Japanese Forest Grass (Hakonechloa macra) is the shade-loving grass utilized for accent – to brighten a dark patch in the garden (USDA hardiness zones 5-9). Forest grass grows best in a moist, compost-rich, well-drained soil. Soil moisture and light exposure a key factors to prevent foliage from scorching or discoloring. Too much or too little […]
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Many Cool Choices of Japanese Forest Grass
Posted by Hugh on July 24th, 2013
Posted in acidic soil, Disease resistant, Ground cover, Hakone grass, Ornamental Grasses, Perennials, Planting tips, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, watering tips, winter hardiness 
Comments Off on Many Cool Choices of Japanese Forest GrassRussian Sage More Shrub-like Than Perennial
Posted by Hugh on July 21st, 2013
Russian sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia) is low maintenance woody-based perennial. It grows in a dry to medium moist average soil and, first and foremost, in full sun. It’s a long-lived perennial which stands up to summer’s heat and humidity (USDA hardiness zones 5-9). Branches tend to flop or take on a droopy appearance in late summer. […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Fragrant, Heat Tolerance, Perennials, Pruning, Russian sage (Perovskia), Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, winter hardiness Comments Off on Russian Sage More Shrub-like Than PerennialHeat Tolerant Annuals That Create Their Own Heat
Posted by Hugh on July 18th, 2013
In some parts of the U.S. summer is sizzling, and it may also be very dry. Several colorful annuals cope with summer heat and humidity better than others. Northeast U.S. cities are sweltering near 100°F. A sure bet is that every summer will be hot and humid in Savannah, GA. Near a popular restaurant is […]
Posted in Acalypha spp., Begonia, Coleus, Drought tolerant, Fan flower (Scaevola), Globe amaranth (Gomphrena), Heat Tolerance, Irrigation, Marigold, Moss rose (Portulaca), Pentas (Egyptian star flower), Salvia, Star zinnia, Summer flowering, Sweet potato vine, Tapioca plant (Manihot), watering tips Comments Off on Heat Tolerant Annuals That Create Their Own HeatLong Blooming Colorful ‘Kaleidoscope’ Flowering Abelia
Posted by Hugh on July 15th, 2013
Abelia (Abelia x grandiflora) is a popular shrub in the Southeastern U.S. (USDA hardiness zones 6–9). Foliage is evergreen in USDA Zone 7 and south. The cultivar ‘Kaleidoscope’ is a form of abelia that can be utilized as a 2 to 3 feet tall by 3 to 4 feet wide compact shrub or low spreading […]
Posted in Abelia, Autumn flowering, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, compact shrub, Drought tolerant, Evergreens, Fertilizing plants, Ground cover, Heat Tolerance, Planting tips, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs Comments Off on Long Blooming Colorful ‘Kaleidoscope’ Flowering AbeliaTroubled Pines… And Some Good Ones To Grow
Posted by Hugh on July 12th, 2013
Mugho, aka mugo pine (Pinus mugo), and Scots pine (P. sylvestris) are two troubled pines which gardeners in the Southern Appalachian region (USDA Hardiness zones 6 and 7) have shied away from planting. Both have become problem growers over the past quarter century. Scots pine suffers from several devastating foliar diseases. Once a popular Christmas […]
Posted in Christmas tree, Disease prone, Disease resistant, Evergreens, Firs (Abies), Fraser fir (Abies), Garden Problems, Mugo pine (Pinus mugo), Pine (Pinus spp.), Pines (Pinus spp.), Planting tips, Southern Appalachian Region, Trees & Shrubs, winter hardiness Comments Off on Troubled Pines… And Some Good Ones To GrowSilver Linden Foliage Shimmers On A Windy Day
Posted by Hugh on July 8th, 2013
Silver linden (Tilia tomentosa) is a rarely planted large shade tree. Native to southeastern European, silver linden demonstrates better heat and drought tolerances in the southern U.S. than most lindens. It grows to 50 to 60 feet in height over 25-30 years with a moderate annual growth rate. A newly planted tree exhibits a narrow […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Large Shade trees, Ornamental fruit, Silver Linden (Tilia), Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs Comments Off on Silver Linden Foliage Shimmers On A Windy Day“Red Sells”: Red Flowering Crape Myrtles
Posted by Hugh on July 1st, 2013
In the Southern U.S. crape myrtles (Lagerstroemia spp.) provide summer long flowering. In the garden center business there is a popular saying: “red flowers sell”. Among crape myrtles red flowering cultivars generally outsell all others. Probably the most popular red variety is Dynamite®, a Carl Whitcomb introduction. Dr. Whitcomb followed with other red introductions of different […]
Posted in acidify soil, alkaline soil, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, compact shrub, compact tree, container shrub, Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia), Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Heat Tolerance, Landscape ideas, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Winter bark Comments Off on “Red Sells”: Red Flowering Crape MyrtlesStop Ignoring And Start Planting Hophornbeam
Posted by Hugh on June 28th, 2013
Hophornbeam (Ostrya virginiana) is a medium sized tree native to the eastern half of North America (USDA hardiness zones 4-8). The tree is practically ignored by landscape designers and installers. Few nurserymen grow it. Hophornbeam is often confused with the true hornbeams (Carpinus spp.). Both are called “ironwood”, referring to the hard muscular wood of […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Heat Tolerance, Hophornbeam (Ostrya), Medium sized Tree, Native Plant, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Winter bark, winter hardiness Comments Off on Stop Ignoring And Start Planting Hophornbeam2013 Garden Participation Up, Total Spending Still Down
Posted by Hugh on June 24th, 2013
The National Gardening Association recently released their 2013 National Gardening Survey. Household participation in gardening rose 2% since 2011— now totaling approximately 85 million households. Popularity in food/edible gardening continued to rise for the sixth straight year in a row, soaring past flower gardening in terms of dollars spent. The increase in male gardeners from […]
Posted in Gardening Surveys, Uncategorized Comments Off on 2013 Garden Participation Up, Total Spending Still Down‘Tom Thumb’ Cotoneaster Perfect For Small Spaces
Posted by Hugh on June 22nd, 2013
The world of cotoneasters (Cotoneaster spp.) is primarily an assortment of medium to tall growing shrubs. Cotoneaster ‘Tom Thumb’ (syn. C. ‘Little Gem’) is very different. Its diminutive size fits into those small spots such as a rock garden or among dwarf conifers. Its dark green shiny foliage creates a textural contrast with many annuals […]
Posted in acidic soil, compact shrub, Cotoneaster, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Ground cover, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Trees & Shrubs Comments Off on ‘Tom Thumb’ Cotoneaster Perfect For Small Spaces
