If a section of your landscape is poorly drained, there are a number of trees and shrubs that will adapt over time to short periods of wet or soggy soils. Plant roots must survive in low oxygen soils. Your choices of plants are not lengthy; few landscape plants will not tolerate root suffocation for even […]
Archive for the ‘Trees & Shrubs’ Category
Trees And Shrubs That Grow In Poorly Drained Soils
Posted by Hugh on November 17th, 2014
Posted in Arborvitae (Thuja spp.), Bald cypress (Taxodium), Beautyberry (Callicarpa spp.), Black gum (Nyssa), Dogwood shrubs (Cornus), Drought tolerant, Elms (Ulmus), Green ash (Fraxinus), Hackberry (Celtis), Hemlock (Tsuga), Large Shade trees, Magnolia virginiana, Native Plant, Ninebark, Pawpaw (Asimina), Planting tips, river birch, root injury, Silver maple (Acer saccharinum), Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summersweet (Clethra), Sweetgum (Liquidambar), Transplant problem, Trees & Shrubs, Willow oak (Quercus), Willows (Salix), Witchhazel (Hamamelis) 
Comments Off on Trees And Shrubs That Grow In Poorly Drained SoilsBetter Choices Than Leyland Cypress For Privacy Screen
Posted by Hugh on November 12th, 2014
For homeowners in a rush to establish a tall green privacy screen from the neighbor(s), perhaps a 12-foot tall green fence may be your better option. Among the choices of evergreens to plant, Leyland cypress (x Cupressocyperus leylandii) is fastest growing, but is plagued by any of three serious disease problems. An established leyland cypress planted 12 feet apart completely […]
Posted in Bagworms, Cryptomeria (Japanese cedar), Disease prone, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Evergreen, Evergreens, Leyland cypress, Pesticide recommendations, Planting tips, Privacy Screen, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering iris, winter hardiness Comments Off on Better Choices Than Leyland Cypress For Privacy Screen‘Gyokuryu’ Japanese Cedar -Privacy Screen For Small Gardens
Posted by Hugh on November 9th, 2014
Gyokuryu Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica ‘Gyokuryu’) is a dense, broadly pyramidal evergreen shrub (USDA hardiness zones 5-8). It has short stiff needles that tend to be a slightly darker green than other cryptomeria cultivars. Gyokuryu holds its dark green color through most winters in zone 7 and further south. Expect winter bronzing when Gyokuryu is […]
Posted in acidic soil, Cryptomeria (Japanese cedar), Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Evergreen, Evergreens, Fertilizing plants, Heat Tolerance, Privacy Screen, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on ‘Gyokuryu’ Japanese Cedar -Privacy Screen For Small GardensCarolina Buckthorn Attractive Native Shrub/Tree
Posted by Hugh on November 6th, 2014
Many native plant enthusiasts consider the Carolina Buckthorn, aka Indian cherry (Rhamnus caroliniana), one of our most underutilized native shrubs or small trees. It suffers with a bad common name as it has no thorns or spines. This open, slender branched shrub grows 12 to 15 feet high and 10 to 15 feet wide. (USDA hardiness zones 5-9). Bright green leaves remain on […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Attracting birds, Carolina buckthorn (Rhamnus), Deer resistant, Disease prone, Disease resistant, Green Privacy Screen, Native Plant, Ornamental fruit, Planting tips, Propagation (Seed), Pruning, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Wildlife attractant, winter hardiness Comments Off on Carolina Buckthorn Attractive Native Shrub/TreeBee Bee Tree (Tetradium) Rarely Seen In U.S. Landscapes
Posted by Hugh on November 3rd, 2014
Native to Korea and southwestern China, bee bee tree (Tetradium daniellii) is a deciduous tree with a spreading umbrella-shaped habit and rounded canopy (USDA hardiness zones 4-8). It was formerly named Evodia daniellii. Bee bee tree typically grows to 25-30 feet tall and wide. In July-August small […]
Posted in acidic soil, Autumn Fruiting, Bee Bee Tree (Tetradium), Bee Favorite, Butterflies, Disease resistant, Fragrant, Ornamental fruit, Planting tips, Propagation (Seed), Purchasing Plants, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Winter bark, winter hardiness Comments Off on Bee Bee Tree (Tetradium) Rarely Seen In U.S. LandscapesAre Your Trees Hazardous?
Posted by Hugh on October 28th, 2014
Is a hazardous tree lurking in your yard, ready to fall on your house or car? Take a few minutes to inspect trees on your property. Peek over the fence at your neighbor’s trees as well. Some property owners have an unnatural fear of trees. Well-shaped landscape trees with […]
Posted in Certified Arborist, Garden Maintenance, Maples (Acer), Paulownia (Empress tree), Pear (Ornamental), Poplar (Populus spp.), Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Trees & Shrubs, Willows (Salix) Comments Off on Are Your Trees Hazardous?Rebuilding A Storm Damaged Young Tree
Posted by Hugh on October 25th, 2014
An enormous 60 foot white pine toppled over several smaller trees. The aftermath was a severely damaged 3- year old sweetbay magnolia (Magnolia virginiana). Replacing the 3 1/2 inch diameter tree would have cost the homeowner over $300. My recommendation to the homeowner was to cut back the magnolia trunk to approximately 12 inches from the ground in […]
Posted in Evergreen, Fertilizing plants, Landscape ideas, Large Shade trees, Magnolia virginiana, Medium sized Tree, Native Plant, Planting tips, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Staking, Summer flowering, Trees & Shrubs Comments Off on Rebuilding A Storm Damaged Young TreeEvergreens For Wet Soggy Soils
Posted by Hugh on October 19th, 2014
Most needle evergreens falter in moist soggy soils. These sites usually have a heavy clay or fine particle sand content. Some arborvitaes (Thuja spp.) and Atlantic white cedar (Chamaecyparis thyoides) tolerate temporary wet soggy conditions better than most evergreens (USDA hardiness zones 3-8). An assortment of shapes, sizes and colors are available. All are U.S. […]
Posted in acidic soil, Arborvitae (Thuja spp.), Chamaecyparis, container shrub, DWARF CONIFERS, Evergreens, Native Plant, Planting tips, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Trees & Shrubs, watering evergreens, winter hardiness Comments Off on Evergreens For Wet Soggy SoilsBird’s Nest Spruce
Posted by Hugh on October 16th, 2014
Bird’s nest spruce (Picea abies ‘Nidiformis’) is a dwarf cultivar of Norway spruce and is native to northern Europe (USDA hardiness zones 3-7). This slow growing compact shrub will attain 4 feet in height and 5 to 6 feet spread over 15 – 20 years. The shrub grows in a round form with a distinctive […]
Posted in acidic soil, compact shrub, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, DWARF CONIFERS, Evergreen, Evergreens, mulching, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Spruces (Picea spp.), Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering evergreens, watering tips, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on Bird’s Nest SpruceGrowth Rates Of Four Privacy Screen Evergreens
Posted by Hugh on October 13th, 2014
In a hurry to create a little privacy from neighbors, then add a tall evergreen privacy screen to your planting chores. Four most popular conifers are rated by annual growth rate. If you recall the children tale of “The Tortoise And The Hare”, fast does not mean best. Leyland cypress (x Cupressocyparis leylandii) (zones 6-9) has the fastest growth rate at 40-50 feet […]
Posted in Arborvitae (Thuja spp.), Bagworms, Cryptomeria (Japanese cedar), Drought tolerant, Leyland cypress, Planting tips, Privacy Screen, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Growth Rates Of Four Privacy Screen Evergreens
