Triad is zone 7b, cool season grasses are more common, though some have the warm ones. Don't know about apples. Peaches often get damaged by a late frost, so you have to get the varieties that bloom late. Check with the cooperative extension. Rabbiteye blueberries are good. I have a celeste fig that does fine. Lots of shrubs and trees give good fall color. Someone else will know more.
Do's and don'ts -- expect orange clay soil, very acid. The climate is great -- not as much humidity as closer to the coast, and some relief from the heat at night during summer. Winters are fairly mild.
Plenty of rabbits around - protect those fruit trees in the winter. Also, outside of urban areas you will have plenty of deer. Good idea to check what plants they eat and don't eat before planning your garden. (Not a problem in the cities, but rabbits are.)

Don't know what will be different or similar to Ohio having never lived there.

Welcome.

Peaches have the same issues here, late frosts. I'd expect the Triad to have the same issues, but with less concern about winterkill and more concern about pests and diseases with the heat and humidity.

I will probably look at the suburban areas of Forsyth or Guilford Counties, Kernersville, Summerfield, etc.

What are some good conifers? Does Cryptomeria do well? What about baldcypress or dawn redwood?

BTW - thanks for not rolling your eyes and saying "another Yankee?"

Welcome! I hope you move near me. I am from various northern states in z6, too (CT, PA, NYC, MA). I have already "talked-in" one other couple from MA z6 who moved here to about an hour south of Greensboro after reviewing our entire state! Let's share our experiences and plants, etc. There are few gardeners at gardenweb who live near Greensboro and Winston-Salem. We need each other... let's do some trading! I have lots to share. Please get in touch. I can email you my garden photos from my Yahoo.com photo album. Robin in the Piedmont

Here is a link that might be useful: my trade list when you are ready :-)

I have just finished landscaping a Greensboro property. There are outstanding and very helpful nurseries located there. Check out the New Nursery out by the airport. Do an on-line reading of the Plants Delight catalog for an idea of what you will be able to grow. Also the on-line catalog of the Lazy s's Farm nursery out of Virginia. The area lends itself to growing many of the northern plants/perennials and interesting southern varieties. I consider Greensboro to be one of the best growing ecosystems for the plant-a-holic. So many choices. If you purchase a treed lot and need tree advice the Greensboro City Forester is terrific and very helpful. All the information you need on grass growing can be found at NCSU Turf Files. Great site. Very helpful with grass disease problems and kept up to date with regional advice. You will enjoy Greensboro. A thriving city.

Hi Hair, Fellow Buckeye here, born and raised in Ohio. Most of northern Guilford and Forsyth are 7a. I'm near the edge of Guilford and south of Forsyth in Davidson Co, still 7a. A lot of people live out this way and still work in Greensboro or Winston. Kernersville is a nice area too and in between the two (G'bro & WS).

Cryptomeria (my favs) do fine here. I have a few...
Araucarioides
Globosa Nana
Gyoku Ryu
Yoshino
Rasen - similar to Spiralis'
...and am always looking for more.
Some of the Cryptomerias have problems with winter burn so best to site those with taller trees that will give them some winter protection. Of the ones I listed, all have wintered well,... except for the Rasen which was just planted last spring. We'll find out soon just how it'll do. Plant Delights and Camellia Forest both carry some of the cultivars. Do a serch on this forum for cryptomeria and you should find more info about it.

I didn't garden much in Ohio and it's been abt 30 yrs since I left there, but don't plan on the hybrid tulips which were gorgeous up there. Instead look for the species types. People down here grow the hybrid types as annuals. The species are smaller, but sweet and they spread better without all the hassle of lifting.

Lilacs are also tuff to grow down here. Look for the ones bred for the southern heat like Miss Kim. I have some of the more common lilacs (which I love) but they are difficult and mildew can be a constant problem. I feed mine lime and try to site them on the north or northeast side where they enjoy the cooler winter air.

[IMG]http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y203/Rootdigger/Flowers%20Apr2005/4c745071.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y203/Rootdigger/Flowers%20Apr2005/c76146fa.jpg[/IMG]

Will try that again.........
{{gwi:589755}}

sorry it's so big, but wanted to show you one of the species tulips.