Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Abelia Hedge
Ordinarily I am not a huge fan of shearing however in this particular case the landscaper has done a nice job pruning the abelia. The sides are beveled nicely to allow plenty of sunlight to reach all parts of the plant and just has an overall nice shape to it.
Thursday, November 1, 2012
Begonias
Very nice annual bed of mixed begonias. Doing quite well considering its November 1st with the cold weather they've endured.
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- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Location:Leesville Rd,Raleigh,United States
Sunday, September 16, 2012
Daylily Maintenance & Care
Daylily maintenance will insure that not only will they look great but will also perform better with more vibrant blossoms.
Once daylillies emerge in the spring they form a clump of green foliage and within a short time begin to flower. Keep in mind that they are named daylillies for a reason so it's understandable that the flowers begin to fade relatively fast once they bloom. The good thing is that they have a staggering cycle of flowering so you tend to have many blooms fading at different times.
Once the flowers start to fade the best thing that you can do for them beyond the routine watering and fertilizer application is to remove the spent foliage and flower buds/stalks. Not only will this make them look better but it will also help them promote flowering and will insure that all of their energy is diverted to colorful blossoms. This process of removing spent foliage is called "deadheading" and you can do it as each individual flower fades or wait until they all bloom and begin to fade. It will be quite noticeable as the stalks will die out and turn brown. This makes it very easy to remove them at this time and requires no pruning tools whatsoever. You literally just pull up the stalks with your hands and they pop right out. It is also a good idea to remove the spent foliage that you will typically find at the base of the plant. I usually do this about 3 times per season the last one being right around mid September. They usually do not put out an abundance of flowers beyond this point however the foliage on most varieties turns a bright orange that suits the Fall color scheme just perfectly.
The variety pictures is a Stella D'oro and is very popular in the Carolinas.
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Once daylillies emerge in the spring they form a clump of green foliage and within a short time begin to flower. Keep in mind that they are named daylillies for a reason so it's understandable that the flowers begin to fade relatively fast once they bloom. The good thing is that they have a staggering cycle of flowering so you tend to have many blooms fading at different times.
Once the flowers start to fade the best thing that you can do for them beyond the routine watering and fertilizer application is to remove the spent foliage and flower buds/stalks. Not only will this make them look better but it will also help them promote flowering and will insure that all of their energy is diverted to colorful blossoms. This process of removing spent foliage is called "deadheading" and you can do it as each individual flower fades or wait until they all bloom and begin to fade. It will be quite noticeable as the stalks will die out and turn brown. This makes it very easy to remove them at this time and requires no pruning tools whatsoever. You literally just pull up the stalks with your hands and they pop right out. It is also a good idea to remove the spent foliage that you will typically find at the base of the plant. I usually do this about 3 times per season the last one being right around mid September. They usually do not put out an abundance of flowers beyond this point however the foliage on most varieties turns a bright orange that suits the Fall color scheme just perfectly.
The variety pictures is a Stella D'oro and is very popular in the Carolinas.
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Location:N Wheeler Dr,,United States
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Shade Plant Containers
A mixture of ground cover including variegated liriope, ajuga, mondo grass and saloman seal is an excellent concoction of plants very well suited for areas in the garden that receive minimal amounts of sunlight.
The centerpiece in this container is a tree root (knot) from a Bald Cypress that was cut down along the shoreline of the Albemarle Sound. Makes a nice focal point.
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The centerpiece in this container is a tree root (knot) from a Bald Cypress that was cut down along the shoreline of the Albemarle Sound. Makes a nice focal point.
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Saturday, September 8, 2012
Ilex (Sky Pencil) Holly
Ilex (Sky Pencil) is a holly variety that has a slim upright growth habit and is a great plant for containers. In addition to containers it has many uses such as a foundation plant in annual flower beds as well as a corner accent to help soften hard building surfaces. The sky pencil is a relatively low maintenance plant that requires semi-moist well drained soils. Other than the leaf miner there is a very short list of insect pests that are attracted to them. Just keep watered and fertilized and watch it take off.
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- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Monday, September 3, 2012
Gardenia
The gardenia is one of the most aromatic shrubs used in the Southeastern United States. There are many varieties that suit many locations in the landscape. One of the better locations to plant gardenias is near a patio or sitting area so you can enjoy the sweet smelling aroma that their flowers boast.
Gardenias should be planted in well drained soils that receive some afternoon shade. Although a very hardy shrub they do tend to attract their share of insects so you will need to monitor them for insect pest. Often times beneficial insects such as lady bugs can keep insect populations at bay however your local garden supply center should carry a wide range of insecticides that will better control them. If possible and cost effective always try to use an organic product that will kill them on contact but will spare the beneficials. Sometimes a simple method such as spraying the foliage with a garden hose will wash off the insects and will often remove the honey dew (waste) from the foliage.
