Crape myrtles (Lagerstroemia x indica) are small flowering trees and shrubs that are native to Asia and have naturalized in the Deep South of the U.S. Back in the 1970’s thru the 1990’s, plant breeders at the U.S. National Arboretum released 35 winter hardy varieties, named after North American Indian tribes. They varied in sizes […]
Archive for the ‘Landscape ideas’ Category
Varieties Of Crape Myrtles
Posted by Hugh on February 18th, 2023
Posted in acidic soil, Bees and other pollinators, compact shrub, container shrub, Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia), Crape myrtle aphid, Crape myrtle bark scale, Deciduous, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fall Garden Interest, Flowering shrub, Landscape ideas, mulching, Non-native, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Small landscape tree, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Winter bark, Winter Garden Interest 
Comments Off on Varieties Of Crape MyrtlesSelecting and Pruning Crape Myrtles
Posted by Hugh on February 14th, 2023
Crape myrtles (Lagerstroemia x indica) are small flowering trees and shrubs. Indigenous to Asia, they have naturalized in our U.S. Deep South. Winter hardiness is a key concern (USDA Hardiness Zones 6-9). Back in the 1970’s thru the 1990’s, plant breeders at the U.S. National Arboretum released 35 winter hardy varieties, named after North American […]
Posted in acidic soil, Autumn foliage color, Bees and other pollinators, compact shrub, compact tree, Container garden, container shrub, Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia), Deciduous, Deer resistant, Drought tolerant, Fall Garden Interest, Landscape ideas, mulching, Non-native, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Small landscape tree, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on Selecting and Pruning Crape MyrtlesPruning Times for Flowering Shrubs
Posted by Hugh on February 7th, 2023
The late winter / early spring period are ideal times for pruning many (not all) flowering shrubs. At this time, shrubs are leafless, and you are better able to see the overall shape of the shrub and easily identify dead, damaged, diseased wood, and structural defects. Pruning also stimulates new growth. Spring flowering shrubs (those […]
Posted in Azalea (deciduous), Azaleas (evergreen), Barberry (Berberis), Beautyberry (Callicarpa spp.), Bigleaf hydrangea (H. macrophylla), Blue mist (Caryopteris), Burning bush (Euonymus), Camellia, Clethra, common boxwood, Container garden, Deciduous, Evergreen, Flowering shrub, Forsythia, Fothergilla, Fringe flower (loropetalum), Hedges, Hibiscus syriacus, Honeysuckle (Lonicera), Kerria, Landscape ideas, Ligustrum (Privet), Lilac (Syringa), Native Plant, Non-native, Pearlbush (Exochorda), Pieris japonica, Planting tips, Plumleaf azalea, Pruning, pruning climbing roses, Purchasing Plants, Rhododendrons, Roses, Roses (Shrub type), shrub roses, Southern Appalachian Region, Spirea (Spiraea), Spring flowering, Sumac (Rhus), Summer flowering, Summersweet (Clethra), Sweetshrub (Calycanthus), Trees & Shrubs, Weigela Comments Off on Pruning Times for Flowering ShrubsWinter Blooming Vernal Witchhazel
Posted by Hugh on January 30th, 2023
Vernal witchhazel is a U.S. native to the Ozark Plateau extending from southern Missouri through northwestern Arkansas to eastern Oklahoma. It is among the easiest of shrubs to grow @ 10-12 feet tall and two-thirds as wide. Roots spreads by underground stoloniferous. The leaves are oval, 23⁄4–5 inches long and 2 1/2 –5 inches wide and are slightly oblique at […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Bees and other pollinators, Cold tolerance, Deciduous, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Japanese beetle, Japanese beetles, Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Planting tips, Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Trees & Shrubs, Winter blooming, Winter flowering, Witchhazel (Hamamelis), Witchhazel Vernal Comments Off on Winter Blooming Vernal WitchhazelPrecise Care For Calatheas
Posted by Hugh on January 24th, 2023
Calatheas, also called Peacock plants, are among the most beautiful of foliage house plants, but their care can be challenging. Plants prefer low to medium bright spot in your home and look their best away from direct sunlight. The key to success is high room humidity and are best paired up with similar tropical favorites […]
Posted in Calthea, Evergreen, Fertilizing plants, Humidity, Interior (house) Plants, Landscape ideas, Mealy bugs, Mites, Non-native, plant nutrition, Planting tips, Potting Mix, Propagation (dividing), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Repotting plants, Scale, Southern Appalachian Region, Tropical Plants (non-hardy) Comments Off on Precise Care For CalatheasGrowing Jewel Orchids
