In general, the garden soil pH fluctuates only slightly unless you accidentally spilled fertilizer or limestone. Soil pH is also affected by rainfall patterns, decomposing organic matter, and bacterial activity in the ground. In the eastern U.S. rain water is slightly acidic. Acid rain is the result of these pollutants (mostly sulfate and nitrate) from […]
Archive for the ‘Trees & Shrubs’ Category
Changing Garden Soil pH
Posted by Hugh on February 6th, 2020
Posted in acidic soil, acidify soil, alkaline soil, applying sulfur, Azalea (deciduous), Azaleas (evergreen), Birch (Betula spp.), Chlorosis (yellowing), Container garden, Ferns, Fertilizing, Hellebores, Hydrangeas, Landscape Construction, Landscape ideas, Mountain laurel (Kalmia), mulching, Perennials, pin oak, Planting tips, Purchasing Plants, Rhododendrons, river birch, Soil pH, Soil Testing, Trees & Shrubs, Uncategorized 
Comments Off on Changing Garden Soil pHCare Of Rhododendrons
Posted by Hugh on January 31st, 2020
In the U.S., two species of rhododendrons, Catawa (Rhododendron catawbiensis) and Rosebay (R. maximum), are plentiful in the Appalachian Mountain region. Their roots feed in part on the rich humus material in the rocky mountain soils. Over time fallen leaves, twigs, and flower parts decay into additional humus. Humus improves soil aeration and drainage, yet […]
Posted in acidic soil, Azalea (deciduous), Bees and other pollinators, Beneficial insects, Butterflies, Cold tolerance, compost, Container garden, container shrub, Deer resistant, Drought tolerant, Environmental Conservation, Evergreen, Evergreens, Fertilizing plants, Landscape ideas, Mountain laurel (Kalmia), mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Planting tips, Privacy Screen, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (layering), Propagation (Seed), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Rhododendrons, Shade Gardening, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter injury Comments Off on Care Of RhododendronsFebruary Blooming Hybrid Witchhazels
Posted by Hugh on January 26th, 2020
Witchhazels (Hamamelis spp.) are somewhat coarse, loosely-branched, medium to large, deciduous shrubs that typically grow 12-20 feet tall. (USDA hardiness zones 5-8). They are particularly noted for their strapped shape, often fragrant, mid- to late winter flowers which appear before the spring leaves emerge. Five cultivars were selected by Mr. Tim Brotzman, an Ohio nurseryman […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Bees and other pollinators, Caterpillars, Deciduous, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Flower Arranging, Flower arrangments, Flowers, Fragrant, Landscape ideas, mulching, Planting tips, Pollination needs, Privacy Screen, Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Shade Gardening, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Winter flowering, winter hardiness, Witchhazel (Hamamelis) Comments Off on February Blooming Hybrid WitchhazelsTen Stars Of The Winter Landscape
Posted by Hugh on January 21st, 2020
Here are 10 reliable plants that shine in my Tennessee garden (Zone 6-b) during the winter season: Witchhazels (Hamamelis spp.) –two species bloom in winter: (a). Vernal witchhazel (H. vernalis) blooms in mid- to late- January (zones 4-8). (b). Chinese witchhazel hybrids (H. x intermedia) dominate the month of February into March. – deciduous, large […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bees and other pollinators, compact shrub, Container garden, Container growing, container shrub, Cornelian cherry (Cornus mas), Cornus officinalis, Daphne odora, Disease resistant, Edgeworthia, Fertilizing plants, Flowering, Fragrant, Hellebores, Honeysuckle (Lonicera), Jessamine (Gelsemium), mulching, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (Seed), Shade Gardening, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Viburnum x bodnantense, Viburnums, Winter blooming, Winter flowering, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness, Wintersweet (Chimonanthus), Witchhazel (Hamamelis) Comments Off on Ten Stars Of The Winter LandscapePlant Disease Warning: Phytophthora ramorum
Posted by Hugh on January 16th, 2020
Known as “sudden oak death”, this serious plant disease (Phytophthora ramorum) (Pr) from the West Coast kills oak and other species of trees. It has caused devastating effects on the oak populations in California, Oregon, and Washington, and is also present in Europe. Symptoms include bleeding cankers on the tree’s trunk and dieback of foliage. […]
Posted in Camellia, Canker disease, Disease prone, Garden ecology, Garden Problems, Honeysuckle (Lonicera), Invasive species, Landscape ideas, Lilac (Syringa), Magnolia, Maples (Acer), Mountain laurel (Kalmia), Native Plant, Oaks (Quercus spp.), Phytophthora ramorum, Pieris japonica, Planting tips, Purchasing Plants, Rhododendrons, Sanitation, Southern Appalachian Region, Trees & Shrubs, Viburnums, Witchhazel (Hamamelis) Comments Off on Plant Disease Warning: Phytophthora ramorumZone 6 Hardy Camellias
