North Carolina soils tend to be acidic and low in nutrients. It’s a good idea to have your soil tested. In doing so, you’ll learn what amendments are needed to optimize the particular plants you are growing or want to grow. Various plants have specific soil pH preferences. Blueberries will perform better at a low pH, around 4.8. Whereas, turfgrass, […]

The 2011 Showstopper Plants have been selected by The North Carolina Nursery & Landscape Association and North Carolina and the North Carolina Cooperative Extension. Each year, North Carolina nurserymen nominate Showstopper Plants and five are selected by North Carolina Cooperative Extension horticulture experts. These featured plants are promising new cultivars, able to thrive in North Carolina gardens. Name: Hydrangea anomala subsp.  Petiolaris, climbing hydrangea Zones: 4 – 7 Size:  40 to 50 feet Conditions: […]

Accent trees in the garden are good garden conversation starters. Planting something out of the ordinary brings attention to the garden where an otherwise common plant may not. One of my favorite accent plants in my Raleigh garden is a Taxodium distichum ‘Cascade Falls’, or weeping Bald Cypress Cupressaceae (Cypress).  I’ll admit, I have a thing for the weepers. Weeping plants are […]