Summer annuals: Hot July – August weather may demand daily or twice-daily watering for container-grown annuals. A trustworthy neighbor may have to handle these chores. Flowers and vegetables: When there is no rain within a week, water deeply any vegetables that are bearing fruits like tomato, peppers, and squash. Plants will keep producing far into […]
Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category
Watering Tips When Away On Vacation
Posted by Hugh on January 15th, 2016
Posted in Astilbe (false spirea), Bermuda, Blackberry Lily (Belamcandra), Bulb Crops, Caladium, Canna lily, Canna lily, Container garden, Crocosmia (Montbretia), Dahlia, Ferns, Ferns, Fruits & Vegetables, Garden Maintenance, Herbs, Interior (house) Plants, Kentucky bluegrass, Lily (Lilium), Pineapple lily (Eucomis), Planting tips, Roses, Tall Fescue, watering tips, Zoysia 
Comments Off on Watering Tips When Away On VacationTree Diversity Important In Urban Parks And Streets
Posted by Hugh on January 12th, 2016
In recent years urban tree diversity has become a buzz topic. The threat of losing entire street plantings to a deadly exotic disease or pest has to often become the reality. Nearly a century ago, urban tree-lined thoroughfares were laid bare by losses of American elms (Ulmus americana) and […]
Posted in Ash (Fraxinus), Beech (Fagus spp.), Birch (Betula spp.), Chestnut, Disease prone, Disease resistant, Elms (Ulmus), Insect (Pest) Problems, Invasive species, Maples (Acer), Native Plant, Oaks (Quercus spp.), Poplar (Populus spp.), river birch, Southern Appalachian Region, Trees & Shrubs Comments Off on Tree Diversity Important In Urban Parks And StreetsThree Easy Care Foliage Plants For Your Home
Posted by Hugh on January 9th, 2016
Chinese Evergreen (Aglaonema), Dumbcane (Dieffenbachia), and Calthea (Calthea spp.) are three similar looking tropical house plants (USDA hardiness zones 8 through 11). Likely, you have seen these easy to grow foliage plants inside restaurants, shopping malls, offices, and at the public library. They grow in medium to low light areas of the home or […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aphids, Calthea, Chinese evergreen (Aglaonema), Dumbcane (Dieffenbachia), Evergreen, Fertilizing plants, Foliage plant, Interior (house) Plants, Mealy bugs, Mites, Pesticide recommendations, plant nutrition, Planting tips, Poisonous or toxic, Poisonous plant, Potting Mix, Purchasing Plants, Repotting plants, Scale, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Tropical Plants (non-hardy), watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Three Easy Care Foliage Plants For Your HomeAsian Pears Becoming Very Popular
Posted by Hugh on January 6th, 2016
Whether home-grown or store bought, Asian pear (Pyrus pyrifolia) fruits ripen sweet and tasty on the tree (USDA hardiness zones 4-9). There are over 100 varieties available worldwide, many with difficult to pronounce. Investigate variety cold hardiness and winter chilling rating as some cultivars are hardier than others. Southern varieties require only 300- 600 hours of winter chilling temperatures […]
Posted in acidic soil, Asian Pears, Bee Favorite, Disease prone, Fertilizing plants, Fruits & Vegetables, Harvest Time, Heat Tolerance, Insect (Pest) Problems, mulching, Pear (Pyrus spp.), Pesticide recommendations, Planting tips, Pollination needs, Powdery mildew, Propagation(grafting), Pruning, Rabbit/deer Protection, Root suckering, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Voles, Wildlife attractant, winter hardiness Comments Off on Asian Pears Becoming Very PopularFall Anemone 2016 Perennial Plant of The Year
Posted by Hugh on January 3rd, 2016
Japanese anemone (Anemone x hybrida), popularly called “fall anemone”, are long-lived, fall-flowering perennials for cottage and open woodland gardens. They start to flower in late summer in many parts of the U.S. (USDA hardiness zones 4 to 7). Several colorful varieties are available. Fall anemones make great additions to cut floral […]
Posted in acidic soil, Anemone, Autumn flowering, Bee Favorite, compost, Container garden, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, mulching, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (dividing), Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, Wind protection, winter hardiness Comments Off on Fall Anemone 2016 Perennial Plant of The YearInvincibelle Spirit Hydrangea Raises Money For The Cure
