014
‘Okame’ Cherry is a hybrid between Taiwan Cherry (Prunus campanulata) and Fuji Cherry (P. incisa) (USDA hardiness zones 6-8). Okame is the first ornamental cherry to bloom in the Southern Appalachian Region (USDA hardiness zones 6 and 7). In the midst of a mild winter, Okame often starts blooming a few days after Valentine’s Day […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Bee Favorite, compact tree, Disease resistant, Heat Tolerance, Okame cherry (Prunus), Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Street tree, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Winter bark, Winter flowering, winter hardiness Comments Off on Early Spring Flowering Okame Cherry‘Summer Cascade’ Is A Very Different Weeping River Birch
Posted by Hugh on December 22nd, 2013
Summer Cascade is a new weeping river birch (Betula nigra Summer Cascade™ (PPAF). Its pendulous branching habit represents a unique change for river birch. Its strong weeping nature creates a divine focal point planted next to a pond, deck, or patio. Left unstaked, Summer Cascade’s strong pendulous habit naturally grows into a shrub mound or […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aggressive grower, compact tree, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Heat Tolerance, Native Plant, Planting tips, Pruning, river birch, Southern Appalachian Region, Staking, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Winter bark, winter hardiness Comments Off on ‘Summer Cascade’ Is A Very Different Weeping River BirchTop Conifers Picks By Southeast Reference Gardens
Posted by Hugh on November 28th, 2013
In 2011 poll conducted at the SE Region meeting in Athens, GA, the top favorite conifer picks from SE Reference Gardens. Georgia Lockerly Arboretum, Milledgeville Cryptomeria japonica ‘Elegans Nana’ Juniperus virginiana var. silicicola ‘Brodie’ Platycladus orientalis ‘Aurea Nana’ Thuja occidentalis ‘Rheingold’ Smith Gilbert Garden, Kennesaw Cedrus deodara ‘Gold Cone’ Chamaecyparis obtusa ‘Verdon’ Platycladus orientalis ‘Morgan’ […]
Posted in Arborvitae (Thuja spp.), Chamaecyparis, compact tree, Cryptomeria (Japanese cedar), Disease resistant, Disease resistant, DWARF CONIFERS, Evergreen, Evergreens, Heat Tolerance, Hemlock (Tsuga), Juniper, Pine (Pinus spp.), Platycladus orientalis 'Morgan', Privacy Screen, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Thujopsis, Trees & Shrubs, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on Top Conifers Picks By Southeast Reference GardensBetter Red Fall Leaf Color On American Hornbeam
Posted by Hugh on October 21st, 2013
American hornbeam (Carpinus caroliniana), aka ironwood or muscle wood, grows primarily in moist, slightly acidic soils along woodland rivers and streams (USDA hardiness zones 3-9). This native hornbeam adapts to either wet or dry ground as long as soil moisture drains adequately. It copes with tough urban conditions including on non-irrigated parking lots and on […]
Posted in acidic soil, American hornbeam, Attracting birds, compact tree, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Native Plant, Privacy Screen, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Wildlife attractant, Winter bark, winter hardiness Comments Off on Better Red Fall Leaf Color On American HornbeamPaperbark Maple Offers 4- Seasons Landscape Interest
Posted by Hugh on October 4th, 2013
In the winter some gardeners get excited about tree bark, particularly if you own a paperbark maple (Acer griseum). This small 25-30 foot tall tree has an upright spreading branching habit. The cinnamon-colored bark flakes off naturally in thin strips or chips. Horticulturists call this “exfoliating”. The sturdy branches are not prone to breakage […]
Posted in Acer griseum, acidic soil, compact tree, Disease resistant, Maples (Acer), mulching, Paperbark maple, Planting tips, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Trees & Shrubs, Winter bark, winter hardiness Comments Off on Paperbark Maple Offers 4- Seasons Landscape InterestWhy Some Crapemyrtles Do Not Flower
Posted by Hugh on September 23rd, 2013
There are several probable reasons why your crape myrtle did not flower this summer. The two leading reasons are lack of adequate daily sunlight and planting depth. Crape myrtles should be planted in full sun. They don’t flower well in locations receiving less than 6 hours of direct sunlight each day. If the leaves are […]
Posted in compact shrub, compact tree, Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia), Failure to Bloom, Fertilizing plants, plant nutrition, Planting tips, root injury, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Trees & Shrubs, Winter bark Comments Off on Why Some Crapemyrtles Do Not Flower“Red Sells”: Red Flowering Crape Myrtles
Posted by Hugh on July 1st, 2013
In the Southern U.S. crape myrtles (Lagerstroemia spp.) provide summer long flowering. In the garden center business there is a popular saying: “red flowers sell”. Among crape myrtles red flowering cultivars generally outsell all others. Probably the most popular red variety is Dynamite®, a Carl Whitcomb introduction. Dr. Whitcomb followed with other red introductions of different […]
Posted in acidify soil, alkaline soil, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, compact shrub, compact tree, container shrub, Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia), Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Heat Tolerance, Landscape ideas, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Winter bark Comments Off on “Red Sells”: Red Flowering Crape MyrtlesSnow Fountains® Weeping Cherry Fits Small Gardens
Posted by Hugh on April 30th, 2013
Snow Fountains® (Prunus x ‘Snofozam’) is a slow-growing, weeping ornamental cherry that grows compact. It develops into a 8 to 15 feet tall and 5 to 12 feet wide tree. This cultivar is also listed as ‘White Fountains’ in some nursery catalogs. The cascading branches flow downward or may take on a green mound form. […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, compact tree, Disease prone, Hummingbird, Insect (Pest) Problems, Ornamental cherry (Prunus), Planting tips, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Weeping habit, winter hardiness Comments Off on Snow Fountains® Weeping Cherry Fits Small Gardens
