From BLUE RIDGE PARTNERSHIP FOR REGIONAL INVASIVE SPECIES MANAGEMENT (PRISM) … [Read more...]
Real Christmas Trees have a second life
After the holidays, don’t throw your Real Christmas Tree in the trash. Real Christmas Trees are biodegradable, which means they can be easily reused or recycled for mulch and other purposes. Here are some recycling options and tips on what to do with … [Read more...]
Will the Frigid Weather Harm Your Outdoor Plants?
This week, we are experiencing the coldest weather of the winter with temperatures dropping to around zero degrees. Most outdoor plants will tolerate freezing conditions, even the single digit temperatures we are seeing now. However, single digit and … [Read more...]
KUDZU: The “Plant That Ate the South”; Is It Eating Bedford?
Kudzu, scientific name Pueraria montana var lobata, has been called America’s most infamous weed, and the vine that ate the South. Does it really deserve this reputation? Is it really ‘taking over’ Bedford? The picture below was … [Read more...]
Abelia–Tough But Beautiful
Glossy abelia (Abelia x grandiflora) is often described as a tough plant. In fact, Carol Robacker, one of the horticulturalists involved with the abelia breeding program at University of Georgia, described abelia this way: “Around here, we call … [Read more...]
Fall is the Best Time to Plant Trees and Shrubs
The months of September, October and November are the perfect time to plant trees and shrubs in your yard. Why? Well, as the temperature cools in the fall, most trees and shrubs start going into a dormant period. CONTINUE SOURCE: Reston Farm … [Read more...]
SASSAFRAS: NATIVE GEM OF NORTH AMERICA
Sassafras (Sassafras albidum) is a North American tree steeped in Indigenous culture throughout its range within deciduous woodlands of the northeast and southeast United States. Continued: … [Read more...]
Planting Trees – Tree Selection and Planting – Right Tree, Right Place
Many trees planted each year by well-meaning homeowners and community workers will never flourish because they are hopelessly unsuited for the conditions in which they are placed. Before rushing in to plant just any available trees, do enough … [Read more...]
From the Help Desk – DEFOLIATED JAPANESE BARBERRY BUSHES
ISSUE: Client has barberry shrubs with webbing and defoliation, with bushes looking terrible. DIAGNOSIS / RECOMMENDATION The problem is the barberry webworm (Omphalocera dentosa). Defoliated branches and webs can be cut out and … [Read more...]
Viburnum–A Shrub for Many Settings
Viburnums are evergreen or deciduous, depending on the species and the location. Most prefer sun, but some do well in partial shade. Their hardiness is well suited to the cold winters of USDA hardiness zone 7. They are adaptable to a range of soil … [Read more...]