A short list of early blooming Sasanqua camellias possess the ability to do grow well in zone 6 areas. In my opinion, the zone 7 cultivar ‘Shishigashira’ steps to the head of the class. It is a November bloomer that has proven to be exceptionally cold hardy dwarf variety. The good folks at Cam Too, a camellia […]
Archive for the ‘Trees & Shrubs’ Category
Some Zone 7 Camellias Survive In Zone 6 As Well
Posted by Hugh on September 10th, 2016
Posted in acidic soil, Autumn flowering, Bee Favorite, Camellia, compact shrub, compost, container shrub, Fertilizing plants, Fragrant, Heat Tolerance, mulching, Planting tips, Powdery mildew, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Soil pH, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Winter flowering, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness, winter injury, Winter Protection 
Comments Off on Some Zone 7 Camellias Survive In Zone 6 As WellLeaf Retention In Landscape Trees
Posted by Hugh on September 2nd, 2016
Most deciduous landscape trees drop their leaves sometime in autumn. The physiology of autumn leaf drop is primarily stimulated by changes in photoperiod or shorter daylength. Autumn colors develop and the leaf petioles form an abscission layer. Black gum (Nyssa sylvatica), for example, start to color up in early September. Winter leaf retention by […]
Posted in American Beech (F. grandifolia), American hornbeam, Autumn foliage color, Beech (Fagus spp.), Bur oak (Q. macrocarpa), Deer resistant, European beech (F. sylvatica), Hophornbeam (Ostrya), Hornbeam (Carpinus), Leaf retention, Marcescence, Oaks (Quercus spp.), pin oak, plant nutrition, Soil pH, Trees & Shrubs, Willow oak (Quercus), Wind protection, Winter bark, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness, Winter Protection, Witchhazel (Hamamelis) Comments Off on Leaf Retention In Landscape TreesPest Alert: Viburnum Leaf Beetle May Be Invading
Posted by Hugh on August 30th, 2016
Viburnum Leaf Beetle is gradually coming to the Southeastern U.S. It was first found in upstate New York in 1996. This pest has been on the move, eating its way through native viburnums from upstate New York to northern Pennsylvania to western Maryland. It feeds only on viburnum species. Preferred species include native arrowwood viburnum (V. dentatum), […]
Posted in Bee Favorite, Garden ecology, Native Plant, Pesticide recommendations, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Trees & Shrubs, Viburnum beetles, Viburnums Comments Off on Pest Alert: Viburnum Leaf Beetle May Be Invading“Plant It Pink” Planting Program
Posted by Hugh on August 23rd, 2016
To build awareness and show support for those affected by breast cancer, over 40 volunteers filled public gardens and surrounding areas with pink plants in downtown Haslett, a suburb of Lansing, MI. The Invincibelle® Spirit II hydrangeas are a beautiful reminder that we are not alone in our hopes and prayers for a cure. […]
Posted in acidic soil, compact shrub, Container growing, container shrub, Disease resistant, Flower Arranging, Hydrangeas, mulching, Native Plant, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (layering), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil pH, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering hydrangeas, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on “Plant It Pink” Planting ProgramFlowering Cabbage and Kale For Autumn Gardens
Posted by Hugh on August 18th, 2016
Creating both edible and ornamentally pleasing vegetables has been a goal of plant breeders. Flowering cabbage and kale (Brassica oleracea) are a new landscaping niche in the autumn garden. Plants develop huge leafy rosettes and eventually form heads. Color patterns on leaves include white, cream, red and purple shades. The […]
Posted in acidic soil, Autumn flowering, Butterflies, Cabbage, Cold tolerance, Container growing, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, Flowers, Foliage plant, Heat Tolerance, kale, Landscape ideas, organic gardening, Pesticide recommendations, Planting tips, Propagation (Seed), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, watering tips, Winter flowering, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on Flowering Cabbage and Kale For Autumn GardensJapanese Asters (Kalimeris) Are Summer-blooming Gems
Posted by Hugh on August 12th, 2016
Double Japanese asters (Kalimeris pinnatifida) are not true asters. They bloom in summer unlike the more popular fall blooming asters (Symphyotrichum spp.). Essentially, the genus Kalimeris (from Asia) and Boltonia (U.S. native) are closely related and used interchangeably. ‘Pinnatifida’ is without question the best known cultivar. In August the plant is smothered with 1-inch diameter semi-double white daisy flowers […]
Posted in acidic soil, Autumn flowering, Bee Favorite, Container growing, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Kalimeris (Japanese aster), mulching, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Pruning, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Japanese Asters (Kalimeris) Are Summer-blooming GemsNew PG Hydrangeas Excel In Performance
Posted by Hugh on August 10th, 2016
Panicle, PeeGee or PG hydrangeas (Hydrangea panculata) brighten up the July and August garden landscape. They’re native to China and Japan. They grow and bloom almost anywhere in the U.S. (USDA hardiness zones 3 – 8). Unlike mophead hydrangeas (H. macrophylla), that often fail in full day sun, PGs excel in 6 hours or more of sun. PG hydrangeas are vigorous growers with upright branching and coarse textured […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, compact shrub, Container garden, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Heat Tolerance, Hydrangeas, mulching, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (layering), Pruning, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, winter hardiness Comments Off on New PG Hydrangeas Excel In PerformanceChanticleer Garden – A Garden For Ideas
Posted by Hugh on July 30th, 2016
Chanticleer Garden is an estate and botanical gardens, that bills itself as a “pleasure garden”. Chanticleer is “a garden for ideas”. The property is located at 786 Church Road in Wayne Pennsylvania, approximately 30 minutes of Philadelphia. Chanticleer celebrated its 100 year centennial in 2013 as the […]
Posted in Attracting birds, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, Container growing, Ferns, Foliage plant, Garden paths, Gardens to Visit, Landscape ideas, Large Shade trees, Native Plant, Ornamental Grasses, Planting tips, Shade Gardening, Southern Appalachian Region, Trees & Shrubs, Tropical Plants (non-hardy), Uncategorized, Wildflowers, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on Chanticleer Garden – A Garden For IdeasOriental Spruce Stands Up to Southern U.S. Heat and Humidity
Posted by Hugh on July 7th, 2016
Oriental spruce (Picea orientalis) stands as a tall spire in the urban landscape. A mature tree may reach 50 to 60 feet tall and makes a narrow stature or footprint of 15 to 25 feet in spread. Lateral branches uniquely bend downward while the growing tips sweep gracefully upward. Annual growth rate is slow at 12-15 inches. Two-thirds of the short dark green needles lay flat. Needles are lustrous on the […]
Posted in Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Evergreen, Green Privacy Screen, Heat Tolerance, Oriental spruce (Picea), Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs Comments Off on Oriental Spruce Stands Up to Southern U.S. Heat and HumidityDreaded Japanese Beetles Are Back
Posted by Hugh on July 4th, 2016
In many areas of the Eastern U.S. Japanese beetles (JB) devastate the foliage, fruits and flowers of more than 300 plant species, particularly those in the rose family (Rosaceae). Adult beetles are approximately 3/8 inches in length with a dark metallic green head and metallic dark tan wings. In the soil JB grubs appear “C” […]
Posted in Hibiscus moscheutos, Insect (Pest) Problems, Japanese beetle, Japanese beetles, Lawn Care, Linden (Tilia), Pesticide Recommendations, Pesticide recommendations, Rose insects, Roses, shrub roses, Southern Appalachian Region, Strawberries, Uncategorized Comments Off on Dreaded Japanese Beetles Are Back
