In the U.S., two species of rhododendrons, Catawa (Rhododendron catawbiensis) and Rosebay (R. maximum), are plentiful in the Appalachian Mountain region. Their roots feed in part on the rich humus material in the rocky mountain soils. Over time fallen leaves, twigs, and flower parts decay into additional humus. Humus improves soil aeration and drainage, yet […]
Archive for the ‘Rhododendrons’ Category
Care Of Rhododendrons
Posted by Hugh on January 31st, 2020
Posted in acidic soil, Azalea (deciduous), Bees and other pollinators, Beneficial insects, Butterflies, Cold tolerance, compost, Container garden, container shrub, Deer resistant, Drought tolerant, Environmental Conservation, Evergreen, Evergreens, Fertilizing plants, Landscape ideas, Mountain laurel (Kalmia), mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Planting tips, Privacy Screen, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (layering), Propagation (Seed), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Rhododendrons, Shade Gardening, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter injury 
Comments Off on Care Of RhododendronsPlant Disease Warning: Phytophthora ramorum
Posted by Hugh on January 16th, 2020
Known as “sudden oak death”, this serious plant disease (Phytophthora ramorum) (Pr) from the West Coast kills oak and other species of trees. It has caused devastating effects on the oak populations in California, Oregon, and Washington, and is also present in Europe. Symptoms include bleeding cankers on the tree’s trunk and dieback of foliage. […]
Posted in Camellia, Canker disease, Disease prone, Garden ecology, Garden Problems, Honeysuckle (Lonicera), Invasive species, Landscape ideas, Lilac (Syringa), Magnolia, Maples (Acer), Mountain laurel (Kalmia), Native Plant, Oaks (Quercus spp.), Phytophthora ramorum, Pieris japonica, Planting tips, Purchasing Plants, Rhododendrons, Sanitation, Southern Appalachian Region, Trees & Shrubs, Viburnums, Witchhazel (Hamamelis) Comments Off on Plant Disease Warning: Phytophthora ramorumJuly Blooming Plumleaf Azalea
Posted by Hugh on July 28th, 2019
Plumleaf azalea (Rhododendron prunifolium), a deciduous azalea native to Georgia and Alabama, is a particular summer favorite (USDA hardiness zones 6-9). It’s hardy even in Boston, NY City, and Philadelphia. Its bright orange-red blooms surprise in late July to early August. Compared to many fragrant spring blooming native species, flowers emit no scent. Its autumnal […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Azalea (deciduous), Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Breeding Plants, Butterflies, Container garden, Deciduous, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Landscape ideas, Native Plant, Native Plant, Planting tips, Propagation (Seed), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Rhododendrons, Soil drainage, Soil pH, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on July Blooming Plumleaf AzaleaTips On Amending The Soil In The Planting Hole
Posted by Hugh on February 1st, 2019
Adding large amounts of compost or organic matter to a planting hole greatly improve the soil’s water-holding capacity and aeration. Simply throwing piles of leaves into the bottom of the planting hole helps improve a soil. However, amending the planting hole is not recommended by most plant experts. Why? According to soil scientists, the plant roots stay locked within the rich […]
Posted in acidic soil, Azaleas (evergreen), Birch (Betula spp.), Black gum (Nyssa), Blackberries, Deciduous Azaleas, Evergreens, Fertilizing plants, Garden Maintenance, Hydrangea arborescens, Hydrangeas, Ilex (hollies), Inkberry Holly (Ilex), Landscape Construction, Landscape ideas, Large Shade trees, Mountain laurel (Kalmia), mulching, mulching trees, Pieris japonica, Planting tips, Purchasing Plants, Rhododendrons, river birch, Soil drainage, Soil Testing, Southern Appalachian Region, Trees & Shrubs Comments Off on Tips On Amending The Soil In The Planting HolePrevent Leaf Burn on Evergreens This Winter
Posted by Hugh on December 24th, 2018
Winter foliage burn on evergreens is often most prevalent on boxwoods (Buxus), hollies (Ilex), rhododendron, and many kinds of conifers. Symptoms often develop when temperatures warm up in late winter and early spring. This type of winter damage is often misdiagnosed as an infectious disease or damage from excessively cold temperatures. Evergreens transpire (lose water […]
Posted in acidic soil, Alexandrian Laurel, Camellia, Cryptomeria (Japanese cedar), Cupressus (cypress), Doghobble (Leucothoe), Drought tolerant, DWARF CONIFERS, Environmental Conservation, Environmental issues, Evergreens, Fertilizing plants, Fraser fir (Abies), Garden ecology, Ilex (hollies), Landscape ideas, Magnolia grandiflora, Magnolia virginiana, Microbiota, mulching, Native Plant, Osmanthus 'Goshiki', Pieris japonica, Planting tips, Purchasing Plants, Rhododendrons, root injury, salt injury, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Sweetbox (Sarcococca), Taiwan cryptomeria, Thujopsis, Trees & Shrubs, Umbrella pine (Sciadopitys), watering tips, Wind protection, winter hardiness, Winter Protection, Yews (Taxus spp.) Comments Off on Prevent Leaf Burn on Evergreens This WinterFall – Winter Pruning Dos and Don’ts
