Japanese barberry (Berberis thunbergii) is a very popular landscape shrub. Japanese barberry is indigenous to Eastern Europe and Asia and is commonly planted in USDA hardiness zones 4-8. There is justified concern over the invasive nature of Japanese barberry. A number of states have declared most barberry species (Berberis spp.) to be invasive and have […]
Archive for the ‘Trees & Shrubs’ Category
Efforts To Solve Japanese Barberry Invasive Problem
Posted by Hugh on March 11th, 2012
Posted in acidic soil, Barberry (Berberis), Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Heat Tolerance, Invasive plant, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Trees & Shrubs 
Comments Off on Efforts To Solve Japanese Barberry Invasive ProblemOutdoor Greenery for Interior Winter Decoration
Posted by Hugh on March 5th, 2012
If you are a new property or home owner, perhaps you’re planning some landscaping this year. Likely, you have several objectives in mind. You might include a few evergreen and deciduous shrubs and trees which, in later years, can be cut for holiday wreaths, garlands, swags and indoor ornamentation. Here is a short list to […]
Posted in Boxwood (Buxus), Contorted filbert (Corylus), Foster Holly (Ilex), Hydrangeas, Ilex (hollies), Magnolia grandiflora, Pussy willow (Salix), Southern Appalachian Region Comments Off on Outdoor Greenery for Interior Winter DecorationThe Right Rhododendron for the Right Location
Posted by Hugh on March 2nd, 2012
Rhododendrons (Rhododendron catawbiense) were born in the cool of the North Carolina and Tennessee mountains. Hundreds of lovely hybrids have been bred by dedicated plantsmen. Winter hardiness is rarely an issue, but rhododendrons are challenged by summer heat and disease problems in the Southern Appalachian region (USDA hardiness zones 6 and 7). Your most important decision is […]
Posted in acidic soil, acidify soil, compost, Disease prone, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, Flowers, plant nutrition, Rhododendrons, root injury, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter hardiness, winter injury Comments Off on The Right Rhododendron for the Right LocationRedbuds With Very Few Messy Seed Pods
Posted by Hugh on February 27th, 2012
A few years back my church pastor complained about the ugly load of seed pods covering the redbud branches (Cercis canadensis) on the property in the fall. My suggestion to avoid messy seed pods is to plant seedless redbud cultivars. A number of native redbud (C. canadensis) cultivars produce few to no seed pods. Let’s start with the cultivars ‘Ace of Hearts’ and sister seedling ‘Little […]
Posted in acidic soil, Disease resistant, Heat Tolerance, Native Plant, Redbud, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, winter hardiness Comments Off on Redbuds With Very Few Messy Seed PodsParrotia: A Great Medium-sized Landscape Tree
Posted by Hugh on February 16th, 2012
Parrotia (Parrotia persica), aka “Persian ironwood”, is native to Iran, Turkey, and the Caucasus region. Parrotia forms a lovely carefree medium sized lawn or street tree. Tree framework is vase-shaped, initially narrow at the base and flaring out in the canopy as it ages. Mature tree height varies 25-40 feet, depending on location and the seedling or cultivar planted. Rated hardy in USDA […]
Posted in acidic soil, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Heat Tolerance, Medium sized Tree, Parrotia (Persian ironwood), Southern Appalachian Region, Trees & Shrubs, winter flowering tree Comments Off on Parrotia: A Great Medium-sized Landscape Tree‘Quasimodo’ Vernal Witchhazel
Posted by Hugh on February 7th, 2012
Vernal witchhazel (H. vernalis) is a dense growing 8-12 foot native shrub which blooms in mid-winter in the Southern Appalachian region (USDA zones 6 and 7). It is winter hardy to zone 4. Small ½ inch wide yellow to red flowers, flushed red at the base, emit a pleasant witchhazel aroma in February. Often, it is the […]
Posted in acidic soil, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Heat Tolerance, Native Plant, Southern Appalachian Region, Uncategorized, Winter flowering, Witchhazel (Hamamelis) Comments Off on ‘Quasimodo’ Vernal WitchhazelTree and Berry Fruit Pollination Chart
Posted by Hugh on February 3rd, 2012
A frequent question of newbie fruit gardeners is what will pollinate what. Do I need many varieties or can all be the same variety? The four common terms are used: Self-pollinated: transfer of pollen occurs within the same variety. Cross-pollinated: transfer of pollen occurs between two varieties. Self-unfruitful: low fruit set unless the blossoms […]
Posted in apple orchard, Apple tree, Bee Favorite, Blueberries, Elderberry (Sambucus), Flowering, Fruits & Vegetables, Grapes, Peach, Pear (Pyrus spp.), Plum, Pollination needs, Raspberries, Spring flowering, Strawberries, Uncategorized Comments Off on Tree and Berry Fruit Pollination ChartFormerly A Tree… Now A Hat Rack
Posted by Hugh on February 1st, 2012
Tree topping continues! The concern about a large tree falling on the house, garage, autos or pedestrians sends out calls to cut the tree back. If the tree in photo does recover (grow), the new branches will be mostly weak suckers. After 2-3 years, the sucker growth will be susceptible to high winds and snow/ice storms […]
Leyland Cypress Too Big For Many Sites
Posted by Hugh on January 30th, 2012
Leyland cypress (x Cupressocyparis leylandii) grows into a 50 foot tall evergreen behemoth. What happens when the plants (in photo) get too close to the small deck(s)? Access to the deck from the stairs will become impossible as the evergreens swallow up the entire back yard. Looking out from the deck and windows from the home won’t be likely […]
Posted in Aggressive grower, Arborvitae (Thuja spp.), Disease prone, Evergreen, Green Privacy Screen, Insect (Pest) Problems, Landscape ideas, Planting tips, Southern Appalachian Region Comments Off on Leyland Cypress Too Big For Many SitesDawn Redwood Lives On From Its Prehistoric Past
Posted by Hugh on January 26th, 2012
Dawn redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides) was thought to be extinct for the past 20 million years. Since 1948 gardeners have witnessed its re-introduction back into the North American landscape from Sichuan-Hubei Provinces in China where the tree was re-discovered. Dawn redwood prefers a well-drained, compost-rich, acidic soil. This deciduous conifer tolerates standing water for a brief 2-3 day span, not as long as bald cypress […]
Posted in acidic soil, Dawn redwood (Metasequoia), Disease resistant, Heat Tolerance, Southern Appalachian Region, Winter bark Comments Off on Dawn Redwood Lives On From Its Prehistoric Past
