Look Up before you plant. From city streets to country roadside are a myriad of power (utility) lines, e.g. electric, telephone, and cable TV wires. Utility companies have a “right of away” clearance to operate their lines. In most municipalities, mature trees growing into their lines can be cut down or all offending branches removed. Large trees often end […]
Archive for the ‘Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia)’ Category
Planting Small Trees Under Power Lines
Posted by Hugh on April 20th, 2019
Posted in acidic soil, American hornbeam, Amur maple (A. ginnala), Appalachian dogwood series, Attracting birds, Bald cypress (Taxodium), Bees and other pollinators, Chinese (kousa) dogwood, compact tree, Container growing, Cornelian cherry (Cornus mas), Crabapple, Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia), Disease resistant, Dogwood (Cornus), Drought tolerant, Flowering, Fringetree (Chionanthus), Heat Tolerance, Hornbeam (Carpinus), Landscape ideas, Large shrub, Lilac (Syringa), Maackia, Magnolia, Magnolia liliiflora, Maples (Acer), mulching, Native Plant, Ornamental cherry (Prunus), Ornamental plum (Prunus), Parrotia (P. persica0, Planting tips, Propagation(grafting), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Red buckeye (Aesculus), Redbud, Seven son flower (Heptacodium), Silverbell (Halesia), Small landscape tree, Smoketree (Cotinus), Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Street tree, Summer heat tolerant, Sweetheart tree (Euscaphis), Three Flower Maple (A. triflorum), Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness, Witchhazel (Hamamelis), Zelkova 
Comments Off on Planting Small Trees Under Power LinesSelecting A Good Landscape Shade Tree
Posted by Hugh on January 15th, 2019
Medium to large shade trees increase the value of your property. Their summer shade and wintry wind protection may also reduce utility bills by 20 to 25%. Trees attract wild birds for nesting, protection, and as a food source. Some deciduous species will brighten up the landscape with dazzling fall color. Choosing a fast growing tree, yet some may not […]
Posted in Attracting birds, Bees and other pollinators, Birch (Betula spp.), Black gum (Nyssa), Butterflies, Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia), Dioecious, Disease resistant, Elms (Ulmus), Ginkgo biloba, Golden Raintree, Green ash (Fraxinus), Hackberry (Celtis), Honeylocust (Gleditsia), Hornbeam (Carpinus), Japanese Pagoda Tree (Styphnolobium), Kentucky coffeetree, Landscape Construction, Landscape ideas, Large Shade trees, Linden (Tilia), Maples (Acer), Medium sized Tree, Native Plant, Oaks (Quercus spp.), pin oak, Purchasing Plants, Shade tree, Silver Linden (Tilia), Silver maple (Acer saccharinum), Street tree, Sweetgum (Liquidambar), Sycamore (Platanus), Trees & Shrubs, Tulip tree (Liriodendron), willow oak, Willow oak (Quercus), Yellowwood, Zelkova Comments Off on Selecting A Good Landscape Shade TreeDieback Shrubs
Posted by Hugh on November 5th, 2018
Dieback shrubs are a group of hardy landscape shrubs that emerge and grow vigorously from mid-spring through early summer. They bloom reliably from late summer into early fall. Plants are near the edge of their hardiness range, and often die back to the ground in the winter. They act more like herbaceous perennials. The above-ground shoots are not […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Attracting Butterflies, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Beneficial insects, Blue mist (Caryopteris), Buddleia (Butterfly bush), Butterflies, compact shrub, Container growing, container shrub, Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia), Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Flower arrangments, Landscape ideas, mulching, Planting tips, Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Soil pH, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Vitex (Chaste tree), watering tips, Wind protection, winter hardiness Comments Off on Dieback ShrubsFall – Winter Pruning Dos and Don’ts
Posted by Hugh on October 30th, 2018
Pruning is a chore that you don’t need to put off until spring. Many trees and shrubs may be pruned this autumn. However, NOT all landscape trees and shrubs are pruned. Here are some pruning guidelines to follow: WAIT to prune spring flowering deciduous shrubs such as Forsythia, Lilac, Bridal Wreath & Vanhoutte Spireas, Quince, Viburnums, Fothergilla, […]
