Canadian hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) is a native evergreen species which is available in many forms: prostrate, globose, weeping, fastigiate and variegated (USDA Hardiness Zones 3-7). Its tremendous versatility as a hedging tree or shrub in planting sites is also a great reason to continue to include hemlock in the landscape. Hemlock may […]
Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category
Take A Second Look At Canadian Hemlock
Posted by Hugh on January 18th, 2015
Posted in Attracting birds, compact shrub, container shrub, DWARF CONIFERS, Evergreen, Hemlock (Tsuga), Insect (Pest) Problems, Native Plant, Planting tips, Privacy Screen, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation(grafting), Purchasing Plants, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Wildlife attractant, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness 
Comments Off on Take A Second Look At Canadian HemlockMt. Cuba Center Evaluates Heuchera (Coralbells) Cultivars
Posted by Hugh on January 16th, 2015
Over the past quarter century, gardeners have enjoyed the wonderful heuchera revolution (USDA hardiness zones 4-9). A great many hybrid cultivars have been introduced with more arriving every spring. Unfortunately, the flood of new cultivars has given us a huge number of poor selections. As I talk with […]
Posted in acidic soil, compost, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Evergreen, Ground cover, Heuchera (coralbells), mulching, Native Plant, Perennials, Propagation (dividing), Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on Mt. Cuba Center Evaluates Heuchera (Coralbells) CultivarsBlue Atlas Cedar Becoming Very Popular In Urban Landscape
Posted by Hugh on January 10th, 2015
Blue Atlas cedar (Cedrus atlantica ) hails from the Atlas Mountains in northern Morocco and Algeria (USDA hardiness zone 6). The cultivar ‘Glauca’ has been the popular choice because of its blue green foliage. Blue Atlas grows to 40-60 feet in height, but individuals over 70 feet are hard to find. Mature forms, those 50 […]
Posted in acidic soil, Atlas cedar (Cedrus), Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Evergreens, Heat Tolerance, Large Shade trees, Planting tips, Privacy Screen, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Staking, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Winter bark, winter hardiness Comments Off on Blue Atlas Cedar Becoming Very Popular In Urban LandscapeMany Shapes and Sizes Of Cryptomerias
Posted by Hugh on January 7th, 2015
Japanese cedar, aka cryptomeria, (Cryptomeria japonica) is the national tree of Japan and is also indigenous to China (USDA hardiness zones 5 to 8). Cryptomeria cultivars vary greatly from very dwarf to rounded shrubs to large tree forms. Needle-like foliage may be dark green, medium green, golden or contorted leaves. Cryptomerias tolerate hot humid summers and […]
Posted in acidic soil, Cryptomeria (Japanese cedar), Deer resistant, Drought tolerant, DWARF CONIFERS, Evergreen, Landscape ideas, Privacy Screen, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on Many Shapes and Sizes Of CryptomeriasTwelve Days Of Christmas Showcase At Dallas Arboretum
Posted by Hugh on January 3rd, 2015
The Dallas Arboretum in Texas is hosting a festive holiday exposition: The Twelve Days at Christmas. It is an elaborate collection of 25-foot Victorian gazebos themed to “The Twelve Days at Christmas”. Each of 12 gazebos is comprised of charming costumed characters and whimsical animals made famous […]
Posted in Christmas tree, Evergreens, Gardens to Visit, Landscape ideas, Winter Garden Interest Comments Off on Twelve Days Of Christmas Showcase At Dallas ArboretumWhat A Plant Costs
Posted by Hugh on January 1st, 2015
I overheard a customer complain about the “outrageous” prices for plants, particularly the newly introduced ones. Here is some of the whys: Certain plants are difficult to reproduce. Occasionally, stores may stock some expensive items like paperbark maple (Acer griseum) and fringetree (Chionanthus virginicus). These […]
Posted in Landscape ideas, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (dividing), Propagation (Seed), Propagation(grafting), Purchasing Plants, Uncategorized Comments Off on What A Plant CostsBeware Of Short-Lived And Overly Aggressive Plants
Posted by Hugh on December 27th, 2014
Gardening does involve some work, sometimes a lot more if you select the wrong plants. A good purchase may even reduce annual maintenance. Some of them are beautifully tempting at the garden center. Non-hardy woody trees and shrubs often sold by box store garden centers. For example, it […]
Posted in Aggressive grower, Disease prone, Environmental issues, Garden Problems, Insect (Pest) Problems, Invasive plant, Invasive species, Landscape ideas, Pests, Purchasing Plants, Southern Appalachian Region Comments Off on Beware Of Short-Lived And Overly Aggressive PlantsHoliday Poinsettia Requires Basic Care
Posted by Hugh on December 24th, 2014
Gifts have been opened and a great dinner served. The holiday season may be waning, but your beautiful poinsettia plant (Euphorbia pulcherrima) will require some minimal care. Generally, the same weekly care that you provide your house plants will keep your poinsettia looking beautiful most of the winter. Here are some basic tips: Place poinsettia in bright natural light […]
Posted in acidic soil, Fertilizing plants, Interior (house) Plants, Landscape ideas, Poinsettia, Poinsettia, Purchasing Plants, Summer heat tolerant, Tropical Plants (non-hardy), watering tips Comments Off on Holiday Poinsettia Requires Basic CareDetermining A Plant’s Cold Hardiness
Posted by Hugh on December 21st, 2014
On-line nursery catalogs and plant labels at garden centers list the hardiness of the trees, shrubs, vines, and perennials that they sell. Many years ago the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) developed the hardiness rating scale based on geographic location from northern Canada to southern Mexico. Most U.S. gardeners live within Zones 3 to 11. Don’t know […]
Posted in Environmental issues, Landscape ideas, Perennials, Purchasing Plants, Southern Appalachian Region, Trees & Shrubs, Tropical Plants (non-hardy), winter hardiness, winter injury, Winter Protection Comments Off on Determining A Plant’s Cold HardinessNew Christmas Roses (Hellebores) Greatly Improved
Posted by Hugh on December 18th, 2014
Christmas roses (Helleborus niger) is a winter flowering perennial. It is native to central and southern Europe (USDA hardiness zones 4-8) and is not as winter hardy as lenten rose (Helleborus x orientalis). Christmas rose tends to flower 1 to 4 weeks earlier, around the Christmas holidays in southern climes (zones 7-8). New selections of H. niger are better […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Container garden, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Evergreen, Fertilizing plants, Hellebores, Perennials, Planting tips, Poisonous or toxic, Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Slugs, Slugs, Snails, Soil drainage, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, Winter flowering, winter hardiness Comments Off on New Christmas Roses (Hellebores) Greatly Improved
