Emerald™ or ‘Emerald Green’ arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis ‘Smaragd’) is not new shrub or cultivar. More than 3 generations of gardeners have used this unique form of eastern arborvitae as their “go to” evergreen shrub up and down the eastern coast and through the Midwest (USDA hardiness zones 3-7). Emerald is a semi-dwarf evergreen shrub with a […]
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Emerald™ Arborvitae
Posted by Hugh on December 4th, 2014
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Arborvitae (Thuja spp.), Bagworms, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, Green Privacy Screen, Landscape ideas, Mites, mulching, Native Plant, plant nutrition, Planting tips, Privacy Screen, Propagation(grafting), Rabbit/deer Protection, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering evergreens, watering tips, winter hardiness 
Comments Off on Emerald™ ArborvitaeLacebark Pine Is An Arboreal Gem
Posted by Hugh on December 1st, 2014
Lacebark pine (Pinus bungeana) is an arboreal gem which few gardeners are privileged to own (USDA hardiness zones 4-8). Hopefully, this will change. Lacebark is a lovely 3-needle pine with exquisite exfoliating bark which becomes more attractive as it ages. Bark mottling begins after 8-10 years, that’s worth the wait if you’re a young patient […]
Posted in acidic soil, Evergreen, Evergreens, Fertilizing plants, Lacebark pine (P. bungeana), mulching trees, Pine (Pinus spp.), Planting tips, Propagation (Seed), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Winter bark, winter hardiness Comments Off on Lacebark Pine Is An Arboreal GemList of Zone 6 Hardy Camellias Grows Longer
Posted by Hugh on November 29th, 2014
If you live and garden in USDA hardiness zone 6, several camellia cultivars are winter hardy. The past decade has seen an increase in the list of hardy cultivars. These same cultivars are also reliable planted in zone 7. Here is a sampling of the best Zone […]
Posted in acidic soil, Autumn flowering, Bee Favorite, Camellia, compact shrub, compost, container shrub, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Evergreen, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Purchasing Plants, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Winter flowering, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on List of Zone 6 Hardy Camellias Grows LongerSpecies Tulips Thrive in Tough Spots
Posted by Hugh on November 27th, 2014
Species tulips (mini-tulips) are tough! In the wild they grow in the winter environs and dry soils of Central Asia, the Middle East, and China (USDA hardiness zones 3-7). In gardens they prosper for many years in full to partial sun and in average soil with good drainage. Over the centuries mini-tulips have been improved. […]
Posted in acidic soil, compost, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Flowers, Landscape ideas, mulching, Perennials, plant nutrition, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Propagation (Seed), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Tulips, Voles, Voles, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Species Tulips Thrive in Tough SpotsTips On Crape Myrtles In Fall And Winter
Posted by Hugh on November 24th, 2014
Hardy cultivars of crape myrtles are best left alone in the fall. Light pruning to remove a broken branch or the seed capsules is ok, but major pruning should wait until early spring. “Crape murder” is a common practice in the Southeast U.S. and is not recommended any time or place. It involves lopping […]
Posted in Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia), Disease resistant, Failure to Bloom, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Winter bark, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on Tips On Crape Myrtles In Fall And WinterDragon Eye – Actually Four Different Pines
Posted by Hugh on November 19th, 2014
In U.S. nursery catalogs, at least four gold striped needle pines are designated “Dragon’s Eye Pine”. They are Japanese red pine (Pinus densiflora ‘Oculus Draconis’), Japanese black pine (P. thunbergi ‘Oculus Draconis’), Variegated Korean pine (P. koraiensis ‘Oculus Draconis’) and Variegated Himalayan pine (P. wallichiana ‘Zebrina’) (USDA hardiness […]
Posted in acidic soil, compact shrub, Deer resistant, Evergreens, Pine (Pinus spp.), Planting tips, Propagation(grafting), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Trees & Shrubs, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on Dragon Eye – Actually Four Different PinesBetter Choices Than Leyland Cypress For Privacy Screen
Posted by Hugh on November 12th, 2014
For homeowners in a rush to establish a tall green privacy screen from the neighbor(s), perhaps a 12-foot tall green fence may be your better option. Among the choices of evergreens to plant, Leyland cypress (x Cupressocyperus leylandii) is fastest growing, but is plagued by any of three serious disease problems. An established leyland cypress planted 12 feet apart completely […]
Posted in Bagworms, Cryptomeria (Japanese cedar), Disease prone, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Evergreen, Evergreens, Leyland cypress, Pesticide recommendations, Planting tips, Privacy Screen, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering iris, winter hardiness Comments Off on Better Choices Than Leyland Cypress For Privacy Screen‘Gyokuryu’ Japanese Cedar -Privacy Screen For Small Gardens
Posted by Hugh on November 9th, 2014
Gyokuryu Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica ‘Gyokuryu’) is a dense, broadly pyramidal evergreen shrub (USDA hardiness zones 5-8). It has short stiff needles that tend to be a slightly darker green than other cryptomeria cultivars. Gyokuryu holds its dark green color through most winters in zone 7 and further south. Expect winter bronzing when Gyokuryu is […]
Posted in acidic soil, Cryptomeria (Japanese cedar), Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Evergreen, Evergreens, Fertilizing plants, Heat Tolerance, Privacy Screen, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on ‘Gyokuryu’ Japanese Cedar -Privacy Screen For Small GardensCarolina Buckthorn Attractive Native Shrub/Tree
Posted by Hugh on November 6th, 2014
Many native plant enthusiasts consider the Carolina Buckthorn, aka Indian cherry (Rhamnus caroliniana), one of our most underutilized native shrubs or small trees. It suffers with a bad common name as it has no thorns or spines. This open, slender branched shrub grows 12 to 15 feet high and 10 to 15 feet wide. (USDA hardiness zones 5-9). Bright green leaves remain on […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Attracting birds, Carolina buckthorn (Rhamnus), Deer resistant, Disease prone, Disease resistant, Green Privacy Screen, Native Plant, Ornamental fruit, Planting tips, Propagation (Seed), Pruning, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Wildlife attractant, winter hardiness Comments Off on Carolina Buckthorn Attractive Native Shrub/TreeBee Bee Tree (Tetradium) Rarely Seen In U.S. Landscapes
Posted by Hugh on November 3rd, 2014
Native to Korea and southwestern China, bee bee tree (Tetradium daniellii) is a deciduous tree with a spreading umbrella-shaped habit and rounded canopy (USDA hardiness zones 4-8). It was formerly named Evodia daniellii. Bee bee tree typically grows to 25-30 feet tall and wide. In July-August small […]
Posted in acidic soil, Autumn Fruiting, Bee Bee Tree (Tetradium), Bee Favorite, Butterflies, Disease resistant, Fragrant, Ornamental fruit, Planting tips, Propagation (Seed), Purchasing Plants, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Winter bark, winter hardiness Comments Off on Bee Bee Tree (Tetradium) Rarely Seen In U.S. Landscapes
