For those of you tired of the monotony of Bradford pears, go shopping for ornamental crabapples (Malus spp.). Most crabapple cultivars mature into long-lived small flowering trees less than 20 feet in height at maturity. Most fit under utility lines. Worldwide, there are over 400 cultivars of crabapples in nursery commerce. Most are susceptibility to […]
Archive for the ‘Trees & Shrubs’ Category
Crabapple Shopping List
Posted by Hugh on February 10th, 2011
Posted in Attracting birds, Bees and other pollinators, Crabapple, Disease resistant, Landscape ideas, Ornamental fruit, Propagation(grafting), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Sanitation, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Trees & Shrubs, Winter bark, Winter Garden Interest 
Comments Off on Crabapple Shopping ListTwo Sensational New Oakleaf Hydrangeas
Posted by Hugh on January 24th, 2011
Oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia) is a popular native shrub in the Southeastern U.S. (USDA hardiness zones 5 to 8). Two new compact forms of oakleaf hydrangea were recently introduced by the U.S. National Arboretum. In early summer, ‘Ruby Slippers’ is covered with 9-inch-long floral clusters that are held upright above the foliage. ‘Ruby Slippers’ grows […]
Stop the Leyland Madness
Posted by Hugh on January 18th, 2011
Leyland cypress (x Cupressocyparis leylandii) is a tall, fast growing evergreen tree or shrub. Many are planted as privacy screens. Ask yourself, should you really plant a 50 foot barrier between you and your neighbor(s)? In the Southern Appalachian region (USDA hardiness zones 6 and 7), there are shorter and better evergreen choices. In the 12-16 foot category: Boxwood (Buxus […]
Planting Trees for Future Generations
Posted by Hugh on January 15th, 2011
Oaks, beeches, hickories, ginkgoes, bald cypresses, redwoods, chestnuts and others are trees that future generations inherit from previous generations. In human terms, it takes a lifetime to grow an acorn into a mighty oak. Many tree species live hundreds of years, often asking little and contributing much beauty, summer cooling shade, winter heating comfort as windbreaks, and a […]
Posted in Attracting birds, Bald cypress (Taxodium), Beech (Fagus spp.), Butterflies, Chestnut, Hickory (Carya spp.), Native Plant, Oaks (Quercus spp.), Propagation (Seed), Southern Appalachian Region, Trees & Shrubs, winter hardiness Comments Off on Planting Trees for Future GenerationsHardy Dwarf Deodara Cedars
Posted by Hugh on January 13th, 2011
Over the past ten years, deodara cedar (Cedrus deodara) has carved its niche into Southern Appalachian gardens (USDA zones 6 and 7). Three zone 6 hardy dwarf cultivars, ‘Glacier Blue’, ‘Devinely Blue’, and ‘Feelin Blue’, fit today’s smaller garden space better than most tree forms of deodara cedar that typically reach 70-80 feet in height. […]
Posted in DWARF CONIFERS, Evergreens, Southern Appalachian Region, Trees & Shrubs, watering evergreens, winter hardiness Comments Off on Hardy Dwarf Deodara CedarsWinter King Hawthorn – A Winter Fruit Attraction
Posted by Hugh on January 7th, 2011
bright red fruit in winter season ‘Winter King’ is an outstanding cultivar of our native green hawthorn (Crataegus viridis) and is at home here in the Southern Appalachian region (USDA zones 6 and 7). Over the winter season few deciduous trees present a colorful fruiting display much better than Winter King. Winter King hawthorn is a small landscape tree, maturing to 25-30 […]
Posted in Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Hawthorn (Crataegus), Native Plant, Ornamental fruit, Southern Appalachian Region, Trees & Shrubs, Winter bark Comments Off on Winter King Hawthorn – A Winter Fruit AttractionHardy Camellias — start with this one!
Posted by Hugh on January 4th, 2011
Occasionally, gardeners need abit of confidence before purchasing a plant considered not winter hardy where they live. Twenty years ago, growing a camellia was a folly inside the Southern Appalachian region (USDA zones 6 and 7), until the Drs. Ackerman and Parks’ introductions appeared. These hardy cultivars have changed the playing field. Recently, I asked some local camellia “experts” what one favorite cultivar gardeners […]
Posted in Camellia, Flowering, Trees & Shrubs Comments Off on Hardy Camellias — start with this one!Recycle Live Christmas Trees
Posted by Hugh on December 30th, 2010
The holidays are over. This year take your live Christmas tree to a designated location to be recycled. Many cities and towns collect trees which are chipped into mulch. The mulch is spread around municipal park trees and street trees. It is utilized for erosion management along stream banks and on steep slopes. Mulch is also distributed to gardeners in the spring. Communities pile […]
Posted in Christmas trees, compost, Green Recycling, mulching, Sand Dune Protection, Soil Conservation, Winter Protection Comments Off on Recycle Live Christmas TreesIce Storm- Keep Hands Off
Posted by Hugh on December 26th, 2010
An ice storm is both a beautiful and horrific scene in a garden. The potential for major tree/shrub breakage is staggering. If you feel powerless, this is good thing. During the storm, do nothing / “hands off”. Most actions will likely cause more damage than what nature may have intended. After the storm assess the landscape areas which seem most vulnerable, or that […]
Posted in Bradford Pear, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Trees & Shrubs, Uncategorized, winter injury Comments Off on Ice Storm- Keep Hands OffTry Microbiota Instead of Ground Junipers
Posted by Hugh on December 23rd, 2010
Summer Foliage of Microbiota Microbiota (Microbiota decussata) goes by numerous names including Russian arborvitae and Siberian cypress. This tough customer hails from Siberia, and quite cold hardy to -40 F. In the northern U.S. its lacy evergreen foliage turns brown in the dead of winter. Here in the Southern Appalachian region, microbiota prospers in cooler parts of zone 6 […]
Posted in DWARF CONIFERS, Ground cover, Juniper, Microbiota, Southern Appalachian Region, Trees & Shrubs Comments Off on Try Microbiota Instead of Ground Junipers
