Photo credit: Dr. Tom Ranney, NCSU Research Horticulturist Flowering quince (Chaenomeles spp) is an early spring flowering shrub, treasured for its brightly colored blooms (USDA hardiness zones 5-9). Old fashioned quince shrubs produced small amounts of fruits which were gathered and prepared into yummy jelly in the autumn kitchen. These often large 10-12 foot tall shrubs produced small sharp […]
Archive for the ‘Trees & Shrubs’ Category
Double Take™ Flowering Quinces
Posted by Hugh on April 8th, 2011
Posted in Bee Favorite, compact shrub, Fertilizing plants, Flowering, Flowering quince (Chaenomeles), Propagation (Cuttings), Soil drainage, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, winter hardiness 
Comments Off on Double Take™ Flowering QuincesNo Excuse for Tree Topping
Posted by Hugh on April 1st, 2011
Why do people top trees? Often, it is because “their neighbor(s) did it”. When asked whether they believe their neighbor to be a wise person, the typical response is “NO”. The Negatives About Tree Topping: 1. A topped tree reduces property values in a community. Topping adds a blight look to a neighborhood or over […]
When To Prune Spring Flowering Shrubs
Posted by Hugh on March 25th, 2011
Seven reasons why you prune: eliminate dead, diseased, insect riddled branches control plant height and spread shaping such as topiary, espaliered or pollardized trees increase or decrease the numbers of flowers and fruits rejuvenate an old shrub or tree remove low branches over walkways remove water sprouts and root suckers Flowering shrubs bloom from late February thru […]
Posted in Disease resistant, Failure to Bloom, Garden Maintenance, Pruning, shrub roses, Southern Appalachian Region, Trees & Shrubs Comments Off on When To Prune Spring Flowering ShrubsBetter Choices for Golden Moon Maple
Posted by Hugh on March 15th, 2011
Photo credit: Mr. Brian Upchurch, Highland Creek Nursery, Fletcher, NC A few months back I asked Mr. Brian Upchurch, owner of Highland Creek Nursery*, his opinion of Golden Fullmoon Japanese maple (Acer shirasawanum ‘Aureum’) in our Southern Appalachian region (USDA zones 6 and 7). He responded: “I have grown it in the past and it […]
Posted in Fullmoon maple, Japanese maple, Maples (Acer), Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant Comments Off on Better Choices for Golden Moon MaplePrune Some Hydrangeas Now
Posted by Hugh on March 3rd, 2011
PeeGee or panicled hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata) and our native Smooth hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens) are pruned now in late winter thru early spring. Why? – because these hydrangeas bloom on new or current season’s wood. Over the years these two hydrangea species grow to enormous sizes. When they overwhelm their garden space, severely cut them back to within 6 -12 inches from […]
Posted in Flowers, Garden Maintenance, Hydrangea, Hydrangeas, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Trees & Shrubs Comments Off on Prune Some Hydrangeas NowWinter Jasmine Rising
Posted by Hugh on March 1st, 2011
Is the worst of winter behind us? Winter jasmine (Jasminum nudiflorum) is often confused with forsythia shrubs which bloom 3-4 weeks later in the spring. This hardy winter blooming vine from China frequently blooms in late February and March when daytime temperatures climb into the mid-50s for a week or more. Evening chilling temps down into the […]
‘Kintoki’ Japanese Cornel Is Perfect Fit for Small Urban Gardens
Posted by Hugh on February 27th, 2011
‘Kintoki’ summer foliage It’s a dogwood and comes close to being a plant that offers four seasons of landsape beauty. Kintoki Japanese cornel (Cornus officinalis ‘Kintoki’) is a special semi-dwarf 10-12 foot tall dogwood which fits into most small gardens. Kintoki’s bright yellow flowers open in early March in the Southern Appalachian region (USDA zones 6 and 7). […]
Posted in compact tree, Flowering, Japanese cornel, Southern Appalachian Region, Trees & Shrubs, winter flowering tree Comments Off on ‘Kintoki’ Japanese Cornel Is Perfect Fit for Small Urban Gardens‘Sunsphere’ Japanese Cornel
Posted by Hugh on February 24th, 2011
Japanese cornel (Cornus officinalis) is a tall shrub or small tree dogwood which matures to 20-25 feet in height and 15 feet in width. ‘Sunsphere’ Japanese cornel was discovered by Mike Stansberry, owner of Beaver Creek Nursery in Knoxville, TN. Japanese cornel is the official start of spring in my garden, even though the calendar reads late […]
Posted in Disease resistant, Flowering, Southern Appalachian Region, Trees & Shrubs 
Tags: 'World's Fair cornelian cherry Comments Off on ‘Sunsphere’ Japanese CornelEdgeworthia Deserves A Try
Posted by Hugh on February 21st, 2011
Edgeworthia flowering in March garden First, I must thank South Carolina nurseryman, Mr. Ted Stephens, who gifted me a Chinese paperbush (Edgeworthia chrysantha) nearly 6 years ago. Most plant authorities rate its winter hardiness to USDA zones 7 and 8. It struggled through its first winter and spring in my zone 6-b garden, but has never disappointed. […]
Posted in compact shrub, Disease resistant, Edgeworthia, Flowering, Southern Appalachian Region, Trees & Shrubs, Winter Protection Tags: Edgeworthia Comments Off on Edgeworthia Deserves A TryOpening Show in February- The Witchhazels
Posted by Hugh on February 15th, 2011
First, not to confuse you, our North American native witchhazel (Hamamelis virginiana) blooms in the fall. Our native vernal witchhazel (H. vernalis) has been flowering for the past few weeks. In February, the showiest witchhazels are opening now – species from China, Korea and Japan. Two of the very best are a Chinese species/cultivar called […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bees and other pollinators, Chinese witchhazel, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, Flowering, Garden Maintenance, Landscape ideas, mulching, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Southern Appalachian Region, Trees & Shrubs, Wildlife attractant, Winter flowering, winter hardiness Tags: Alberta spruce, Chinese witchhazel Comments Off on Opening Show in February- The Witchhazels
