Most conifers are best grown in deep, moist, well-drained, acidic loamy soils and in full sun. In the deep South evergreen conifers are challenged by warm soils, poor soil drainage, and humidity. Humidity increases their susceptibility to diseases. Once established they are drought tolerant, but most fail in poorly drained wet soils. Many pine species […]
Archive for the ‘Native Plant’ Category
Some Conifers Don’t Like Summer Heat And Clay Soils
Posted by Hugh on February 16th, 2020
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Attracting birds, Bagworms, Balled and Burlapped (b&b), Borers, Caterpillars, Cedar of Lebanon (Cedrus), Cercopora leaf spot, Christmas tree, Container garden, Deer resistant, Deodara cedars (Cedrus), Disease prone, Drought tolerant, Evergreen, Evergreens, Firs (Abies), Heat Tolerance, Hemlock (Tsuga), Hemlock adelgid, Insect (Pest) Problems, Juniper, Korean fir (Abies koreana), Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Norway spruce (Picea), Oriental spruce (Picea), Pine (Pinus spp.), Pines (Pinus spp.), Planting tips, Propagation (Seed), Propagation(grafting), Purchasing Plants, Scale, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spruces (Picea spp.), Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Umbrella pine (Sciadopitys), watering evergreens, Wildlife attractant, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness, Winter Protection 
Comments Off on Some Conifers Don’t Like Summer Heat And Clay SoilsCare Of Rhododendrons
Posted by Hugh on January 31st, 2020
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 […]
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 Rhododendrons12 Woody Trees And Shrubs Perfect For Containers
Posted by Hugh on January 6th, 2020
Japanese maples, hydrangeas, hollies, boxwoods, camellias, and dwarf conifers are popular favorites to grow in pots. Often, they’re part of mixed plantings coordinated with colorful annual and perennial flowers. If and when these outdoor trees and shrubs outgrow their pots, you have one of three options available: 1.) move plants into a bigger pot, 2.) […]
Posted in acidic soil, Boxwood (Buxus), Cephalotaxus (Plumleaf yew), Chamaecyparis, Cold tolerance, compact shrub, compact tree, Container garden, Container growing, container shrub, Dawn redwood (Metasequoia), Deciduous conifer, Deodara cedars (Cedrus), Dioecious, Disease resistant, DWARF CONIFERS, Evergreen, Evergreens, Heat Tolerance, Hydrangea, Hydrangea arborescens, Inkberry Holly (Ilex), Invasive plant, Invasive species, Japanese maple, Japanese yew, Landscape ideas, Large shrub, Nandina, Native Plant, Native Plant, Planting tips, Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Repotting plants, Small landscape tree, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Uncategorized, watering tips, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness, winter injury, Winter Protection Comments Off on 12 Woody Trees And Shrubs Perfect For ContainersArizona Cypress Standouts
Posted by Hugh on December 26th, 2019
Arizona cypress (Cupressus arizonica var. glabra) is a needle evergreen conifer native to the Southeast U.S. and is noted for its rapid growth rate. It is also grown as a Christmas tree and is rarely troubled by disease and insect problems. Depending on what part of the U.S. that you garden in, damage from bark […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Container garden, Cupressus (cypress), Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Evergreen, Fertilizing plants, Landscape ideas, Medium sized Tree, Native Plant, Native Plant, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Uncategorized, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Arizona Cypress StandoutsMarcescence (Retaining Leaves Fall And Winter)
Posted by Hugh on October 31st, 2019
Through the fall and winter seasons, certain landscape and woodland trees retain their dead brown leaves on branches. Beech (Fagus spp.) and oak (Quercus spp.) are two common examples. Winter winds and precipitation will eventually force leaves to drop. Plant scientists term the retention of leaves as “marcescence”. There are many theories as to why […]
Posted in Bald cypress (Taxodium), Beech (Fagus spp.), Birch (Betula spp.), Dawn redwood (Metasequoia), Deciduous, Deer resistant, Environmental Conservation, Evergreen, Evergreens, Firs (Abies), Ginkgo biloba, Hemlock (Tsuga), Landscape ideas, Leaf retention, Maples (Acer), Marcescence, Native Plant, Oaks (Quercus spp.), Pines (Pinus spp.), Poplar (Populus spp.), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Southern Appalachian Region, Spruces (Picea spp.), Trees & Shrubs, Uncategorized, Wildlife attractant Comments Off on Marcescence (Retaining Leaves Fall And Winter)Black Gum (Tupelo) Tree
