Monkeygrass (Liriope muscari) and creeping lilyturf (L. spicata) are native to Asia. They are known by several names including lilyturf, monkeygrass, spider grass and liriope (USDA hardiness zones 6-10). Some varieties are hardier than others. In general, L. muscari have more narrow leaves. Depending on variety, spikes of lavender, purple, or white flowers arise in […]
Archive for the ‘Purchasing Plants’ Category
Know About Liriopes
Posted by Hugh on February 10th, 2019
Posted in acidic soil, Aggressive grower, alkaline soil, Bees and other pollinators, compost, Container garden, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Environmental Conservation, Environmental issues, Evergreen, Fertilizing plants, Heat Tolerance, Invasive plant, Invasive species, Landscape ideas, Liriope, Mowing, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness 
Comments Off on Know About LiriopesAmerican Hornbeam – Versatile Small U.S. Native Tree
Posted by Hugh on February 5th, 2019
American hornbeam (Carpinus caroliniana), aka ironwood or muscle wood, grows primarily in moist, slightly acidic soils along woodland rivers and streams (USDA hardiness zones 3-9). This native hornbeam adapts to either wet or dry ground as long as soil moisture drains off, and it does not flood over long periods. This durable small tree copes with […]
Posted in acidic soil, American hornbeam, Cold tolerance, Deciduous, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Heat Tolerance, Hornbeam (Carpinus), Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Planting tips, Privacy Screen, Propagation (Seed), Propagation(grafting), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Transplant problem, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on American Hornbeam – Versatile Small U.S. Native TreeTips On Amending The Soil In The Planting Hole
Posted by Hugh on February 1st, 2019
Adding large amounts of compost or organic matter to a planting hole greatly improve the soil’s water-holding capacity and aeration. Simply throwing piles of leaves into the bottom of the planting hole helps improve a soil. However, amending the planting hole is not recommended by most plant experts. Why? According to soil scientists, the plant roots stay locked within the rich […]
Posted in acidic soil, Azaleas (evergreen), Birch (Betula spp.), Black gum (Nyssa), Blackberries, Deciduous Azaleas, Evergreens, Fertilizing plants, Garden Maintenance, Hydrangea arborescens, Hydrangeas, Ilex (hollies), Inkberry Holly (Ilex), Landscape Construction, Landscape ideas, Large Shade trees, Mountain laurel (Kalmia), mulching, mulching trees, Pieris japonica, Planting tips, Purchasing Plants, Rhododendrons, river birch, Soil drainage, Soil Testing, Southern Appalachian Region, Trees & Shrubs Comments Off on Tips On Amending The Soil In The Planting HoleRe-blooming Poinsettia This Fall
Posted by Hugh on January 26th, 2019
The winter holidays may be over, but your poinsettia plant is likely still looking pretty. If you opt to grow and re-bloom your plant next Christmas, follow this growing schedule. Keep the soil evenly moist and set the plant in bright daylight. Feed bi-monthly with a house plant fertilizer. Inspect and rid your plants of all […]
Posted in acidic soil, Annuals, Aphids, Failure to Bloom, Fertilizing plants, Interior (house) Plants, Landscape ideas, Mealy bugs, Photoperiod (Daylength), Planting tips, Poinsettia, Poinsettia, Potting Mix, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Repotting plants, Scale, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, White flies, Winter Protection Comments Off on Re-blooming Poinsettia This FallAll About Soil Drainage
Posted by Hugh on January 20th, 2019
Many landscape plants die because they were planted in soil that was too wet or soggy. Poorly drained soils are generally poorly aerated. A high water table in an area limits your choices of plants that you may grow. Plants that grow naturally along streams and ponds are good candidates for poorly drained sites. During periods of heavy […]
Posted in compost, Container garden, Daphne odora, Garden ecology, Landscape Construction, Landscape ideas, Moss (in lawn), mulching, Planting tips, Potting Mix, Purchasing Plants, root injury, Root rotting, Soil Conservation, Soil drainage, Soil Testing, Southern Appalachian Region, Transplant problem, watering tips Comments Off on All About Soil DrainageSelecting A Good Landscape Shade Tree
Posted by Hugh on January 15th, 2019
Medium to large shade trees increase the value of your property. Their summer shade and wintry wind protection may also reduce utility bills by 20 to 25%. Trees attract wild birds for nesting, protection, and as a food source. Some deciduous species will brighten up the landscape with dazzling fall color. Choosing a fast growing tree, yet some may not […]
