Are Hydrangeas Salt-Tolerant?

 By Annelise Ford, eHow Contributor

updated: March 16, 2011

Chosing the right hydrangea for salty conditions is important to keep plants in excellent health.

Hydrangeas are widely used shrub in many landscape applications. They possess the ability to combine structure, color and interest within one plant, filling their growing space with bountiful beauty. Some varieties are often listed with more salt-tolerant plants, while other varieties may not be as tolerant of saline conditions.

1. Hydrangea Macrophylla

   • Some hydrangea varities have a thicker leaf cuticle which allows them to be more salt tolerant.

     Hydrangea macrophylla has been shown to tolerate salty conditions quite well. This variety of hydrangea is used in many home landscapes as well as commercial applications. This variety generally has a mop-head flower and blooms most of the summer season. The flower heads can be dried as well.

   Hydrangea Serrata

   • Some hydrangea varities are not very tolerating of salty conditions and may sustain damage.

     Hydrangea serrata, commonly called the woodland hydrangea is another good choice for salty conditions. This variety of hydrangea tolerates salt just as well as Hydrangea macrophylla. Hydrangea serrata originated in the mountains of Japan and Korea and is said to be generally more hardy than Hydrangea macrophylla.

   Hydrangea Arborescens

   • Hydrangea arborescens, commonly called smooth hydrangea responds poorly to salty conditions. This rapid-growing variety of hydrangea is a common choice for landscape shrubs. However, if regularly exposed to salty conditions this plant will likely suffer damage and will most likely struggle to survive.

   Hydrangea Paniculata

   • Hydrangea paniculata, commonly called the pee gee hydrangea is the only variety of hydrangea that can be pruned into a tree form. Unfortunately, this variety will not thrive under salty conditions, in fact it is the least salt tolerate of the different varieties. If exposed to salty conditions the foliage will become necrotic and the plant most likely will not survive.

Is Flowering Quince Deer Resistant?

 

By Annelise Ford, eHow Contributor

updated: March 19, 2011

Deer resistance does not mean deer proof.

Flowering quince (Chaenomeles speciosa) is an attractive shrub that blooms in early spring. Surprisingly, the flowers emerge from bare stems, before any leaves appear. This shrub has been nicknamed the Cinderella of spring as its bright blooms appear very early in the spring season. This shrub is commonly known to be deer resistant.

1. Deer Resistant

   • The term deer resistant does not mean that deer will never cause damage to the plant. No plant is completely deer proof. Deer resistant simply means that deer are much less likely to forage on your plants and shrubs. However, if they get desperate there are no guarantees that they will completely ignore any plant.

   Conditions That Force Deer To Forage

   • In the past several years new houses and community growth has crowded the deer population into the shrinking wooded areas, and the deer are forced to go into the nearby lawns for accessible meals. This has been an increasing trend causing landscaping headaches for many homeowners.

   Keeping Deer Out of Your Landscaping

   • Many homeowners opt to install fencing to keep the deer population at bay in the wooded areas. There are also many products on the market to deter the deer from foraging. It may become a costly venture to deter deer, but one thing to remember is that deer will return out of habit and if you can deter them enough they will hopefully develop the habit to avoid your garden.

   Other Pests

   • Deer may leave your Flowering Quince for last choice, but the bunnies will help themselves.

     Rabbits will forage on the leaves of the Flowering Quince leaving foliage damage. They are also

How Tall Is a Burning Bush?

By Annelise Ford, eHow Contributor

updated: March 26, 2011

Learning the growth habits of landscape shrubs is an important step to the planning process.

The Burning Bush is a highly ornamental shrub that features mottled bark and attractive winged fruits or showy foliage and white berries, varieties of euonymus can climb as vines or form small trees or low-mounding shrubs. It is a popular choice for landscape planning as many of the varieties have brilliant fall color that becomes a centerpiece in the late season garden.

1. Euonymus alatus Compactus

   • Annual pruning may be necessary to keep shrubs at desired sizes.

     Slow growing, Compactus can eventually reach a considerable size even though smaller than the species. Old shrubs that are never pruned can reach 8 feet in width and nearly as tall. Fortunately, they respond well to shearing and shaping, and can be used either as loose hedges with pruning, or as natural specimens allowed to take their full natural broad layered shape.

   Euonymus alatus Rudy Haag

   • Brilliant color is a must have in any fall garden.

     Rudy Haag Burning Bush has an excellent habit and form making this a popular selection. This variety is quite compact with average heights of 4 to 5 feet with equal widths. The fall color can be spectacular. The small, yellowish green flowers that appear in May are not showy much like the small fruits that appear in the fall. This very compact, slow growing shrub performs best in full sun.

