Architecturally, yucca (Yucca filamentosa), aka Adam’s needle or Spanish bayonet, makes a strong landscape statement. Yucca is often difficult to fit with with other shrubs, except perhaps other xerophytic plants. Yucca is frequently used in an arid-looking or in a courtyard setting in gravel mulch. Yucca prospers in full sun and a well-drained soil. This […]
Archive for the ‘Trees & Shrubs’ Category
‘Color Guard’ Yucca Hold Gold Variegation
Posted by Hugh on June 19th, 2012
Posted in Drought tolerant, Evergreens, Native Plant, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, winter hardiness, Yucca 
Comments Off on ‘Color Guard’ Yucca Hold Gold Variegation‘Lady Francis’ Ivy Wakes Up A Shady Patch
Posted by Hugh on June 6th, 2012
On a recently trip to the Ohio State University Horticultural Gardens in Columbus, I discovered ‘Lady Frances’, a relatively tame miniature ivy. The American Ivy Society classifies Hedera helix ‘Lady Frances’ as non-invasive, and it received the first “Ivy of the Year” award in 2001. It grows slowly and works as a ground cover or topiary […]
Posted in Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Ground cover, Interior (house) Plants, Ivy (Hedera), Planting tips, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Uncategorized, Vine, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on ‘Lady Francis’ Ivy Wakes Up A Shady PatchJapanese Beetle Traps – Useful Monitoring Tool
Posted by Hugh on June 4th, 2012
A decade ago garden centers sold thousands of Japanese beetle traps until somebody questioned why anyone would want to lure this summer pest into their garden. Yes, the traps do work and may catch hundreds per week. You also attract hundreds more to feed on your plants’ flowers and leaves and, later in the year, the larvae will feed in […]
Posted in Crabapple, Insect (Pest) Problems, Japanese beetles, Lawn Care, Roses, Southern Appalachian Region, Uncategorized Comments Off on Japanese Beetle Traps – Useful Monitoring ToolDwarf Southern Magnolia Cultivars
Posted by Hugh on June 1st, 2012
Small 5-6 Year Old ‘Little Gem’ Magnolia Southern magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora) is remarkably hardy in USDA zone 6. This evergreen magnolia prefers a moist well-drained, slightly acidic soil, and planted in a partial to full sun location. It is a long-lived large 70-80 feet tall tree, best suited to large commercial and residential properties, golf […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Butterflies, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Evergreen, Heat Tolerance, Magnolia grandiflora, Medium sized Tree, Native Plant, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant Comments Off on Dwarf Southern Magnolia CultivarsFavorite Mountain Laurel Cultivars
Posted by Hugh on May 17th, 2012
Shopping for mountain laurels is like sampling sweets at a candy shoppe or ice cream parlour. There are so many great choices. Most plants grow 4-5 feet tall and wide. Most have plant foliage which is lustrous, dark green and leaf spot resistant. All cultivars need minimal pruning and fertilizing once a year. In great […]
Posted in acidic soil, Evergreen, Fertilizing plants, Mountain laurel (Kalmia), Native Plant, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Trees & Shrubs Comments Off on Favorite Mountain Laurel CultivarsGrowing Mountain Laurels in Your Landscape
Posted by Hugh on May 14th, 2012
Mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia) is a U.S. native evergreen broadleaf shrub (USDA hardiness zone 5). Mature sizes range from 5 feet (dwarf cultivars) to 12 feet in height and with equal spread. Over the past 30 years, mountain laurels have so improved, thanks to breeding efforts of Dr. Richard Jaynes*. He has released several dozen […]
Posted in acidic soil, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Evergreens, Mountain laurel (Kalmia), Native Plant, plant nutrition, Planting tips, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, winter hardiness Comments Off on Growing Mountain Laurels in Your LandscapeEvaluating Weeping Bald Cypress Cultivars
Posted by Hugh on May 9th, 2012
Bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) is a large 75 -80 foot deciduous conifer tree. They are long-lived, often 100 years or more. Bald cypress is incredibly hardy from the warm humid Florida swamps to the cold winter temperatures and loamy soils of central Michigan. Bald cypress is tolerant of a wide range of soil and moisture […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bald cypress (Taxodium), compact shrub, compact tree, container shrub, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, DWARF CONIFERS, Heat Tolerance, Native Plant, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Staking, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering evergreens, winter hardiness Comments Off on Evaluating Weeping Bald Cypress CultivarsFirethorns Make Good Utility Shrubs
Posted by Hugh on May 6th, 2012
Firethorn (Pyracantha spp.) is an old- fashion shrub that is making a comeback. Its white flowers makes a lovely presence in spring, followed by dark green leaves in summer, and bright orange or red fruits (berry clusters) in fall and winter. Firethorn tolerates close clipping and is often utilized as a short 6-8 foot tall privacy screen. White clusters […]
Posted in Aggressive grower, Evergreen, Firethorn (Pyracantha), Ornamental fruit, Planting tips, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Staking, Trees & Shrubs, Uncategorized, Winter Garden Interest Comments Off on Firethorns Make Good Utility ShrubsPinxterbloom Azalea
Posted by Hugh on May 1st, 2012
Pinxterbloom (Rhododendron periclymenoides), formerly R. nudiflorum, is a hardy deciduous azalea native to a large geographic area of the eastern United States. Pinxterbloom naturally grows nearby streams in a light woodland setting, but appears to tolerate dry rocky sites equally well after 2 years established. Shrub heights vary from 4-8 feet. Pinxterbloom spreads by underground stolons and shrubs may become […]
Posted in acidic soil, Azalea (deciduous), compost, Heat Tolerance, Hummingbird, Native Plant, Pinxterbloom azalea, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant Comments Off on Pinxterbloom AzaleaSapsucker Feeding May Blacken Maple Trunks
Posted by Hugh on April 29th, 2012
You see or hear a sapsucker tapping in a yard tree and pay little attention to it. The bird perforates the tree or shrub trunk and main branches with numerous shallow holes, similar to a riveter working with sheet metal. A sapsucker feeds on the cambium sap and on insects under the bark. The holes are deep […]
Posted in Dogwood (Cornus), Elms (Ulmus), Maples (Acer), river birch, Sapsucker, Southern Appalachian Region, Yellowwood Comments Off on Sapsucker Feeding May Blacken Maple Trunks