Posted in Attracting birds, Bees and other pollinators, Birch (Betula spp.), Black gum (Nyssa), Butterflies, Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia), Dioecious, Disease resistant, Elms (Ulmus), Ginkgo biloba, Golden Raintree, Green ash (Fraxinus), Hackberry (Celtis), Honeylocust (Gleditsia), Hornbeam (Carpinus), Japanese Pagoda Tree (Styphnolobium), Kentucky coffeetree, Landscape Construction, Landscape ideas, Large Shade trees, Linden (Tilia), Maples (Acer), Medium sized Tree, Native Plant, Oaks (Quercus spp.), pin oak, Purchasing Plants, Shade tree, Silver Linden (Tilia), Silver maple (Acer saccharinum), Street tree, Sweetgum (Liquidambar), Sycamore (Platanus), Trees & Shrubs, Tulip tree (Liriodendron), willow oak, Willow oak (Quercus), Yellowwood, Zelkova Comments Off on Selecting A Good Landscape Shade TreeUpdate On Boxwood Blight Disease
Posted by Hugh on January 1st, 2019
A decade ago, boxwoods (Buxus spp.) were the quintessential shrubs, particularly for formal hedges. Over the past half century, many new boxwood varieties have been introduced into nursery commerce, a boxwood variety that will work in most garden situations. Just five years ago, boxwood production at U.S. nurseries was greater than for azaleas, hollies, hydrangeas, and arborvitaes. […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bees and other pollinators, Boxwood (Buxus), Chlorosis (yellowing), Container garden, Disease prone, Environmental issues, Evergreen, Hedges, Landscape ideas, mulching, Pesticide recommendations, Planting tips, Privacy Screen, Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Sanitation, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Trees & Shrubs, watering evergreens, watering tips Comments Off on Update On Boxwood Blight DiseaseWeeping Landscape Trees
Posted by Hugh on December 28th, 2018
Weeping forms of willows (Salix spp.), flowering cherries (Prunus spp.), pines (Pinus spp.), spruces (Picea spp.) and European beeches (Fagus sylvatica) are magnificent landscape features. Weeping forms of evergreen and deciduous trees develop strong upright central leaders, and their outward branches cascade downward. Among conifer species there are over 150 different cultivars with pendulous habits. Here is a list of 28 weeping tree species. I […]
Posted in Atlas cedar (Cedrus), Attracting Butterflies, Bald cypress (Taxodium), Beech (Fagus spp.), Bees and other pollinators, Birch (Betula spp.), Black gum (Nyssa), Deciduous, Deciduous conifer, Deodara cedars (Cedrus), Elms (Ulmus), Evergreens, Japanese maple, Japanese Pagoda Tree (Styphnolobium), Katsura tree (Cercidophyllum), Landscape ideas, Large Shade trees, Larix kaempferi, Linden (Tilia), Nootkatensis cedar, Ornamental cherry (Prunus), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Redbud, river birch, Serbian spruce, Silver Linden (Tilia), Small landscape tree, Spruces (Picea spp.), Styrax, Trees & Shrubs, Weeping habit Comments Off on Weeping Landscape TreesPrevent Leaf Burn on Evergreens This Winter
Posted by Hugh on December 24th, 2018
Winter foliage burn on evergreens is often most prevalent on boxwoods (Buxus), hollies (Ilex), rhododendron, and many kinds of conifers. Symptoms often develop when temperatures warm up in late winter and early spring. This type of winter damage is often misdiagnosed as an infectious disease or damage from excessively cold temperatures. Evergreens transpire (lose water […]
Posted in acidic soil, Alexandrian Laurel, Camellia, Cryptomeria (Japanese cedar), Cupressus (cypress), Doghobble (Leucothoe), Drought tolerant, DWARF CONIFERS, Environmental Conservation, Environmental issues, Evergreens, Fertilizing plants, Fraser fir (Abies), Garden ecology, Ilex (hollies), Landscape ideas, Magnolia grandiflora, Magnolia virginiana, Microbiota, mulching, Native Plant, Osmanthus 'Goshiki', Pieris japonica, Planting tips, Purchasing Plants, Rhododendrons, root injury, salt injury, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Sweetbox (Sarcococca), Taiwan cryptomeria, Thujopsis, Trees & Shrubs, Umbrella pine (Sciadopitys), watering tips, Wind protection, winter hardiness, Winter Protection, Yews (Taxus spp.) Comments Off on Prevent Leaf Burn on Evergreens This Winter“Got The Winter Blues”- Go For A Walk At A Garden Center
Posted by Hugh on December 16th, 2018
Tired of being a shopping mall walker this winter? Instead, visit a local full service garden center. This is a garden center that is open year round and generally does not include the big box stores unless you live a southern climes like Florida, Texas, Arizona, or California. Stores are likely to have walkways, likely concrete […]
Posted in African violet (Saintpaulia), Anthurium, Bromeliads, Calamondin Orange, Chinese evergreen (Aglaonema), Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera), Dumbcane (Dieffenbachia), Ferns, Flowering house plant, Foliage plant, Landscape ideas, Paperwhite narcissus, Peace lily (Spathiphyllum), Purchasing Plants, Rubber Plant (Ficus), Snake plant (Sanservieria), Staghorn fern, Tillandsia, Tropical Plants (non-hardy), Umbrella plant (Schefflera) Comments Off on “Got The Winter Blues”- Go For A Walk At A Garden Center