   Euonymus alatus Nordine Strain

   • Consulting a local nursery or landscape professional is a good place to start in deciding which shrubs suit your landscape needs.

     The compact selection called Nordine, was introduced because of the abundance of fruits it produces. Nordine is another example of a more compact version with heights and widths much like the Rudy Haag selection. This variety may be harder to find locally and may need to be ordered through a plant nursery.

   Euonymus alatus Phellomanus

   • Euonymus phellomanus has small inconspicuous flowers in spring, followed by vivid lipstick-pink fruit in autumn, which split to reveal conspicuous orange seeds. This specimen will reach heights of 8 feet with widths at 6 feet. Another notable feature is the corky, winged stems which are particularly eye-catching once the leaves fall in the winter.

Heirloom Lettuce...The Salad Trend Is Everywhere!

This beautiful variety steals all the attention in the salad garden. In Europe, this Austrian heirloom is called Forellenschluss romaine and is one of the most prized of all varieties. A dark green leaved romaine splashed with wine-red speckles. Imagine dipping a paintbrush in red paint and giving it a hard shake onto your romaine lettuce. You've got the picture. Your taste buds will like it too, for its rich buttery flavor.  I have ordered some of these seeds and will get them started to go into the lettuce planters for the farm market!  Salad is in...now if I could only convince my boys that it is not poisonous!

Ornamental Peppers...Colorful and Interesting Trend

Ornamental peppers are another trend growing interest for the garden and especially spicy for container gardening!  There are many varieties out there.  Some are edible and some are not...read your tags! 

Depending on the variety, the peppers appear in shades of white, purple, red, orange, and yellow -- often with multiple colors on the same plant. They like rich, well-drained soil that is evenly moist.

Railing Planters...TOO COOL!

New planting toys!!!  I love this planters!  Cool colors AND more places to put flowers!!!  Again the perfect thing for those of you with limited space in apartments, condos etc!  Also perfect for people like me who can never have enough flowers everywhere!  Game on...hurry warmer weather...these are going along the fence filled with Verbena!

Praying Hands Hosta...The MUST HAVE Hosta!!!

I am generally not a hosta freak BUT I do like this hosta a lot!  It has some great potential for giving height in containers!  This is definitely a MUST HAVE for those who collect hostas!  Amazing! Perhaps we should call this the un-hosta, as Hosta 'Praying Hands' is the most un-hosta looking hosta to ever hit the market. Each small, 18" wide clump is composed of strangely folded, dark green crinkled leaves, each with a narrow, creamy yellow border. Indeed, a clump resembles a multitude of hands folded in prayer. Due to First Amendment concerns, it cannot be planted near courthouses in Alabama or near any Federal government building. The upright clumps are topped with 18" spikes of light lavender flowers..a hummingbird treat in late summer. This sets a new standard for "unique" in the hosta world.   Gotta have it!  Ordering 2 trays of liners to get growing!

2011 Perennial Plant of the Year

Amsonia hubrichtii grows 36 inches tall and 36 inches wide in a mounded form. This hardy perennial grows in hardiness zones 4 through 9 and is a versatile North American native.


Amsonia offers a variety of features throughout the seasons. From late spring to early summer, two- to three-inch wide clusters of small, light blue, star-shaped flowers are borne above the ferny foliage. The alternate-arranged leaves are bright green in spring and summer, but turn a bright yellow-golden color in fall.

• Light – Plants thrive in full sun to partial shade
• Soil – This plant performs best in average, moist well-drained soil but tolerates less moisture. Once established, it can tolerate drier conditions.
• Uses – This perennial for the seasons is an asset in borders, native gardens, cottage gardens, or open woodland areas. It is best when massed. Arkansas blue star is attractive when mixed with ornamental grasses and plants that have attractive seed heads.
• Unique Qualities – Light blue flowers in spring are followed by marvelous foliage in summer. Golden-yellow fall color is second to none among herbaceous perennials.
• Hardiness – USDA Zones 4 to 9

I do not have this in my garden but I have a dozen on order to put a couple in my gardens and share!  I am anxious to watch this perform through the growing season and to see the fall coloration.

Veggie Wall

There are many creative ways to achieve a vertical garden.  This style of vegetable garden has found its own niche as many people crave the garden fresh veggies but have limited space.  This unique garden opens up all kinds of ideas and new uses for materials as well as a chance to repurpose materials you have.  I will be using this in my garden this year along my fence for all kinds of fresh salad greens.  Not only to conserve space but to keep the bunnies from eating my fresh crops!  Put on your thinking caps and incorporate this in your garden for more space and also creative ideas to recycle materials.  I have some extra gutter material that I am going to attach to the inside of our fence and plant with greens and herbs.