If you have any questions about best management practices and control methods please don't hesitate to ask.
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Gardenias should be planted in well drained soils that receive some afternoon shade. Although a very hardy shrub they do tend to attract their share of insects so you will need to monitor them for insect pest. Often times beneficial insects such as lady bugs can keep insect populations at bay however your local garden supply center should carry a wide range of insecticides that will better control them. If possible and cost effective always try to use an organic product that will kill them on contact but will spare the beneficials. Sometimes a simple method such as spraying the foliage with a garden hose will wash off the insects and will often remove the honey dew (waste) from the foliage.
If you have any questions about best management practices and control methods please don't hesitate to ask.
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Saturday, September 1, 2012
Landscape Design (Durham Residence)
Most recent design for a small sustainable themed home in Durham, NC. Landscape will be a mixture of native plants and fruit bearing trees. Stone and boulders will be gathered from adjacent woods owned by resident.
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Location:12, Rocky Mt,United States
Friday, July 20, 2012
Spider Mites
Mites feeding on burning bush will cause discolored leaves and leaf drop. Spider mites will suck the sap out of the leaf. This can severely stress the plant. Spider mites are not an insect. They have eight legs and are more closely related to spiders. Hot dry weather favors a population explosion of mites. You may see webbing on the leaves and branches. To determine if the plant is infested with spider mites, hold a sheet of white paper underneath some of the discolored leaves and tap the leaves. Tiny dark specks about the size of pepper that move around are spider mites.
Spider mites flourish on plants under stress. Keep plants well watered and fertilized. Mite populations can be reduced by forcefully spraying plants with water, especially on the underside of leaves, to break up the webs and wash the mites off. Do this as often as necessary. An application of a horticulture oil and/or insecticidal soap, applied every 7 to 10 days during the growing season can help provide mite control. There are also miticides that can be used that can provide effective control. But because mites can reproduce rapidly, they may develop a tolerance to a miticide that is used repeatedly. You should alternate using miticides with using oils or soaps. For information on recommended miticides contact your county Extension office, the Master Gardener hotline or your local nursery.
Article credits: Tom Fowler (University of Missouri)
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Spider mites flourish on plants under stress. Keep plants well watered and fertilized. Mite populations can be reduced by forcefully spraying plants with water, especially on the underside of leaves, to break up the webs and wash the mites off. Do this as often as necessary. An application of a horticulture oil and/or insecticidal soap, applied every 7 to 10 days during the growing season can help provide mite control. There are also miticides that can be used that can provide effective control. But because mites can reproduce rapidly, they may develop a tolerance to a miticide that is used repeatedly. You should alternate using miticides with using oils or soaps. For information on recommended miticides contact your county Extension office, the Master Gardener hotline or your local nursery.
Article credits: Tom Fowler (University of Missouri)
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Location:Salmon Creek Ln,,United States
Friday, June 29, 2012
Bagworm Infestations
Be on the lookout for bagworm outbreaks in your landscape. These insects are extremely prolific and cause a tremendous amount of damage to your trees and shrubs.
Most professionals recommend pulling each one off by hand and placing them in a bag of some sort prior to disposing of somewhere far away from the garden. Once you have removed them it is still not a bad idea to spray the tree or shrub with an all seasons dormant oil. Be sure to read the label and make sure that you use a product that is labeled for use during the growing season.
If you have any questions please don't hesitate to ask.
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Most professionals recommend pulling each one off by hand and placing them in a bag of some sort prior to disposing of somewhere far away from the garden. Once you have removed them it is still not a bad idea to spray the tree or shrub with an all seasons dormant oil. Be sure to read the label and make sure that you use a product that is labeled for use during the growing season.
If you have any questions please don't hesitate to ask.
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Location:Salmon Creek Ln,,United States
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Tree Work
Tree contractor removing and trimming about 40 mature oaks and maples for us on one of our properties in Norlina, NC.
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Thursday, June 14, 2012
Thuja "Goldy"
.......an all time favorite
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Location:Effingham Cir,Raleigh,United States
Sunday, June 3, 2012
Saturday, April 14, 2012
Saturday, March 24, 2012
Spring Turf Management
If you haven't already, now is the time to fertilize and apply a pre emergent to cool and warm season turf. Ideally you would want a combination product that has both fertilizer and a pre emergent in the same bag. Obviously the fertilizer will help green up the lawn and strengthen the root system while the pre emergent will help aid in the prevention of crabgrass, nutsedge and most of your broadleaf weeds. As the soil temperatures warm up the weeds will begin germination and at that point you can apply a post emergent weed control product to eliminate existing weeds.
If you have any questions on best control products please don't hesitate to ask.
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If you have any questions on best control products please don't hesitate to ask.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
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