Emerald Ash borer (EAB) is confirmed to infest in many areas of the U.S. Emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis) is an exotic beetle that was discovered in southeastern Michigan near Detroit in 2002. EAB adult beetles nibble on ash foliage but cause little damage. The beetle larvae (immature stage) feed on the inner bark of […]
Archive for the ‘Environmental Conservation’ Category
Emerald Ash Borer Update
Posted by Hugh on October 6th, 2019
Posted in Ash (Fraxinus), Emerald ash borer, Environmental Conservation, Firewood, Insect (Pest) Problems, Landscape Construction, Landscape ideas, Large Shade trees, Native Plant, Native Plant, Pests, Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Sanitation, Shade tree, Southern Appalachian Region, Trees & Shrubs, Uncategorized 
Comments Off on Emerald Ash Borer UpdateThe Fragrant Viburnums
Posted by Hugh on March 15th, 2019
Fragrance is a wonderful trait to include in your landscape. Although most viburnum species are not odorous, these 7 stand out for their spring floral fragrance. Bloom dates mentioned here are for zones 6-7 (TN, VA, NC and KY). Burkwood Viburnum (V. x burkwoodii) is semi-evergreen, 7 to 8 feet tall and wide, with glossy dark green leaves that turn […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Environmental Conservation, Evergreen, Fertilizing plants, Fragrant, Landscape ideas, mulching, Ornamental fruit, Privacy Screen, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Rabbit/deer Protection, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Viburnum beetles, Viburnum x bodnantense, Viburnums, Wildlife attractant, winter hardiness Comments Off on The Fragrant ViburnumsKnow About Liriopes
Posted by Hugh on February 10th, 2019
Monkeygrass (Liriope muscari) and creeping lilyturf (L. spicata) are native to Asia. They are known by several names including lilyturf, monkeygrass, spider grass and liriope (USDA hardiness zones 6-10). Some varieties are hardier than others. In general, L. muscari have more narrow leaves. Depending on variety, spikes of lavender, purple, or white flowers arise in […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aggressive grower, alkaline soil, Bees and other pollinators, compost, Container garden, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Environmental Conservation, Environmental issues, Evergreen, Fertilizing plants, Heat Tolerance, Invasive plant, Invasive species, Landscape ideas, Liriope, Mowing, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on Know About LiriopesPrevent 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 Lawn Care Tips
Posted by Hugh on September 15th, 2018
The fall season is “spring-time” for home lawn care. This is a great opportunity to apply grass seed, fertilize, and eliminate weeds in cool season lawns. In Tennessee (USDA hardiness zones 6-7), cool season grasses (fescue, bluegrass and perennial rye) are fertilized in mid-September with a high nitrogen-based fertilizer, available at most garden centers. […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bermuda, Broadleaf weeds, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Environmental Conservation, Fertilizing, Fertilizing plants, Garden ecology, Ground cover, Heat Tolerance, Herbicide management, Irrigation, Kentucky bluegrass, Landscape ideas, Lawn Care, Mowing, Pesticide Recommendations, Pesticide recommendations, Propagation (Seed), Purchasing Plants, Red fescue, Ryegrass, seeding lawn, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Tall Fescue, watering tips, Weed control, Weed management, Weeds, winter hardiness Comments Off on Fall Lawn Care TipsPest Alert – Giant Hogweed
Posted by Hugh on June 29th, 2018
Giant hogweed plant (Heracleum mantegazzianum) is a large, invasive plant that can cause severe burns, blisters and rashes and vision loss in humans. As its name suggests, giant hogweed plant is enormous growing invasive species that originated from the Caucasus region of Eurasia. It produces large, towering purple stalks of white flower clusters. Don’t pick these […]
Posted in Environmental Conservation, Environmental issues, Giant hogweed, Invasive species, Landscape ideas, Mowing, Pests, Propagation (Seed), Pruning, Sanitation, Summer flowering, Weed management, Weeds Comments Off on Pest Alert – Giant HogweedShort Grasses For Small Places
Posted by Hugh on May 25th, 2018
Many gardeners have small sunny or partially shaded places where select ornamental grasses thrive, including using them as companion plants in containers. Enjoy their winter architecture. Perennial grasses should be cut back to 3- to 6 inches in late winter. Here are an assortment of six of the very best along with several varieties that you should […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aggressive grower, alkaline soil, Annuals, Attracting birds, Bees and other pollinators, Calamagrostis, Carex (Sedges), compost, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Environmental Conservation, Fertilizing plants, Flower Arranging, Ground cover, Hakone grass, Landscape ideas, Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium), Native Plant, Northern sea oats (Chasmanthium), Ornamental fruit, Ornamental Grasses, Pennisetum spp., Pennisetum spp., Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on Short Grasses For Small PlacesAlexandrian Laurel For Deep Shade
Posted by Hugh on May 17th, 2018
Alexandrian Laurel or Poet’s Laurel (Danae racemosa) is a wonderful evergreen shrub that is rarely planted in U.S. gardens. Danae is indigenous to Iran and Syria. This evergreen shrub needs partial to full shade and the warm climes of southeast or Pacific northwest states (USDA hardiness zones 6 – 9). If winters are exceptionally cold […]
Posted in acidic soil, Alexandrian Laurel, compost, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Environmental Conservation, Evergreen, Fall Garden Interest, Foliage plant, Ground cover, Landscape ideas, mulching, Ornamental fruit, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Propagation (Seed), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Shade Gardening, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on Alexandrian Laurel For Deep ShadeErosion Control – Try Weeping Lovegrass
Posted by Hugh on April 28th, 2018
Weeping Lovegrass (Eragrostis curvula) is a warm season, perennial bunchgrass. It grows to a height of 2-4 feet and the long narrow 1/4 inch wide leaves (10 to 20 inches in length) suggest the grass is “weeping”. Seed heads may be erect or drooping and produce small very numerous seeds (1.5 million per lb.). Weeping […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aggressive grower, alkaline soil, Bees and other pollinators, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Environmental Conservation, Environmental issues, Fertilizing plants, Ground cover, Heat Tolerance, Irrigation, Landscape ideas, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Propagation (Seed), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, Weeping Lovegrass (Eragrostis), Wildlife attractant, winter hardiness Comments Off on Erosion Control – Try Weeping LovegrassControlling Slugs and Snails
Posted by Hugh on February 4th, 2018
Slugs and snails are common pests of many common garden plants. They are particularly troublesome in shady woodland areas. They crawl across leaves and leave a slimy residue over the leaf surface. They feed primarily at night. Ecologically, their niche is to decompose organic matter. During the daytime hours they hide under leaves, mulch, rocks, stepping stones, […]
Posted in Broccoli, Brunnera 'Jack Frost', Cabbage, compost, Delphinium, Environmental Conservation, Herbs, Herbs, Hosta, kale, Landscape ideas, mulching, Perennials, Pesticide recommendations, Planting tips, Pulmonaria, Purchasing Plants, Slugs, Slugs, Snails, Soil drainage, Soil pH, Southern Appalachian Region, Strawberries Comments Off on Controlling Slugs and Snails