Posted in Bigleaf hydrangea (H. macrophylla), Blue mist (Caryopteris), Buddleia (Butterfly bush), Chinese (kousa) dogwood, compact shrub, Crabapple, Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia), Daphne odora, Dogwood (Cornus), Dogwood shrubs (Cornus), Flowering, Flowering quince (Chaenomeles), Forsythia, Fothergilla, Garden Maintenance, Hibiscus syriacus, Hybrid teas, Hydrangea arborescens, Hydrangeas, Landscape ideas, Large Shade trees, Large shrub, Mahonia, Maples (Acer), Mountain laurel (Kalmia), multi-flora rose, Panicle hydrangea, Pieris japonica, Pruning, pruning climbing roses, Purchasing Plants, Re-Bloomers, Rhododendrons, river birch, Roses, Shade tree, Small landscape tree, Spirea (Spiraea), Spring flowering, Street tree, Summer flowering, Summersweet (Clethra), Vitex (Chaste tree), Weigela, Winter flowering, Yellowwood Comments Off on Fall – Winter Pruning Dos and Don’tsSimple Care of Crape Myrtles
Posted by Hugh on April 13th, 2018
Crape Myrtle Hardiness: Know how hardy the cultivar is. USDA hardiness zones 6 to 9). Site Location: Crape myrtles love sunlight. Flower numbers decline in light to medium shade. Plant in average soil that is well-drained. Select the right cultivar that fits the allotted planting space. Mulch plant and water as needed the first growing season. […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Aphids, Attracting Butterflies, Bees and other pollinators, Butterflies, Cercopora leaf spot, compact shrub, compact tree, Container garden, Container growing, container shrub, Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia), Crape myrtle aphid, Crape myrtle bark scale, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, Heat Tolerance, Insect (Pest) Problems, Landscape ideas, mulching, mulching trees, Pesticide recommendations, Planting tips, Powdery mildew, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil pH, Southern Appalachian Region, Street tree, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Simple Care of Crape MyrtlesLandscape Ideas Using Crape Myrtles
Posted by Hugh on April 10th, 2018
If you live in zone 7 and points southward, you are likely growing crape myrtles (Lagerstroemia indica x fauriei). Additional hybrid cultivars (varieties) are hardy in zone 6. Crape myrtles are loved for their spectacular summer flowers, colorful fall foliage, and exquisite peeling bark over trunks and branches. Cultivars range in size from dwarf selections […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Attracting Butterflies, Bees and other pollinators, Breeding Plants, Butterflies, compact shrub, Container garden, Container growing, container shrub, Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia), Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Heat Tolerance, Landscape ideas, Medium sized Tree, mulching, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Soil pH, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, winter hardiness Comments Off on Landscape Ideas Using Crape MyrtlesWoody Trees and Shrubs That Bees Like Most and Least*
Posted by Hugh on March 20th, 2018
Recently, I saw this listing of woody trees and shrubs that are good pollinators. I grow a number of these great plants in my garden and will vouch for the accuracy of this list. The source is HRI Research and data was collected in the Ohio Valley region of the U.S. (includes Tennessee, Kentucky, southern Indiana and […]
Posted in Autumnalis flowering cherry, Bee Bee Tree (Tetradium), Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Bigleaf hydrangea (H. macrophylla), Black gum (Nyssa), Bumble bees, Buttonbush (Cephalanthus), Cherry Laurel (Prunus), Cornelian cherry (Cornus mas), Crabapple, Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia), Deciduous Azaleas, Deutzia, Firethorn (Pyracantha), Flowers, Fothergilla, Golden Raintree, Honeysuckle (Lonicera), Hornbeam (Carpinus), Hydrangea, Hydrangeas, Ilex (hollies), Lilac (Syringa), Linden (Tilia), Native Plant, Ninebark, Ornamental cherry (Prunus), Panicle hydrangea, Pollination needs, Pyracantha (firethorn), Redbud, Roses, Seven son flower (Heptacodium), Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summersweet (Clethra), Trees & Shrubs, Uncategorized, Viburnums, Vitex (Chaste tree), winter hardiness, Yellowwood Comments Off on Woody Trees and Shrubs That Bees Like Most and Least*Select A Good Street Or Landscape Tree
