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 […]
Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category
The Right Rhododendron for the Right Location
Posted by Hugh on March 2nd, 2012
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 LocationStart Up A Sleeping Amaryllis
Posted by Hugh on February 20th, 2012
Back in the fall, your amaryllis bulb was pushed into dormancy by withholding all watering. In the weeks that followed, the foliage turned yellow and withered. You cleaned off the dried leaves and stored the potted bulb at 34 to 42 °F for the winter, not allowing it to freeze. After a minimum of eight weeks, […]
Posted in Amaryllis (Bulb), Fertilizing plants, Repotting plants, Southern Appalachian Region, Tropical Plants (non-hardy), Uncategorized, watering tips Comments Off on Start Up A Sleeping AmaryllisRe-Potting Indoor Plants
Posted by Hugh on February 13th, 2012
The golden rule for house plant care is to repot them once a year. Times of seasonal change signal the best opportunity for repotting most house plants. September starts a slowdown and March (late February) a re-awakening period for your house plants. Most, but not all plants, should be re-potted in one of these periods. Purchase a […]
Posted in Interior (house) Plants, Orchids, Planting tips, Potting Mix, Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Repotting plants, Southern Appalachian Region, Tropical Plants (non-hardy), watering tips Comments Off on Re-Potting Indoor PlantsGeneral Tree/Shrub Fertilizer Recommendations
Posted by Hugh on February 9th, 2012
Fertilize most landscape shrubs and trees in winter or early spring with a granular 10-10-10 at a rate of 20 lbs. per 1,000 square feet when the ground cover is dry. A 19-19-19 fertilizer is distributed at 10 lbs per 1000 square feet. Distribute within an area 3 feet out from the trunk or shrub crown and […]
Posted in Fertilizing plants, plant nutrition, root injury, Southern Appalachian Region, Uncategorized, watering tips Comments Off on General Tree/Shrub Fertilizer Recommendations‘Quasimodo’ Vernal Witchhazel
Posted by Hugh on February 7th, 2012
Vernal witchhazel (H. vernalis) is a dense growing 8-12 foot native shrub which blooms in mid-winter in the Southern Appalachian region (USDA zones 6 and 7). It is winter hardy to zone 4. Small ½ inch wide yellow to red flowers, flushed red at the base, emit a pleasant witchhazel aroma in February. Often, it is the […]
Posted in acidic soil, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Heat Tolerance, Native Plant, Southern Appalachian Region, Uncategorized, Winter flowering, Witchhazel (Hamamelis) Comments Off on ‘Quasimodo’ Vernal WitchhazelTree and Berry Fruit Pollination Chart
Posted by Hugh on February 3rd, 2012
A frequent question of newbie fruit gardeners is what will pollinate what. Do I need many varieties or can all be the same variety? The four common terms are used: Self-pollinated: transfer of pollen occurs within the same variety. Cross-pollinated: transfer of pollen occurs between two varieties. Self-unfruitful: low fruit set unless the blossoms […]
Posted in apple orchard, Apple tree, Bee Favorite, Blueberries, Elderberry (Sambucus), Flowering, Fruits & Vegetables, Grapes, Peach, Pear (Pyrus spp.), Plum, Pollination needs, Raspberries, Spring flowering, Strawberries, Uncategorized Comments Off on Tree and Berry Fruit Pollination ChartFormerly A Tree… Now A Hat Rack
Posted by Hugh on February 1st, 2012
Tree topping continues! The concern about a large tree falling on the house, garage, autos or pedestrians sends out calls to cut the tree back. If the tree in photo does recover (grow), the new branches will be mostly weak suckers. After 2-3 years, the sucker growth will be susceptible to high winds and snow/ice storms […]
Leyland Cypress Too Big For Many Sites
Posted by Hugh on January 30th, 2012
Leyland cypress (x Cupressocyparis leylandii) grows into a 50 foot tall evergreen behemoth. What happens when the plants (in photo) get too close to the small deck(s)? Access to the deck from the stairs will become impossible as the evergreens swallow up the entire back yard. Looking out from the deck and windows from the home won’t be likely […]
Posted in Aggressive grower, Arborvitae (Thuja spp.), Disease prone, Evergreen, Green Privacy Screen, Insect (Pest) Problems, Landscape ideas, Planting tips, Southern Appalachian Region Comments Off on Leyland Cypress Too Big For Many SitesDawn 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 PastSoil Testing Is Fool-Proof Garden Insurance
Posted by Hugh on January 18th, 2012
Soil testing is a gardener’s best low cost insurance for enjoying a gorgeous garden or lawn. A soil analysis may be a problem solver, informing you of the soil nutrient content and pH. It accurately calculates how much chemical fertilizer, limestone, manure and other components to add. You save money is your soil is already rich enough or […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Azaleas (evergreen), Blueberries, Fertilizing plants, lenten rose, organic gardening, plant nutrition, Rhododendrons, Southern Appalachian Region, Uncategorized Comments Off on Soil Testing Is Fool-Proof Garden Insurance