Posted by Hugh on December 31st, 2015
Since the introduction of the Invincibelle Spirit® hydrangea in 2009, sales from this special plant have raised funds for The Breast Cancer Research Foundation® (BCRF). At the end of 2015, fundraising efforts reached over $900,000 toward its million dollar goal. In addition to donating one dollar for every plant sold, it serves as the heart […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bee Favorite, compact shrub, container shrub, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Hydrangeas, Native Plant, Propagation (Cuttings), Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, winter hardiness Comments Off on Invincibelle Spirit Hydrangea Raises Money For The CureHouse Plants Purify Indoor Air
Posted by Hugh on December 30th, 2015
Yes, house plants do indeed clean, filter and purify the air of various toxins and pollutants. Back in the 1980’s the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)conducted tests to determine the best house plants that helped purify indoor air in homes and work environments. If humans were to traveled to inhospitable planets, humans would inhabit biospheres full of plants scrub […]
Posted in Arrowwood (Syngonium), Banana (Ensete spp.), Bromeliads, Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera), Foliage plant, Interior (house) Plants, Norfolk Island Pine, Orchids, Philodendron, Poinsettia, Poisonous or toxic, Rubber Plant (Ficus), Staghorn fern, Tropical Plants (non-hardy), Vine Comments Off on House Plants Purify Indoor AirArrowhead Vine- Easy Care House Plant
Posted by Hugh on December 27th, 2015
Arrowhead vine (Syngonium podophyllum), often called nephthytis, is a easy to grow trailing or vertical climbing house plant. It is indigenous to the Central and South America tropics and is botanically related to philodendron. Its 5-7 inch long leaves are arrowhead shape, with a dull pointed tip (apex) and two basal lobes. Foliage of modern day varieties come in more color […]
Posted in acidic soil, Arrowwood (Syngonium), compost, Fertilizing plants, Planting tips, Poisonous plant, Potting Mix, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (layering), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Repotting plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Staking, Tropical Plants (non-hardy), watering tips, Winter Protection Comments Off on Arrowhead Vine- Easy Care House PlantCare of Holiday Cactus
Posted by Hugh on December 25th, 2015
Thanksgiving cactus (Schlumbergera truncata) and Christmas cactus (S. bridgesii) are popular fall- and winter-flowering houseplants. Flower colors (by variety) include red, purple, lavender, cream, and white. Holiday cacti thrive in hanging baskets. The scalped stems and foliage start out growing vertically and weeks later begin to spill over the edge of the pot. Plants flourish for many years if […]
Posted in acidic soil, Autumn flowering, Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera), Container garden, deadheading, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, Flowering house plant, Foliage plant, Planting tips, Potting Mix, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Repotting plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Tropical Plants (non-hardy), watering tips, Wind protection, Winter flowering, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on Care of Holiday CactusAmerican Holly For Year-round Interest
Posted by Hugh on December 22nd, 2015
American Holly (Ilex opaca) is a pyramidal evergreen tree that deserves to be planted more for multiple reasons. It is native to the eastern and central U. S. and is easily identified by its spiny green leaves (USDA hardiness zones 5 to 9). It grows slowly to 15 to 35 feet, sometimes taller. The leathery, deep […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Bee Favorite, Deer resistant, Drought tolerant, Evergreen, Fertilizing plants, Green Privacy Screen, Heat Tolerance, Ilex (hollies), Leaf miner, Mites, Native Plant, Ornamental fruit, Planting tips, Poisonous or toxic, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (Seed), Soil drainage, Soil pH, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Wildlife attractant, Wind protection, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on American Holly For Year-round Interest
