Spring Gardening

It has been a busy spring for me at work and my gardening is way behind of my schedule and because of the odd see-saw weather. Warm then near freezing weather really confused the plants and made it hard to plant my greenhouse plants.


Finally my days off matched up with some nice weather and I was able to put together 2 days of yard work and make some progress in the garden! The late start means I will not have much of a vegetable garden but was able to plant some tomatoes,peppers, squash and herbs. I also have some strawberries plants from last year that I transplanted earlier.


My main concern was getting plants out of the greenhouse where some plants were baking.burning int 100+ degree temperatures in the afternoons.Even with a shade cloth I can't keep the temperatures at an acceptable level.


Most plants are out of the greenhouse now, just a few remain and I plan to move them out as soon as possible.


My front yard has really responded to the compost we put down in the fall! I think my neighbors will be jealous. We have few weeds and the grass is coming up green!

April Gardening Tips for the South

Spring is well underway in the South. Here are some gardening tips to make the most of the season's cooler days in your yard.

Plant container grown perennials: Remember to prepare your planting area by adding compost to enhance nutrition and improve moisture holding ability. Once planted don't forget to water while plants settle into their new homes.

Choose perennials that will give a strong performance in late summer, when Southern gardens tend to fade. Great selections include salvias.

Scarlet or Texas Sage (Salvia coccinea)
Pineapple Sage (Salvia elegans)
Mealycup Sage (Salvia farinacea):
Mexican Bush Sage
Bedding Sage (Salvia splendens)
Azure Sage (Salvia azurea var. grandiflora)
Cleveland Blue Sage (Salvia clevelandii)
Peruvian Sage (Salvia discolor)
Autumn Sage (Salvia greggii)
Brazilian Blue Sage (Salvia guaranitica)
Salvia 'Indigo Spires'
Silver Sage (also known as silver clary or silver clary sage)
Common sage (Salvia officinalis)

Vegetable gardening

Keep sowing seeds of lettuces and garden greens weekly to ensure a long harvest season. Sow seeds of heat-tolerant greens to extend the harvest window. Give greens afternoon shade for best growth. Some heat tollerent choices include 'Jericho' (romaine), 'Buttercrunch' (butterhead), 'Lolla Rossa' (looseleaf red), 'Black-Seeded Simpson' (looseleaf green), and oakleaf types. Malabar spinach also thrives in summer heat.

Seeds
Continue direct sowing seeds of beans, squash, melons and okra. If cutworms are a problem, put collars around seedlings using recycled household items: canned food tins with bottom lids removed or toil tissue tubes cut in half.

Garden tasks

Azaleas
If needed, prune azaleas immediately after flowering. Make cuts to shape shrubs or remove any damaged branches.

Mulch
Replace mulch around azaleas, camellias, and roses. If you suspected or battled diseases and insects with these crops last season, remove and replace mulch to eliminate any hibernating insects or spores. If disease and insects haven't been an issue, simply replenish the mulch. Refresh mulch on planting beds. If you have pine trees, gather free mulch: pine straw. It looks great around shrubs and on flowerbeds.

Tropical Plants
Move over wintered tropicals outdoors when night temperatures remain above 50F. Tuck tropicals into a shady spot and fertilize with an all-purpose fertilizer to jump-start growth. You can also remove the top inch or two of soil and add a layer of compost to boost growth


It's Time for Tubers
Over wintered caladium tubers emerge this month in the warmest parts of the South. In areas where caladiums are annuals, tuck new or stored tubers into the ground. Plant 2-3 inches deep.
Add cannas to your garden for a striking foliage show. They look great with under-plantings of asparagus fern or sweet potato vine.

Lawn care
Grass is growing in earnest now. Time mowings so you're removing only one-third of total blade growth. Follow this guide to mowing height.
Zoysia: 1/2 inch
Bermudagrass: 1/2 inch
St. Augustinegrass: 2 inches
Tall fescue: 2-1/2 inches
Sharpen your mower blade frequently. A sharp blade makes clean cuts, while a dull one tears grass blades. A torn blade provides an entry point for disease.