Posted by Hugh on October 30th, 2018
Pruning is a chore that you don’t need to put off until spring. Many trees and shrubs may be pruned this autumn. However, NOT all landscape trees and shrubs are pruned. Here are some pruning guidelines to follow: WAIT to prune spring flowering deciduous shrubs such as Forsythia, Lilac, Bridal Wreath & Vanhoutte Spireas, Quince, Viburnums, Fothergilla, […]
Posted in Bigleaf hydrangea (H. macrophylla), Blue mist (Caryopteris), Buddleia (Butterfly bush), Chinese (kousa) dogwood, compact shrub, Crabapple, Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia), Daphne odora, Dogwood (Cornus), Dogwood shrubs (Cornus), Flowering, Flowering quince (Chaenomeles), Forsythia, Fothergilla, Garden Maintenance, Hibiscus syriacus, Hybrid teas, Hydrangea arborescens, Hydrangeas, Landscape ideas, Large Shade trees, Large shrub, Mahonia, Maples (Acer), Mountain laurel (Kalmia), multi-flora rose, Panicle hydrangea, Pieris japonica, Pruning, pruning climbing roses, Purchasing Plants, Re-Bloomers, Rhododendrons, river birch, Roses, Shade tree, Small landscape tree, Spirea (Spiraea), Spring flowering, Street tree, Summer flowering, Summersweet (Clethra), Vitex (Chaste tree), Weigela, Winter flowering, Yellowwood Comments Off on Fall – Winter Pruning Dos and Don’tsWorking With Poorly Drained Soils
Posted by Hugh on September 8th, 2018
As a rule, yews (Taxus spp.), Japanese hollies (Ilex crenata), azaleas (Rhododendron spp.), blueberries (Vaccinium spp.), and roses (Rosa spp.) are common examples of landscape plants that fail in poorly drained soils. Holly cultivars like ‘Hoogendorn’ and ‘Soft Touch’ fair better in clay soils that most other Japanese hollies in the Southern Appalachian region (USDA hardiness […]
Posted in Azalea (deciduous), Azaleas (evergreen), Disease prone, Evergreen, Ilex (hollies), Native Plant, Rhododendrons, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, winter hardiness Comments Off on Working With Poorly Drained SoilsNative Plumleaf Azalea Blooms In Late July
Posted by Hugh on July 28th, 2018
Plumleaf azalea (Rhododendron prunifolium) is a native deciduous azalea that grows in the Chattahoochee River Valley on the Georgia-Alabama line (USDA hardiness zones 6-9). It is one of the signature plants of Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain, Georgia. Their bright orange-red flowers surprise in late July into early Augusta and blooms may last for 2 weeks or […]
Posted in acidic soil, Azalea (deciduous), Bees and other pollinators, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Planting tips, Plumleaf azalea, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (Seed), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Rhododendrons, Soil drainage, Soil pH, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on Native Plumleaf Azalea Blooms In Late JulyBenefits Of Mulching
Posted by Hugh on April 22nd, 2018
Mulching benefits garden soil and enhances the landscape appearance. Here is how: Prevents weed seeds from germinating, thereby reducing hand weeding. Mulching keeps plant roots moist and cool in summer. Fall mulching acts like a thermal blanket and aids newly set plants to establish their roots quickly. Reduces the need to water the garden as often. […]
Posted in acidic soil, acidify soil, alkaline soil, Azalea (deciduous), Azaleas (evergreen), Camellia, Garden Maintenance, Mountain laurel (Kalmia), Mulch Quality, mulching, mulching trees, Native Plant, organic gardening, plant nutrition, Rhododendrons, Shade Gardening, Soil drainage, Soil pH, Southern Appalachian Region, Stewartia pseudocamellia, Trees & Shrubs, winter hardiness Comments Off on Benefits Of MulchingPest Alert -Laurel Wilt Disease
Posted by Hugh on April 1st, 2018
Laurel wilt (Raffaelea lauricola) is an invasive deadly vascular wilt disease of red bay laurel and other trees in the Lauraceae family. The fungal disease is carried from tree to tree by a small beetle called the redbay ambrosia beetle (Xyleborus glabratus). This Ambrosia beetle bores into the wood and the fungus disease infects the […]
Posted in acidic soil, Ambrosia beetle, Environmental issues, Garden ecology, Garden Problems, Insect (Pest) Problems, Landscape ideas, Laurel Wilt disease, Magnolia virginiana, Mountain laurel (Kalmia), Native Plant, Pesticide recommendations, Pests, Planting tips, Purchasing Plants, Rhododendrons, Sassafras albidum, Southern Appalachian Region, Spicebush (Lindera) Comments Off on Pest Alert -Laurel Wilt Disease