Posted by Hugh on January 12th, 2023
Jewel Orchids (Ludisia discolor) are native to the tropical forests of Southeast Asia. Compared to the tree-climbing epiphytic Phalaenopsis and Cattleya orchids, Jewel Orchids are terrestrial plants that grow on tropical forest floors. Jewel orchids are grown primarily for their spectacular dark and colorful veined ovate foliage and secondarily for their flowering. Jewel orchids grow in […]
Posted in acidic soil, Autumn flowering, Fertilizing plants, Heat Tolerance, Humidity, Interior (house) Plants, Jewel orchid (Ludisia), Landscape ideas, Orchids, plant nutrition, Planting tips, Potting Mix, Propagation (dividing), Purchasing Plants, Root rotting, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Tropical Plants (non-hardy), watering tips, Winter flowering Comments Off on Growing Jewel Orchids2023 Triple Crown Winner: ‘American Gold Rush’ Black-eyed Susan
Posted by Hugh on January 6th, 2023
For 2023, three leading organizations, All-America Selections, National Garden Bureau and Perennial Plant Association, have awarded a cultivar of black-eyed Susan their highest plant award in the U.S. For the U.S plant Industry this is the first time ever. Currently, garden interest in rudbeckias is at an all-time high. All-America Selections judges evaluated ‘American Gold […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Bees and other pollinators, Black eyed Susan (Rudbeckia), deadheading, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Environmental Conservation, Fall Garden Interest, Fertilizing plants, Flower Arranging, Flower arrangments, Landscape ideas, Leaf/needle spots, mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, Wildlife attractant, winter hardiness Comments Off on 2023 Triple Crown Winner: ‘American Gold Rush’ Black-eyed SusanRaise The Humidity Around House Plants
Posted by Hugh on December 28th, 2022
Tropical plants thrive in a 70-75° F room temperatures during the fall / winter months. Frequently, the central heating system is running at maximum warmth and results in low room humidity. The lush foliage of many tropical plants suffers leaf edge burn and tip dieback caused by low humidity. Here are nine (9) methods listing […]
Posted in Anthurium, Calthea, Container garden, Environmental issues, Evergreen, Ferns, Foliage plant, Humidity, Landscape ideas, Orchids, Peace lily (Spathiphyllum), Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Purchasing Plants, Repotting plants, Root rotting, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Tropical Plants (non-hardy), watering tips Comments Off on Raise The Humidity Around House PlantsNewGen Boxwoods
Posted by Hugh on December 15th, 2022
Boxwoods (Buxus spp.) are the quintessential shrubs, primarily utilized as a foundation plant, a formal medium hedge, or for low privacy screening. Over the past half century, many new boxwood varieties have been introduced into nursery commerce. Boxwoods work in most landscape situations and are deer resistant. Only a few years ago, boxwood production at […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Bees and other pollinators, Boxwood (Buxus), Boxwood blight, Container garden, Disease resistant, Evergreen, Green Privacy Screen, Insect (Pest) Problems, Landscape ideas, Leaf diseases, Leaf miner, mulching, Non-native, Pachysandra, Planting tips, Privacy Screen, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on NewGen BoxwoodsCreating A Tropical Look
Posted by Hugh on December 8th, 2022
Here are some ideas for designing a tropical landscape in your yard. Start with large leafy trees that are hardy in zones 6-7 include catalpa (Catalpa spp.), hickories (Carya spp.), some oaks (Quercus spp.), large leaf maple (Acer macrophylla), American sycamore (Platanus americana), American linden (Tilia americana), and Empress tree (Paulownia tomentosa). In zones 7-9 […]
Posted in Angel trumpet (Brugmansia), Banana (Musa spp.), Caricature Plant (Graptophyllum), Catalpa, Colocasia, Elephant ears (Colocasia), Fertilizing plants, Firmiana simplex, Foliage plant, Landscape ideas, Linden (Tilia), Magnolia, Magnolia macrophylla, Medium sized Tree, mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Non-native, Paulownia (Empress tree), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Shade tree, Smoketree (Cotinus), Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Sycamore (Platanus), Trees & Shrubs, Willows (Salix) Comments Off on Creating A Tropical Look
