Aster Raydon’s Favorite (Symphyotrichum oblongifolium ‘Raydon’s Favorite’) is one of our most reliable native perennial asters. This aromatic aster blooms in mid-autumn, covered with 1 ½ inch wide blue-purple daisy-like flowers with yellow centers. Butterflies and bumble bees are frequent visitors to this aster in my October garden. Night temps in the mid-twenties don’t injure […]
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Aster ‘Raydon’s Favorite’ Is Spectacular Autumn Bloomer
Posted by Hugh on September 11th, 2013
Posted in acidic soil, Aster, Autumn flowering, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, deadheading, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Insect (Pest) Problems, Native Plant, Perennials, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Virus diseases, watering tips 
Comments Off on Aster ‘Raydon’s Favorite’ Is Spectacular Autumn BloomerHeirloom Mums Are Back!
Posted by Hugh on September 8th, 2013
Bring back heirloom or “old-fashioned” mum varieties into your autumn garden! These varieties tend to bloom very late in the fall and tend to be hardier (USDA hardiness zone 5). Four of the best heirlooms are: ‘Clara Curtis’ – deep pink, daisy-like blooms ‘Mary Stoker’- peachy yellow blooms ‘Sheffield’ (aka ‘Sheffield Pink’) – light pink […]
Posted in Autumn flowering, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, Chrysanthemum, Disease resistant, Flowers, mulching, Perennials, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, watering tips, Winter Protection Comments Off on Heirloom Mums Are Back!Seeds One Year…Weeds For Eight Years
Posted by Hugh on September 1st, 2013
Most weed invasions happen when you let the weeds get past you. If you don’t let them flower, they won’t reproduce (seed-in). Frequent mowing or a sharp machete may delay their ability to flower and seed. This is only a temporary solution. Some weeds flower and seed below the mower’s cut. Examples are common lawn […]
Posted in Aggressive grower, Annuals, Flowers, Ground cover, Jewels of Opar (Talinum), Landscape ideas, Melampodium (Medallion flower), Morning glory (Ipomoea), mulching, Propagation (Seed), Purchasing Plants, Sanitation, Southern Appalachian Region, Vine, Weed control, winter hardiness Comments Off on Seeds One Year…Weeds For Eight YearsDaylilies Not Blooming?
Posted by Hugh on August 29th, 2013
Gardeners become disappointed when their daylilies (Hemerocallis spp.) are not bloom. There may be reasons for this including: old clumps in need of dividing, inadequate nutrition, too much nitrogen fertilizer, too much shade, and pest and disease issues. Daylilies may be shaded or crowded out by overgrown trees, shrubs, ground covers, or weeds. Heavy amounts […]
Posted in acidic soil, Autumn flowering, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, compost, Daylilies, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Failure to Bloom, Hummingbird, mulching, Perennials, plant nutrition, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Pruning, Sanitation, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, Winter Protection Comments Off on Daylilies Not Blooming?Labor Day Holiday Begins Home Lawn Recovery
Posted by Hugh on August 26th, 2013
Hopefully, summer’s extreme heat, drought, and in some areas flooding, are about over. Late summer and fall are opportune times to start a new or renovate your home lawn. Rainfall is usually plentiful and cooler day-night temperatures should spur a rapid grass recovery. Your current lawn may be mostly bare ground with lots of weeds. […]
Posted in Broadleaf weeds, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing, Irrigation, Landscape ideas, Lawn Care, Southern Appalachian Region, Tall Fescue, Weeds Comments Off on Labor Day Holiday Begins Home Lawn RecoveryArrowwood Viburnum Very Tough U.S. Native Shrub
Posted by Hugh on August 22nd, 2013
Arrowwood Viburnum (Viburnum dentatum) is an easy to grow deciduous shrub that handles most landscape conditions, including soil types (USDA hardiness zones 5 to 8). It grows best in full sun and in a well-drained soil. Clusters of tiny, creamy-white flat-topped flowers appear from late spring into summer. A bountiful crop of dark blue berries […]
Posted in Aggressive grower, Attracting birds, Bee Favorite, compact shrub, container shrub, Disease resistant, Insect (Pest) Problems, Native Plant, Ornamental fruit, Privacy Screen, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Viburnum beetles, Viburnums, winter hardiness Comments Off on Arrowwood Viburnum Very Tough U.S. Native ShrubDivide Irises In Late Summer
Posted by Hugh on August 17th, 2013
Irises (Iris spp.) are beloved spring flowering perennials. Perhaps some fans and clumps flowered poorly this spring. There are several reasons for this, including: old clumps in need of dividing, weather issues, poorly drained soil, inadequate nutrition, too much nitrogen fertilizer, heavy shade, and pest and disease problems. Irises do not compete well for space […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, Drought tolerant, Failure to Bloom, Fertilizing plants, Fragrant, Heat Tolerance, Insect (Pest) Problems, Iris, Perennials, plant nutrition, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Uncategorized, watering iris, Weed control, Winter Protection Comments Off on Divide Irises In Late SummerNew ‘Big’ Begonias Showier Alternative To Wax Begonias
Posted by Hugh on August 6th, 2013
Wax begonias (Begonia x semperflorens) continue to be dependable a summer flowering annual for gardens and container use. They also hold up to summer’s heat, humidity, and dry spells and foliage remains mostly pest and disease free. Begonia benariensis are a relatively new introduction by the Benary Seed Co. and are trademarked as Big™ begonias […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bee Favorite, Begonia, Butterflies, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Flowers, Heat Tolerance, mulching, Planting tips, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips Comments Off on New ‘Big’ Begonias Showier Alternative To Wax Begonias‘Sun King’ Golden Aralia Brightens Up Any Garden Spot
Posted by Hugh on August 3rd, 2013
Plants with golden foliage can brighten up a drab green garden patch. Sun King golden aralia (Aralia cordata ‘Sun King’) is no exception, hardy in USDA hardiness zones 3-9. The golden compound foliage emerges in mid-spring and retains its bright color throughout the summer. This herbaceous perennial grows 4 to 6 feet high and 3 […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Aralia 'Sun King', Bee Favorite, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Foliage plant, Heat Tolerance, mulching, Perennials, Planting tips, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on ‘Sun King’ Golden Aralia Brightens Up Any Garden SpotSmall (Dwarf) Crape Myrtles Becoming The Vogue
Posted by Hugh on July 27th, 2013
‘Tightwad Red’ Crape Myrtle Over the past quarter century crape myrtles (Lagerstroemia spp.) have become the quintessential flowering shrubs of summer along with hydrangeas (Hydrangea spp.), altheas (Hibiscus syriacus), and chaste tree (Vitex agnus-castus). Crape myrtles are grouped into four distinct size categories: trees, large shrubs, medium shrubs and dwarf sizes. A spate of new dwarf […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, compact shrub, Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia), Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Flowering, Heat Tolerance, mulching, plant nutrition, Planting tips, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Trees & Shrubs, Uncategorized, watering tips Comments Off on Small (Dwarf) Crape Myrtles Becoming The Vogue
