Calamondin (Citrofortunella mitis) hails from China and is hardy to 20 ºF in temperate regions. It prospers outdoors in Florida, central and southern Texas, and Southern California gardens. Its sweetly fragrant flowers develop into edible ornamental fruits beginning in late fall. Small 1-2 inch diameter orange fruits are highly decorative as an indoor house plant. Calamondin can be […]
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Growing Calamondin Orange
Posted by Hugh on December 18th, 2015
Posted in acidic soil, Aphids, Bee Favorite, Calamondin Orange, Container garden, Container growing, Fertilizing plants, Fragrant, Mealy bugs, Mite susceptible, Mites, Ornamental fruit, Pesticide recommendations, Planting tips, Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Repotting plants, Scale, Soil drainage, Soil pH, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Tropical Plants (non-hardy), watering tips, winter hardiness, Winter Protection 
Comments Off on Growing Calamondin OrangeRe-blooming Your Poinsettia
Posted by Hugh on December 14th, 2015
Many people like to save their poinsettia plant and re-flowered it next Christmas. Scheduling a poinsettia to re-bloom is not difficult, but you need to follow an exact year-long procedure. First, continue to water the soil in the pot until early April. In April, cut the stems back to about 4 inches above the soil. […]
Posted in Fertilizing plants, Flowering house plant, Poinsettia, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Repotting plants, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Tropical Plants (non-hardy) Comments Off on Re-blooming Your PoinsettiaUnique Life Cycle Of Bumble Bees
Posted by Hugh on December 13th, 2015
Bumble bees (Bombus spp.) are highly beneficial insects that pollinate native wildflowers, fruits, vegetables, and many agricultural crops. They’re large robust insects with an easily identifiable black and yellow hairy abdomen. Hundreds of branched hairs pick up and transfer pollen from flowers. About 50 species of bumble bees inhabit North America. They share some common traits […]
Posted in Beneficial Insects, Bumble bees, Garden ecology, Native Plant, Native wildflowers, Perennials, Pollination needs, Southern Appalachian Region, Wildflower Comments Off on Unique Life Cycle Of Bumble BeesWidely Planted Norway Spruce
Posted by Hugh on December 7th, 2015
Norway spruce (Picea abies) is a large pyramidal evergreen conifer. It is native to the mountains of northern and central Europe where it often matures to 100 feet or more in height. In the cool temperate areas of the U.S. and Canada, Norway spruce is widely planted, typically reaching 50 to 80 feet tall at maturity (USDA hardiness […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Christmas tree, container shrub, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Evergreen, Mites, Planting tips, Privacy Screen, Propagation (Seed), Propagation(grafting), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Soil pH, Southern Appalachian Region, Spruces (Picea spp.), Trees & Shrubs, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on Widely Planted Norway SpruceCare Of Staghorn Ferns
Posted by Hugh on December 4th, 2015
Staghorn fern (Platycerium bifercatum) is an epiphyte from the forests of Africa, Australia, and Southeast Asia. In temperate regions, it is a popular house plant. In their natural habitat, it prefers to grow attached to tree trunks or rock outcroppings for support. It draws no nutrients from the tree. Two very different types of fronds (leaves) […]
Posted in acidic soil, compost, Container growing, Disease resistant, Ferns, Foliage plant, Interior (house) Plants, Mealy bugs, plant nutrition, Planting tips, Potting Mix, Propagation (Seed), Pruning, Repotting plants, Scale, Southern Appalachian Region, Staghorn fern, Summer heat tolerant, Tropical Plants (non-hardy), watering tips, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on Care Of Staghorn FernsBuying/Planting A Live Christmas Tree
Posted by Hugh on December 1st, 2015
A living Christmas tree—one that’s planted outdoors after the holidays—has become a tradition with many families to commemorate a birth or someone’s passing. Purchase a live Christmas tree and plant it in your landscape after the holidays. Pre-dig a planting hole ahead because outdoor weather may not be suitable for digging. For safety sake, fill it with leaves or mulch to prevent freezing or […]
Posted in Christmas trees, Container growing, Evergreens, Firs (Abies), Native Plant, Pine (Pinus spp.), Pines (Pinus spp.), Purchasing Plants, Southern Appalachian Region, Spruces (Picea spp.), Trees & Shrubs Comments Off on Buying/Planting A Live Christmas TreeStop Destroying Forsythias
Posted by Hugh on November 24th, 2015
Forsythia (Forsythia spp.), also called “yellow bells”, is an extremely popular spring flowering shrub (USDA hardiness zones 5-8). Their bright yellow flowers signal the coming of spring. However, many gardeners do not know how to prune them. Tall 8-12 foot forms of F. x intermedia are commonly sold at most U.S. garden centers. Forsythias grow from 2 to 10 […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Forsythia, Heat Tolerance, mulching, Overcrowding, Planting tips, Privacy Screen, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Rabbit/deer Protection, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Stop Destroying ForsythiasPreventing Disease Outbreaks In The Garden
Posted by Hugh on November 21st, 2015
When a sick plant has been diagnosed with a viral or bacterial disease, your only option is to remove the diseased branch by pruning or destroy the entire plant. You should start out by practicing prevention. Prevention is adopting good cultural and sanitation practices. Consider the following measures: Start with disease-free […]
Posted in Bacterial diseases, Botrytis disease, Daylilies, Disease prone, Downy mildew, Garden Maintenance, Hosta, Overcrowding, Powdery mildew, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (dividing), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, rose virus, Sanitation, Virus diseases Comments Off on Preventing Disease Outbreaks In The GardenWhat You Should Know About Herbicides
Posted by Hugh on November 18th, 2015
By definition a weed is any plant that you don’t want in your garden. Herbicides are vegetation killers and classified as a pesticide that kills weeds. When used incorrectly, herbicides may injure good plants as well. Always read and understand the package directions before using. In a lawn or garden, you may be trying […]
Posted in Broadleaf weeds, Crabgrass control, Environmental issues, Garden Maintenance, Garden Problems, Herbicide management, Invasive plant, Invasive species, Landscape ideas, Lawn Care, Mowing, Nutsedge Control, Pesticide recommendations, Poisonous or toxic, seeding lawn, Southern Appalachian Region, Weed control, Weeds, Weeds, Wind protection Comments Off on What You Should Know About HerbicidesStylish Boulevard Cypress
Posted by Hugh on November 15th, 2015
A twist here…a turn there, that’s the unique growth of Boulevard Cypress (Chamaecyparis pisifera ‘Boulevard’). It is a popular medium-sized evergreen shrub for home and commercial landscapes (USDA hardiness zones 5-9). Boulevard cypress exhibits a twisted pyramidal form with soft, silvery blue foliage that also grows in a slightly twisted manner. The fine, […]
Posted in acidic soil, Chamaecyparis, compact shrub, container shrub, Disease prone, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Evergreen, Fertilizing plants, Green Privacy Screen, Heat Tolerance, Insect (Pest) Problems, Mite susceptible, mulching, Planting tips, Privacy Screen, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Stylish Boulevard Cypress