Posted by Hugh on February 20th, 2018
First of all, there is no perfect tree, either for a street or landscape planting. However, many excellent cultivars are now available at local nurseries and retail garden centers. Select one that matches your site requirements. Site factors include: amount of sunlight daily, soil type, soil pH (acidity or alkalinity), and soil drainage. What kind of […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Bees and other pollinators, Chinese (kousa) dogwood, compact tree, compost, Crabapple, Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia), Disease resistant, Dogwood (Cornus), Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Flowering, Fullmoon maple, Ginkgo biloba, Invasive plant, Invasive species, Japanese maple, Landscape ideas, Large Shade trees, Maples (Acer), Medium sized Tree, mulching, Native Plant, Oaks (Quercus spp.), Pear (Ornamental), pin oak, Planting tips, Poplar (Populus spp.), Propagation(grafting), Purchasing Plants, Red oak (Quercus), Redbud, river birch, Small landscape tree, Soil drainage, Soil pH, Soil Testing, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Staking, Street tree, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Sweetgum (Liquidambar), Sycamore (Platanus), Trees & Shrubs, Uncategorized, watering tips, willow oak, Willows (Salix), Wind protection, winter hardiness Comments Off on Select A Good Street Or Landscape TreeCommon Street and Landscape Trees
Posted by Hugh on January 10th, 2018
Across the U.S. and Canada, city planners, landscape architects, and property owners now enjoy a wide selection of landscape trees to plant on city streets, along roadsides, and in yards and gardens. Over the past half century new and improved varieties (cultivars) are disease and pest resistant and exhibit better branching and architecture. We now know to avoid […]
Posted in American hornbeam, Arborvitae (Thuja spp.), Bald cypress (Taxodium), Birch (Betula spp.), Black gum (Nyssa), Black locust (Robinia), Bradford Pear, Bur oak (Q. macrocarpa), Catalpa, compact tree, Container growing, Crabapple, Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia), Disease prone, Ginkgo biloba, Golden Raintree, Green ash (Fraxinus), Hackberry (Celtis), Honeylocust (Gleditsia), Hophornbeam (Ostrya), Hornbeam (Carpinus), Horse chestnut (Aesculus), Insect (Pest) Problems, Japanese Pagoda Tree (Styphnolobium), Kentucky coffeetree, Kwanzan cherry, Lacebark elm, Landscape Construction, Landscape ideas, Large Shade trees, Magnolia grandiflora, Maples (Acer), Medium sized Tree, Messy Fruits, Mountain ash (Sorbus), Native Plant, Okame cherry (Prunus), Ornamental cherry (Prunus), Pear (Ornamental), pin oak, Planting tips, Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Red oak (Quercus), Redbud, river birch, Serviceberry (Amelanchier), Shade tree, Small landscape tree, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Street tree, Sweetgum (Liquidambar), Sycamore (Platanus), Trees & Shrubs, Tulip tree (Liriodendron), Vitex (Chaste tree), Walnut, Weak branching, Weak wooded, White oak (Quercus), Willow oak (Quercus), winter injury, Yellowwood, Yoshino cherry (Prunus), Zelkova Comments Off on Common Street and Landscape TreesSizing Up Crape Myrtles (Including Most Recent Introductions)
Posted by Hugh on September 24th, 2017
Hybrid crape myrtles (Lagerstroemia fauriei x indica) have undergone significant makeovers over the past quarter century. Several new cultivar series continue to arrive garden centers, including: Black Diamond™ series, Enduring Summer™, Delta™ series, and Magic™ series. In landscape terms size is very important and gardeners often make a serious error when not calculating the size of […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, compact shrub, compact tree, Container growing, container shrub, Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia), Disease resistant, Flowering, Heat Tolerance, Landscape ideas, mulching, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Sizing Up Crape Myrtles (Including Most Recent Introductions)
