An ice storm is both a beautiful and horrific scene in a garden. The potential for major tree/shrub breakage is staggering. If you feel powerless, this is good thing. During the storm, do nothing / “hands off”. Most actions will likely cause more damage than what nature may have intended. After the storm assess the landscape areas which seem most vulnerable, or that […]
Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category
Ice Storm- Keep Hands Off
Posted by Hugh on December 26th, 2010
Posted in Bradford Pear, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Trees & Shrubs, Uncategorized, winter injury 
Comments Off on Ice Storm- Keep Hands OffTry Microbiota Instead of Ground Junipers
Posted by Hugh on December 23rd, 2010
Summer Foliage of Microbiota Microbiota (Microbiota decussata) goes by numerous names including Russian arborvitae and Siberian cypress. This tough customer hails from Siberia, and quite cold hardy to -40 F. In the northern U.S. its lacy evergreen foliage turns brown in the dead of winter. Here in the Southern Appalachian region, microbiota prospers in cooler parts of zone 6 […]
Posted in DWARF CONIFERS, Ground cover, Juniper, Microbiota, Southern Appalachian Region, Trees & Shrubs Comments Off on Try Microbiota Instead of Ground JunipersCare of Your Poinsettia in the Home
Posted by Hugh on December 20th, 2010
‘Pink Shimmer’ poinsettia You’ve purchased a beautiful poinsettia and want to give it a proper home for the holidays. Room light, temperature and soil moisture are the key environmental concerns. Place your poinsettia either in a bright sunlit room or one receiving an indirect lighting source. Keep the plant away from heating vents and drafty windows. In general, poinsettias grow trouble free […]
Posted in Flowers, Interior (house) Plants, Pests, Uncategorized, watering tips Comments Off on Care of Your Poinsettia in the HomePurchasing The Perfect Poinsettia
Posted by Hugh on December 18th, 2010
One of three posts on poinsettia care: Poinsettias delight the eye at this holiday season with their bright red (and many other color choices) leaf-like bracts. The true flowers are the small multiple buds at the base of the bracts. To select a top quality plant, closely inspect the development of the small flowers. Buds should tightly closed or barely […]
Lacebark pine- an investment in the future
Posted by Hugh on December 13th, 2010
Many rare and unusual garden plants are introduced into a garden as a thoughtful gift. Lacebark pine (Pinus bungeana) is an arboreal aristocrat which a few gardeners are privileged to own. Lacebark is a lovely 3- needle pine with exquisite exfoliating bark which becomes more attractive each succeeding year. The lacebark feature begins after 8-10 years, but it’s […]
Posted in acidic soil, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, DWARF CONIFERS, Evergreen, Evergreens, Fertilizing plants, mulching, Pines (Pinus spp.), Planting tips, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Uncategorized, watering tips, Winter bark, winter hardiness 2 Comments »Hydrangea Invincibelle Spirit ®
Posted by Hugh on December 10th, 2010
Hydrangea Invincibelle® Spirit ranks as one of the finest new plant introductions in 2010. This hydrangea comes from a good bloodline. Invincibelle® Spirit is a pink flowering clone originating from Annabelle. The cultivar ‘Annabelle’ (Hydrangea arborescens ‘Annabelle’) has been a star in Southern Appalachian gardens (USDA hardiness zones 6 and 7) for the past quarter century. Invincibelle® […]
Posted in Hydrangea, Native Plant, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Trees & Shrubs, Uncategorized, watering tips Comments Off on Hydrangea Invincibelle Spirit ®December Garden Classic – Prague Viburnum
Posted by Hugh on December 7th, 2010
Garden Classics: a monthly retrospective featuring a singular plant species either under-planted or relatively unknown to gardeners living in the Southern Appalachian Region. Prague viburnum (Viburnum x pragense) is a lovely evergreen shrub, which combines all the best traits of its parents (V. rhytidophyllum and V. utile). It is winter hardy throughout the Southern Appalachian region […]
Posted in Flowering, Flowers, Trees & Shrubs, Uncategorized 
Tags: Viburnum Comments Off on December Garden Classic – Prague ViburnumChoosing a Cut Christmas Tree
Posted by Hugh on November 30th, 2010
Christmas Trees at Local Garden Center Fire safety in the home should be your primary concern when purchasing a freshly cut Christmas tree. There are numerous “choose and cut” Christmas tree growers in the Southern Appalachian region (USDA zones 6 and 7). Trees are harvested by the tens of thousands in the mountainous locales and are […]
“It’s Wort…not Wart”
Posted by Hugh on November 25th, 2010
Barrenworts (Epimedium spp.) are a collection of ground cover species mostly from Asia and Europe. None are native to North America, but most thrive in gardens in the Southern Appalachian region (USDA zones 6 and 7). There are currently 21 known species worldwide. Also called Bishop’s hat, barrenworts are one of our finest groundcovers for part sun to part shade areas. Some are […]
Posted in Barrenwort (Epimedium), Ground cover, Perennials, seeding lawn, Shade Gardening, Southern Appalachian Region, Uncategorized Comments Off on “It’s Wort…not Wart”Autumn’s Last Hurrah -Bradford Pear
Posted by Hugh on November 22nd, 2010
Currently, the Southern Appalachian region (USDA zones 6 and 7) is enriched by the vibrant red fall foliage of callery (ornamental) pears (Pyrus calleryana), commonly identified as ‘Bradford’ pear. There are several cultivars of callery pears besides Bradford. A great deal of negativity has befallen Bradford pear, some not totally deserved. Yes, Bradford is weak- […]