Posted by Hugh on January 11th, 2020
In the Southern U.S., camellias are treasured for their showy flowers in the fall-winter landscape. Their glossy evergreen foliage looks great all year long. Hardy varieties are now available for zone 6 northern gardens (-10 to 0 °F). This means that gardeners in Tennessee, Kentucky, Virginia and most coastal cities in Eastern U.S. can grow […]
Posted in acidic soil, Autumn flowering, Bees and other pollinators, Camellia, compost, Container garden, container shrub, Evergreen, Fertilizing plants, Flowering, Flowering shrub, Heat Tolerance, Landscape ideas, mulching, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Soil pH, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on Zone 6 Hardy Camellias12 Woody Trees And Shrubs Perfect For Containers
Posted by Hugh on January 6th, 2020
Japanese maples, hydrangeas, hollies, boxwoods, camellias, and dwarf conifers are popular favorites to grow in pots. Often, they’re part of mixed plantings coordinated with colorful annual and perennial flowers. If and when these outdoor trees and shrubs outgrow their pots, you have one of three options available: 1.) move plants into a bigger pot, 2.) […]
Posted in acidic soil, Boxwood (Buxus), Cephalotaxus (Plumleaf yew), Chamaecyparis, Cold tolerance, compact shrub, compact tree, Container garden, Container growing, container shrub, Dawn redwood (Metasequoia), Deciduous conifer, Deodara cedars (Cedrus), Dioecious, Disease resistant, DWARF CONIFERS, Evergreen, Evergreens, Heat Tolerance, Hydrangea, Hydrangea arborescens, Inkberry Holly (Ilex), Invasive plant, Invasive species, Japanese maple, Japanese yew, Landscape ideas, Large shrub, Nandina, Native Plant, Native Plant, Planting tips, Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Repotting plants, Small landscape tree, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Uncategorized, watering tips, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness, winter injury, Winter Protection Comments Off on 12 Woody Trees And Shrubs Perfect For ContainersArizona Cypress Standouts
Posted by Hugh on December 26th, 2019
Arizona cypress (Cupressus arizonica var. glabra) is a needle evergreen conifer native to the Southeast U.S. and is noted for its rapid growth rate. It is also grown as a Christmas tree and is rarely troubled by disease and insect problems. Depending on what part of the U.S. that you garden in, damage from bark […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Container garden, Cupressus (cypress), Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Evergreen, Fertilizing plants, Landscape ideas, Medium sized Tree, Native Plant, Native Plant, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Uncategorized, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Arizona Cypress StandoutsDowntown Street Trees With A Narrow Vertical Form
Posted by Hugh on December 6th, 2019
On the subject of land, Mark Twain wrote: “they’re not making any more of it”. This is particularly true in downtown urban areas where land to grow trees is usually very limited. Here are five tall trees that possess a striking vertical accent. Their upright branch habit does not take up much horizontal space. Trees […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bees and other pollinators, Breeding Plants, compact tree, Deciduous, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Environmental issues, Fertilizing plants, Ginkgo biloba, Hornbeam (Carpinus), Landscape Construction, Landscape ideas, Large Shade trees, Medium sized Tree, mulching, mulching trees, Native Plant, Oaks (Quercus spp.), Planting tips, Privacy Screen, Propagation(grafting), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Shade tree, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Sweetgum (Liquidambar), Tulip tree (Liriodendron), watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Downtown Street Trees With A Narrow Vertical FormSpace-Saving Vertical Shrubs
Posted by Hugh on December 1st, 2019
Try these slim and sleek varieties in a small space such as on patios or the front porch, in courtyards, or as a single specimens in narrow gardens or containers. Set them at the back of beds for space-saving walls and backdrops. Pot them up for container magic on the porch. All six plants grow […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Autumn flowering, Balled and Burlapped (b&b), Barberry (Berberis), Bees and other pollinators, Boxwood (Buxus), Camellia, compact shrub, Container garden, container shrub, Deciduous, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Evergreen, Evergreens, Fall Garden Interest, Flowering, Ilex (hollies), Juniper, Landscape ideas, mulching, Planting tips, Podocarous, Privacy Screen, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Space-Saving Vertical Shrubs
