*Blog is guest authored by Joy Stewart, University of Tennessee Master Gardener. She lives in Bristol, TN. For such a small creature, weighing in at only half a gram, the Monarch butterfly has almost more remarkable facts and puzzling mysteries attached to it than one can count. No other butterfly in the world migrates like […]
Archive for the ‘Trees & Shrubs’ Category
Monarch Tagging Program*
Posted by Hugh on October 9th, 2016
Posted in Attracting Butterflies, Bees and other pollinators, Butterflies, Butterfly weed (Asclepias), Flowers, Goldenrod (Solidago), Helenium, Landscape ideas, Native Plant, Native wildflowers, Perennials, Phlox, Pollination needs, Russian sage (Perovskia), Sage (Salvia), Sedum (Groundcover types), Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer phlox (P. paniculata), Texas Sage (Salvia), Trees & Shrubs, Wildflower, Wildflowers, Wildlife attractant 
Comments Off on Monarch Tagging Program*Grow Something Different With Redvein Maple
Posted by Hugh on October 7th, 2016
In the world of maples the snakebark trait is unique. Redvein maple (Acer rufinerve) from Japan belongs in this maple category (USDA hardiness zones 5-7). It is a small to medium deciduous tree or large shrub with an upright branching framework. A young tree starts off slowly and may grow only to 12-15 feet in 10 to 12 years. The species […]
Posted in acidic soil, compact tree, Disease resistant, mulching, Planting tips, Pruning, Redvein maple (A. rufinerve), Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Winter bark, winter hardiness Comments Off on Grow Something Different With Redvein MapleMapleleaf Viburnum For Woodland Areas
Posted by Hugh on September 27th, 2016
The genus Viburnum is a rich source of over 150 species of great flowering shrubs worldwide. Many viburnums are native to North America including mapleleaf viburnum (Viburnum acerifolium). This totally underutilized deciduous viburnum is a great choice to plant in shrub borders, foundation, or hedging, as well as to naturalize in an open woodland area (zone 3-8). Shrub grows 4 – […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, compact shrub, compact tree, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Mapleleaf viburnum, mulching, Native Plant, Planting tips, Pruning, Rabbit/deer Protection, Soil drainage, Soil pH, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Uncategorized, Viburnums, winter hardiness Comments Off on Mapleleaf Viburnum For Woodland AreasFive Landscape Plants On The Gardeners’ Taboo List
Posted by Hugh on September 24th, 2016
To many people, maintaining a garden or landscape means a lot of hard work. Sometimes the weeds outgrow what you have planted. Some landscape plants promise a lot of beauty but deliver nothing but problems. Some trees are weak wooded, prone to pests or diseases, and outgrow their space. Some produce smelly odorous flowers. I urge […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aggressive grower, Bees and other pollinators, Bradford Pear, container shrub, Disease prone, Drought tolerant, Environmental issues, Fragrant, Honeysuckle (Lonicera), Invasive plant, Leyland cypress, Messy Fruits, Photinia, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (Seed), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Russian olive (Eleaegnus), Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Wildlife attractant, winter hardiness Comments Off on Five Landscape Plants On The Gardeners’ Taboo ListStarting Oak Trees From Acorns
Posted by Hugh on September 21st, 2016
Acorns begin ripening and falling from oak trees (Quercus spp.) anytime from late August until mid-November. Ripening dates vary from one year to the next. Harvest the healthy plump acorns, either off the tree or from the ground. Remove and dispose of the cap. If you have collected several […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bur oak (Q. macrocarpa), compost, Container growing, Drought tolerant, Native Plant, Oaks (Quercus spp.), Propagation (Seed), Purchasing Plants, Red oak (Quercus), Soil drainage, Soil pH, Southern Appalachian Region, Trees & Shrubs, White oak (Quercus), Willow oak (Quercus), winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on Starting Oak Trees From AcornsUniquely Different Chinese Flame Tree
Posted by Hugh on September 18th, 2016
Chinese flame tree, aka bougainvillea goldenrain tree (K. bipinnata), is another tree option in U.S. southern landscapes (USDA hardiness zones 7-10). It is closely related to the more widely planted goldenrain tree (Koelruteria paniculata). This fast growing tree develops into a nice 20-40 feet tall medium-size tree with an irregular canopy. Chinese flame tree is highly drought tolerant (after one year established). […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bees and other pollinators, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Environmental issues, Flame tree (Koelreuteria), Flower Arranging, Fragrant, Golden Raintree, Invasive species, Medium sized Tree, Messy Fruits, Ornamental fruit, Propagation (Seed), Purchasing Plants, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on Uniquely Different Chinese Flame TreeSome Zone 7 Camellias Survive In Zone 6 As Well
Posted by Hugh on September 10th, 2016
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 […]
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 Program
