Dawn redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides) was thought to be extinct until the mid-twentieth century. In 1948 dawn redwood was re-introduced into North America from Sichuan-Hubei Provinces in China. Dawn redwood grows in full sun and in well-drained, compost-rich soil. The tree struggles in dry or high pH soils. Dawn redwood will tolerate standing water for a […]
Archive for the ‘Disease resistant’ Category
Dawn Redwood Is Back From Extinction
Posted by Hugh on August 1st, 2012
Posted in acidic soil, Bald cypress (Taxodium), Dawn redwood (Metasequoia), Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Heat Tolerance, Japanese beetles, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering evergreens 
Comments Off on Dawn Redwood Is Back From ExtinctionBoxwood Blight Discovered on Pachysandra
Posted by Hugh on July 30th, 2012
In June 2012 plant pathologists at the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station have confirmed a natural infection of pachysandra in the landscape by boxwood blight (Cylindrocladium pseudonaviculatum), the boxwood blight fungus. The infection originated from recently installed balled and burlapped (B&B) boxwood plants. A plant inspector in Fairfield, CT noticed that an established bed of pachysandra […]
Posted in Boxwood (Buxus), Disease prone, Disease resistant, Evergreen, Ground cover, Pachysandra, Southern Appalachian Region Comments Off on Boxwood Blight Discovered on Pachysandra‘Sunburst’ Golden St. John’s Wort
Posted by Hugh on July 16th, 2012
Our native golden St. John’s wort (Hypericum frondosum) deserves more planting space in U. S. gardens (USDA hardiness zones 5-8). ‘Sunburst’ is the leading cultivar and exhibits superior traits over the species. Golden St. John’s wort forms a small, dense growing deciduous shrub, noted for its showy golden yellow flowers and attractive blue-green foliage. Sunburst grows more compact […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Butterflies, compact shrub, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Evergreens, Flowering, Heat Tolerance, Native Plant, Ornamental fruit, Pruning, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, St. John's Wort (Hypericum), Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Winter bark Comments Off on ‘Sunburst’ Golden St. John’s WortGrowing 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 LandscapeExceptional Describes ‘Major Wheeler’ Climbing Honeysuckle
Posted by Hugh on April 25th, 2012
Climbing or coral honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens) is a native vine. It can be spotted growing on fence rows along roadsides and in woodlands from Connecticut to Nebraska, and south to Texas and Florida. ‘Major Wheeler’ is one of the better climbing honeysuckles noted for its non-stop production of bright red trumpet flowers and green mildew resistant foliage. Red […]
Posted in Aggressive grower, Butterflies, Climbing honeysuckle (Lonicera), Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Heat Tolerance, Hummingbird, Native Plant, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Staking, Summer flowering, Uncategorized, Vine Comments Off on Exceptional Describes ‘Major Wheeler’ Climbing HoneysuckleFountain Grasses Are Summer Sizzlers
Posted by Hugh on April 21st, 2012
Purple Pennisetum Grass in Hot Parking Lot Fountain grass (Pennisetum setaceum ) is a warm season grass native to Northern Africa (USDA zones 8-10). It is a dense clump-forming grass with several topnotch cultivars. Most popular are purple fountain grasses (varieties ‘Purpureum’ and ‘Rubrum’) for their heat resistant dark reddish purple foliage. The pink to […]
Posted in acidify soil, alkaline soil, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, Flowers, Fountain Grass (Pennisetum), Heat Tolerance, Ornamental Grasses, plant nutrition, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips Comments Off on Fountain Grasses Are Summer SizzlersThe 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 LocationDawn 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 PastVolcano Mulching Harmful
Posted by Hugh on January 1st, 2012
Piling up mulch around trees or shrubs, called “volcano mulching”, is a bad practice and is killing them. Perhaps you’ve seen a neighbor or a professional landscaper doing it, and assumed that it must be alright. It’s not! The deep mulch pile smothers the natural buttress flair of the trunk which breathes and absorbs air for […]
Posted in Disease prone, Disease resistant, Garden Maintenance, Insect (Pest) Problems, Millipedes & centipedes, Mulch Quality, mulching, mulching trees, Southern Appalachian Region, Uncategorized, watering tips, winter injury, Winter Protection Comments Off on Volcano Mulching HarmfulDisease Free Apple Varieties
Posted by Hugh on December 6th, 2011
Over the past 30 years, the goal has been to develop good eating and storing apples which are not susceptible to four major diseases. The first 3 cultivars released were ‘Prima’, ‘Priscilla’, and ‘Sir Prize’, but they lacked great flavor and storage quality. Apples are susceptible to four serious diseases: apple scab, cedar-apple rust, fireblight, and powdery mildew. Scab, rust and mildew […]
Posted in apple orchard, Apple tree, apple varieties, Disease prone, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Fruits & Vegetables, Insect (Pest) Problems, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering Comments Off on Disease Free Apple Varieties