Posted by Hugh on October 21st, 2019
Black gum (Nyssa sylvatica) or tupelo tree is a native to Eastern North America (USDA hardiness zones 3-9). It is native from the New England states southward into Florida and west to Eastern Texas. Seedlings of this wonderful woodland and landscape tree start off slowly, but will mature to heights of 50 to 60 feet […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Black gum (Nyssa), Deciduous, Deer resistant, Dioecious, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Inconspicious, Landscape ideas, Large Shade trees, mulching, Native Plant, Ornamental fruit, Planting tips, Propagation (Seed), Propagation(grafting), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Uncategorized, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Black Gum (Tupelo) TreeInkberry Holly Substitute For Boxwood
Posted by Hugh on October 16th, 2019
Ilex glabra ‘Densa’ Inkberry holly (Ilex glabra), also called gallberry, is a slow-growing broadleaf evergreen shrub (USDA hardiness zones 4-9). It grows to 5-8 feet tall and can spread by root suckers and form colonies. Inkberry is native from the eastern coast of Canada south to Florida, west to Louisiana. The shrub is at home in sandy […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Chlorosis (yellowing), compact shrub, Container garden, Container growing, container shrub, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Evergreen, Fall Garden Interest, Fertilizing plants, Green Privacy Screen, Ground nesting bees, Honey bees, Ilex (hollies), Inkberry Holly (Ilex), Landscape ideas, Leaf diseases, Mites, mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Planting tips, Privacy Screen, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (dividing), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Root rotting, Root suckering, Soil drainage, Soil pH, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Wildlife attractant, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on Inkberry Holly Substitute For Boxwood25 Trees For Autumn Leaf Color
Posted by Hugh on October 11th, 2019
Fall leaf colors of woodland and landscape trees vary from one year to the next. Foliage colors are determined by monthly weather conditions and several environmental factors. Rainfall amounts and daily temperature levels during August and September are key determining factors. Best autumn leaf colors develop as daytime hours are shortening, daytime hours are sunny and […]
Posted in American Beech (F. grandifolia), Amur maple (A. ginnala), Autumn foliage color, Birch (Betula spp.), Black gum (Nyssa), Disease prone, Disease resistant, Dogwood (Cornus), Drought tolerant, Environmental issues, Ginkgo biloba, Green ash (Fraxinus), Hawthorn (Crataegus), Hickory (Carya spp.), Insect (Pest) Problems, Japanese maple, Katsura tree (Cercidophyllum), Kentucky coffeetree, Landscape ideas, Large Shade trees, Maples (Acer), Medium sized Tree, Native Plant, Native Plant, Photoperiod (Daylength), plant nutrition, Purchasing Plants, Red oak (Quercus), Sassafras albidum, Serviceberry (Amelanchier), Small landscape tree, Soil drainage, Sourwood (Oxydendrum), Southern Appalachian Region, Sweetgum (Liquidambar), Trees & Shrubs, Wind protection, winter hardiness Comments Off on 25 Trees For Autumn Leaf ColorEmerald Ash Borer Update
Posted by Hugh on October 6th, 2019
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 […]
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 UpdateWood’s White Aster Are Woodland Favorites
Posted by Hugh on August 26th, 2019
It’s late August and across the Southern Appalachian region White Wood Aster (Eurybia divaricata) are blooming. Their small daisy flowers are often seen blooming in shady woodlands in late summer. They start blooming a week or two later in the New England states and Canada (USDA hardiness zones 3-8). In a natural woodland Wood’s Aster […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aster, Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Autumn flowering, Bees and other pollinators, Butterflies, Container garden, Deciduous, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Ground cover, Heat Tolerance, Landscape ideas, Native Plant, Native Plant, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (dividing), Propagation (Seed), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, White Wood Aster (Eurybia), Wildflower, winter hardiness Comments Off on Wood’s White Aster Are Woodland Favorites
