For small garden spaces patio peach (Prunus persica) is a gem. This miniature tree bears long narrow lush green (or reddish) foliage. Site selection is crucial to ward off potential disease and insect problems. Patio peach is a genetic dwarf and may be grown in a large container on your deck or patio. Tree height averages 6-8 feet tall […]
Archive for the ‘Trees & Shrubs’ Category
Patio Peach Blooms In Early Spring
Posted by Hugh on March 12th, 2016
Posted in acidic soil, Aphids, Bacterial diseases, Bee Favorite, Disease prone, Fertilizing plants, Flowering peach (Prunus), Fragrant, Insect (Pest) Problems, Mites, Peach, Pesticide recommendations, Planting tips, Propagation(grafting), Pruning, Rabbit/deer Protection, Scale, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter hardiness 
Comments Off on Patio Peach Blooms In Early SpringAutumn Fern Changes With The Seasons
Posted by Hugh on March 1st, 2016
Ferns are fine textured lacey-leaf groundcovers. Many kinds of ferns add a tropical accent to the shade garden. Autumn fern (Dryopteris erythrosora), aka Japanese wood fern, has evergreen or semi-evergreen arching foliage, depending how cold it gets in winter (USDA hardiness zones 5 to 8). Its common name is misleading. Best frond colors are in spring; the fronds unfurl […]
Posted in acidic soil, Autumn fern (Dryopteris), Autumn foliage color, Disease resistant, Ferns, Ground cover, mulching, Native Plant, plant nutrition, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Propagation (Seed), Pruning, Soil drainage, Soil pH, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Autumn Fern Changes With The SeasonsBroadleaved Sedges- Colorful Alternatives To Liriope
Posted by Hugh on February 26th, 2016
The broadleaved sedges (Carex siderosticha) make terrific alternatives to monkey grass (Liriope muscari) (USDA hardiness zones 6-9). This species of sedges is a clump growing perennial and is starting to become more used as a ground cover. Clumps spread very slowly via rhizomes. Foliage goes dormant in late November (zone 6) and is semi-evergreen in zones 8-9. New leaves emerge in mid-spring. […]
Posted in acidic soil, Carex (Sedges), compost, Container growing, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, Ground cover, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Broadleaved Sedges- Colorful Alternatives To LiriopeAttracting Monarchs To Your Garden
Posted by Hugh on February 21st, 2016
From Canada to Mexico, gardeners are being recruited to halt the decline of the Monarch butterfly populations across North America. One way you can help is to fill your garden with Monarch’s favorite flowering nectar plants and milkweeds (Asclepias spp.). Plants should be sited in open full sun and […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aster, Attracting Butterflies, Black eyed Susan (Rudbeckia), Blazing star (Liatris), Buddleia (Butterfly bush), Butterflies, Butterfly weed (Asclepias), Caterpillars, Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea), Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Eupatorium 'Gateway', Eupatorium rugosum 'Chocolate', Heat Tolerance, Ironweed (Vernonia), Lantana, Marigold, Mexican sunflower (Tithonia), Native Plant, Pentas (Egyptian star flower), Perennials, Pesticide recommendations, Planting tips, Salvia, Sedum (Groundcover types), Southern Appalachian Region, Star zinnia, Stonecrop sedums, Summer flowering, watering tips, winter hardiness, Zinnia Comments Off on Attracting Monarchs To Your GardenLittle Girl Hybrid Magnolias
Posted by Hugh on February 18th, 2016
Star (Magnolia stellata) and tulip (M. soulangeana) magnolias are early flowering magnolias. Early spring frosts destroy open flowers. In the mid-1980’s the U.S. National Arboretum released 8 shrub-type cultivars as a series called the “Little Girl Magnolias”. They are hybrid crosses between M. liliiflora and M. stellata. Four cultivars- […]
Posted in acidic soil, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Magnolia liliiflora, Magnolia stellata, mulching, Planting tips, Propagation (layering), Pruning, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Trees & Shrubs, winter hardiness Comments Off on Little Girl Hybrid MagnoliasChanging Bigleaf Hydrangea Flower Color
