Foster holly (Ilex x attenuata) is an old holly favorite which has not lost its sizzle. Cultivars of Foster Hollies were selected by E.E. Foster of Foster Nursery in Bessemer, Alabama in the 1950s. It is utilized in a number of landscape options across the Southern Appalachian region (USDA zones 6 and 7), including in containers in […]
Archive for the ‘Pruning’ Category
Foster Holly
Posted by Hugh on November 30th, 2023
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Bees and other pollinators, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Evergreen, Foster holly, Green Privacy Screen, Ilex (hollies), Landscape ideas, Large shrub, mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Small landscape tree, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter hardiness 
Comments Off on Foster HollyJanuary Blooming Vernal Witchhazel
Posted by Hugh on October 21st, 2023
This winter – follow your nose to Vernal witchhazel (Hamamelis vernalis), aka Ozark witchhazel. (USDA zones 4-8). This U.S. native witchhazel grows as a deciduous shrub to small tree. It may produce the smallest flowers of all witchhazel species, but they’re highly fragrant when little else is blooming. It naturally inhabits a wide area encompassing […]
Posted in acidic soil, Balled and Burlapped (b&b), Bees and other pollinators, Chlorosis (yellowing), Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Fragrant, Landscape ideas, Large shrub, mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Planting tips, Propagation (Seed), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Vernal witchhazel (H. vernalis), Winter flowering, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on January Blooming Vernal WitchhazelBurls on Tree Trunks
Posted by Hugh on October 12th, 2023
An unusual swelling on trunks of trees and occasionally on large branches are “burls”. They’re round, swollen-looking growths on tree trunks and large scaffold branches. Should or shouldn’t you be concerned? Burls are not uncommon and can be found on cherry, maple, oak, buckeye, ash, willow, locust and walnut in Eastern forests. Root burls may […]
Posted in Ash (Fraxinus), Birch (Betula spp.), Burls, Deciduous, Elms (Ulmus), Garden Tools, Landscape ideas, Maples (Acer), Oaks (Quercus spp.), Poplar (Populus spp.), Pruning, Prunus (Cherry), Rhododendrons, Robinia (Black Locust), Shade tree, Southern Appalachian Region, Trees & Shrubs, Walnut, White oak (Quercus), Willows (Salix) Comments Off on Burls on Tree TrunksUniquely Different Weeping Mulberry
Posted by Hugh on October 3rd, 2023
Common (White) mulberry (Morus alba) is a fast-growing, medium sized, deciduous tree that typically grows to 30-50 feet tall and wide. It usually develops a wide-spreading rounded crown with age. This native to China is utilized either as a landscape shade and/or a fruit tree. (USDA hardiness zones 5-9). White Mulberry prefers a rich, moist, […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Aphids, Attracting birds, Bees and other pollinators, Deciduous, Dioecious, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Landscape ideas, Mulberry (Morus), mulching, Non-native, Planting tips, Propagation (Seed), Propagation(grafting), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Scale, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Weeping habit, winter hardiness Comments Off on Uniquely Different Weeping MulberryGooseneck Loosestrife
Posted by Hugh on September 22nd, 2023
Gooseneck loosestrife (Lysimachia clethroides) can be both a delight and a weedy nuisance – depending on where you garden. (USDA hardiness zones 3 – 8). This native of southeast Asia grows aggressively in some locations in the U.S. where it has escaped into woodlands, wet areas, and on sunny, sheltered mountainous slopes. The perennial has […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting Butterflies, Bees and other pollinators, Drought tolerant, Gooseneck loosestrife (Lysimachia), Invasive plant, mulching, Non-native, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Regional, Root suckering, Shade Gardening, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Wind protection, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on Gooseneck LoosestrifeSwamp Hibiscus
Posted by Hugh on September 5th, 2023
Swamp hibiscus (Hibiscus coccineus), aka scarlet rose mallow, is a hardy perennial plant that grows in swamps, marches and roadside ditches in the Southeastern U.S. (USDA hardiness zones 5-9). It can grow 6 to 8 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet wide. Its 5- to 6-inch-long leaves are palmately lobed into 3, 5, or 7 parts. […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aggressive grower, Aphids, Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Bees and other pollinators, Butterflies, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, Hardy hibiscus, Hibiscus (mallow) sawfly, Hummingbird, Japanese beetles, Landscape ideas, Leaf/needle spots, mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (Seed), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Staking, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, Wildlife attractant, Wind protection, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on Swamp HibiscusAbout Penstemons
Posted by Hugh on August 30th, 2023
Some 40 years ago, Dr. Dale Lindgren, plant breeder at the University of Nebraska released ‘Husker Red’ penstemon (Penstemon digitalis). This pioneering variety has purple-green foliage and white flowers. New penstemon varieties continue through the breeding pipeline with larger and colorful blooms, more compact habit, or dark foliage. (Z 3-8). Penstemons (Beardstongue) belong to the […]
Posted in acidic soil, Beardstongue (Penstemon), Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Bumble bees, deadheading, Deciduous, Deer resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Flower arrangments, Hummingbird, Landscape ideas, Native Plant, Native Plant, Penstemon, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Propagation (Seed), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on About PenstemonsWhy Crape Myrtles Is Not Blooming
Posted by Hugh on August 23rd, 2023
No flowers On Your Crape Myrtles? Look at these five common problems: 1. Not Adequate Sunlight Crape myrtles need 6-8 hours of full sun a day. Too much dry heat will cause poor flowering as well as leaf scorch. 2. Too much /Too Little Soil Moisture Crape myrtles are tolerant of moderate drought, dry weather spells […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bees and other pollinators, compact tree, Container garden, Container growing, container shrub, Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia), Crape myrtle aphid, Crape myrtle bark scale, Deciduous, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Landscape ideas, mulching, Non-native, Planting tips, Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on Why Crape Myrtles Is Not BloomingSummer Blooming Trees
Posted by Hugh on July 30th, 2023
Other than crape myrtles, few trees bloom in July and August. Here are four exceptions: Chaste tree, Sourwood, Golden Raintree, and Franklinia. Chaste Tree (Vitex agnus-castus) is a 10-15 feet tall, vase-shaped, deciduous shrub or a small 15-20 feet tree. The species is native from southern Europe and Asia. It is often mistaken as a purple-flowering […]
Posted in Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Deciduous, Deer resistant, Fall Garden Interest, Fragrant, Franklinia, Golden Raintree, Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Propagation (Seed), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Small landscape tree, Soil drainage, Sourwood (Oxydendrum), Southern Appalachian Region, Street tree, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Vitex (Chaste tree), watering tips Comments Off on Summer Blooming TreesVintage Large-Growing Oakleaf Hydrangeas
Posted by Hugh on July 24th, 2023
Oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia) is an upright, broad-rounded, suckering, multi-stemmed, deciduous shrub that typically grows 4-6 feet (less frequently to 8 feet) tall. It is a wonderful flowering shrub with multi-season interest. It is native to the Southeastern U.S. and tolerates hot, humid weather. Oakleaf hydrangeas aren’t quite as cold-hardy as other hydrangea species (USDA […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Bees and other pollinators, Deciduous, Fall Garden Interest, Flower Arranging, Flowering, Flowering shrub, Fragrant, Hydrangeas, Landscape ideas, Large shrub, mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Oakleaf hydrangea (H. quercifolia), Planting tips, Privacy Screen, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (layering), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering hydrangeas, watering tips, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on Vintage Large-Growing Oakleaf Hydrangeas
