Gardenia – When to Prune

Gardenias can often get too large for their spot. Their flowers are so beautiful and fragrant, many gardeners don't want to do anything that retards blooming. These notes from Ted Stephens at Nurseries Caro

Harry Lauder's Walking Stick

Harry Lauder's Walking Stick is the folk name of contorted filbert, Corylus avellana L. ‘Contorta' These notes were contributed by B. J. Thomas, who found this information on E-bay: Sir Harry L

Hibiscus – Identification

Each year I receive several questions  regarding hibiscus. Tropical hibiscus owners want to know how to bring their plants indoors for the winter and have many concerns about keeping them healthy. Confederate ros

Holly – Pollination

I spoke at a training meeting for nursery personnel recently and was inundated with questions about how hollies pollinate. The folks knew that hollies have male and female plants, and that only the females bear b

Hydrangea ‘Lady in Red'

Few shrubs have caused the excitement engendered by ‘Lady in Red' hydrangea. It is a patented selection of an Asian hydrangea which has maroon leaves, red stems and a red lace-cap flower. For more inf

Hydrangea – Changing Flower Colors

"Lime makes 'em pink, sulfur makes 'em blue," or is it the other way around? Indeed, adding lime to the soil around the common French hydrangea will make the plant change flower color from

Hydrangeas – Pruning Late

Even though July is the preferred month to prune bigleaf hydrangeas, sometimes circumstances intervene to keep you from doing what should be done. If that is the case, don’t despair. Hydrangeas can still be prune

Hydrangeas – Why They are Blue or Pink

We all know that life depends on chemistry. We may not understand the chemistry…but life goes on whether we understand it or not. If you want to go hard-core in understanding why hydrangeas are blue or pin

Juniper – Planting on Bank

Juniper is reputed to be a tough plant. It certainly is…but it’s not immune to poor soil conditions. A common problem occurs with junipers growing on a steep bank. The plants at the top look fine, the ones

Lilac Success!

Just wanted to send you a picture of my lilac growing in my backyard in Henry County. I am a transplanted Northerner and I too really miss the smell of lilacs in the Spring. I know from listening to your show

Loropetalum

Loropetalum, Loropetalum chinense, sometimes called Chinese fringe flower, is a versatile shrub that is a member of the witch hazel family. It usually grows as a round shrub. Different varieties range from 3 feet

Nandina – Pruning

Nandina is sometimes called "heavenly bamboo". The jointed, multiple stalks vaguely resemble bamboo, but the plant would never be mistaken for fishing pole material! Nandinas have two major pluses in

Oakleaf Hydrangea – Wilt

Armillaria root rot is common in landscape plantings of oakleaf hydrangea. The initial symptom is wilting of one or more shoots that previously seemed healthy. Irrigation does no good and within a few weeks the r

Oleander – Growing

Oleander is beautiful along the Georgia coast and in Florida in the summer. The red, pink and yellow flowers cover the plants most of the season. Although oleander can tolerate a little frost it is not considered

Rose – Carefree Varieties

My favorite breakfast cereal has been “improved” once again. Now I’m implored to “Try It Hot!”. Never mind that my mother tried it hot fifty years ago and found that it tasted about as good cold as it did warm. B

Shrub – Fertilizing

It is easy to forget that shrubs, perennials and annuals need to be fed regularly during their growing season. If they were fertilized only when you planted them, the plants are starving six weeks later. Their r

Shrub – Moving

Two of my son’s best buddies moved to South Carolina last summer. They were a familiar part of our family life for several years so it was with trepidation that we bid them farewell. How badly would my son miss t

Shrub – Planting

Shrubs growing in a plastic pot may be planted 12 months a year. To transplant shrubs, evaluate the site to determine its suitability. A soil test for specific plants now can save you problems later. Avoid places

Shrub – Propagate from Cuttings

Early July is an excellent time to collect cuttings from favorite shrubs and to root them. Azalea, camellia and holly are easy shrubs to propagate by rooting. There are several techniques for helping a cutting to

Shrub – Pruning

As spring approaches, the first yellow blooms on forsythia plants remind some gardeners that they have once again put off pruning until the last minute. Plants are pruned for different reasons. Shrub roses need p