Posted by Hugh on February 14th, 2016
Bigleaf hydrangeas (Hydrangea macrophylla), aka “hortensia” hydrangeas, bear pink flowers in low acidic and alkaline soil and blue flowers in mildly acidic soil. Some tips about regulating soil pH and flower color in bigleaf hydrangeas follows. First, a short review about soil pH. Soil pH measures soil […]
Posted in acidic soil, acidify soil, alkaline soil, Bigleaf hydrangea (H. macrophylla), Container growing, container shrub, Fertilizing plants, Hydrangeas, mulching, plant nutrition, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips Comments Off on Changing Bigleaf Hydrangea Flower ColorDistyliums As Cherry Laurel Or Holly Substitute
Posted by Hugh on February 11th, 2016
Hybrid distyliums (Distylium myricoides × racemosum) are compact evergreen shrubs for full sun to partial shade USDA hardiness zones 7 to 9. They are heat and drought tolerant, and are not fussy, growing in average soil with subpar drainage. Distyliums are members of the witchhazel family (Hamamelidaceae). Their tiny reddish-maroon flowers appear in late January through March, but offer little ornamental value in the […]
Posted in acidic soil, Boxwood (Buxus), Cherry Laurel (Prunus), compact shrub, Container growing, container shrub, Disease resistant, Distylium, Drought tolerant, Evergreen, Evergreens, Fertilizing plants, Ground cover, Heat Tolerance, Ilex (hollies), Juniper, mulching, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering evergreens, Winter flowering, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on Distyliums As Cherry Laurel Or Holly SubstituteList Of Dioecious Trees And Shrubs
Posted by Hugh on January 29th, 2016
Some tree species are dioecious, that is produce single sex flowers (either male and female). Male flowers produce pollen and no fruits. Female flowers bear seeds or fruits. You may purchase male clones to avoid picking up messy seed pods or capsules in the fall. If you are allergic to certain tree pollens, avoid […]
Posted in Autumn Fruiting, Bayberry (Myrica), Cork Tree (Phellodendron), Failure to Bloom, Fringetree (Chionanthus), Ginkgo biloba, Green ash (Fraxinus), Honeylocust (Gleditsia), Ilex (hollies), Juniper, Katsura tree (Cercidophyllum), Kentucky coffeetree, Maples (Acer), Native Plant, Persimmon (Diospyros), Poplar (Populus spp.), Propagation(grafting), Smoketree (Cotinus), Southern Appalachian Region, Spicebush (Lindera benzoin), Spring flowering, Trees & Shrubs, Willows (Salix) Comments Off on List Of Dioecious Trees And ShrubsConsumer Gardening Trends For 2016*
Posted by Hugh on January 26th, 2016
The Garden Media Group (GMG) has released its annual Garden Trends Report for 2016. The report, titled “Syncing With Nature,” identifies eight consumer trends that the group predicts will shake up the garden and outdoor living industry this coming year. The report finds “gardening” has transformed into a connected lifestyle in 2016, with a rising […]
Posted in Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Blackberries, Blueberries, Butterflies, Disease resistant, Elderberry (Sambucus), Environmental issues, Grapes, Landscape ideas, Native Plant, Ornamental vegetables, Peach, Pear (Pyrus spp.), Planting tips, Raspberries, Southern Appalachian Region, Strawberries, Tomato, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Winter Garden Interest Comments Off on Consumer Gardening Trends For 2016*Soil pH- What’s It All About
Posted by Hugh on January 18th, 2016
Soil pH is an indicator of the relative abundance of hydrogen (H⁺) ions and hydroxyl (OHˉ) ions in garden soils (Table 1). These ions play a very important part of soil fertility and a plant’s ability to absorb nutrients from the soil. The pH scale runs from 1 (highest acidity) to 14 […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Blueberries, Fertilizing plants, Garden Maintenance, plant nutrition, Rhododendrons, Soil drainage, Soil pH, Southern Appalachian Region Comments Off on Soil pH- What’s It All About