Enjoying all my work!

Sometimes I’m so busy caring for my garden I forget to enjoy it…but last night it was so nice with temperatures in the mid-80’s and a nice cool breeze I decided to spend some time after dinner on the garden swing admiring the flowers and watching the birds. My two Labs Maggie and Lucy and several birds including House Finches, Grackles, Brown-headed Nuthatch, Carolina chickadee, Northern Cardinal, Mourning Dove, and Eastern Bluebird joined me. A Mockingbird also stopped by to pick a blueberry and then flew off. Luckily I planted the blueberries in my yard for fruit loving birds when I was planned my garden to provide food for wildlife. If the birds don’t find the berries I harvest them. This morning as I was watering my potted plants I also took a few minutes to enjoy the flowering plants in the garden. I hope you take a few minutes to enjoy your garden and all it attracts this time of year!

Plants Blooming in June

Now blooming in my June gardens:

Abelia
Althea
Butterfly weed
Chaste Tree
Chrysanthemums
Coneflower
Crepe Myrtle
Coreopsis
Cosmos
Daisy
Daylily
Dianthus
Garden Phlox
Gaura
Gladiolas
Hollyhocks
Hostas
Hydrangea
Impatiens
Lantana
Liatris
Magnolia
Marigold
Nicotiana
Petunia
Queen Anne’s Lace
Redbeckia
Rose Mallow
Sage, Pineapple & Russian
Salvia, blue & red
Sweetpea
Water Lily
Verbena
Zinnia

Parsley in the Garden- many uses

The first time I planted parsley in my garden was in Florida. I did it to have on hand to feed my husband’s cockatiels. At the time we had an aviary of breeding birds and they liked to eat parsley as a source of greens. Caterpillars found it and ate more than half of my plants!

Then we moved to Georgia and no longer had the birds. This time I planted the parsley as a landscape plant in my garden. Both times I had plenty of extra to use in cooking. Then we moved again this time to South Carolina. This time I was working on a Backyard habitat for birds and butterflies and wanted to attract the black swallowtail butterfly caterpillar I planted a lot of parsley including curly, flat leaf and cilantro along with dill, fennel and Queen Anne’s lace from seed. Once again I had a lot of extra for cooking but no caterpillars this time!

Most of my plants over wintered and were really huge. One day in late spring I went to pick some parsley for cooking and discovered my plant was stripped and I saw 5 or 6 fat caterpillars. Checking my other plants I discovered caterpillars on most of my plants. Since that time I always plant extra parsely, dill and fennel just to feed the caterpillars. Once in a while I’ll see a Black Swallowtail Chrysalides, and when I’m really lucky I see a butterfly recently emerged and drying its wings before flying off to find a flower.

Butterfly Gardening: A host plant for the Black swallowtail butterfly

Landscape uses: For small gardens, parsley makes a great edging for flowerbeds and borders. When used for this purpose, it is best to sow parsley seed thickly in late October or November in twin rows close together (3 or 4 inches apart).

Kitchen uses: Parsley is perhaps one of the most commonly used herbs in the kitchen. From a culinary standpoint, parsley can be used as an ingredient or garnish for most any dish.

Parsley Root: Parsley root can be served as a boiled vegetable.

Leaves: Whether fresh or dried, parsley leaves can add a touch of flavor and color to most any dish. Minced green leaves are often mixed with other vegetables just before being served. Parsley transforms plain, boiled potatoes to a new level particularly when young, red potatoes are used.

Whether you like to cook or just attract butterflies parsley is a good choice for your garden.

Sweet Peas – For a Fragrant garden

For the 3rd year in a row I planted Sweet peas and for the first year I got some to not only grow but also bloom. This year I planted them earlier (in February) and that could have been the difference since blooming is curtailed by heat. Mine are planted on trellis right outside my screened porch and what a wonderful fragrance every time I step out the door to let the dogs in or out! These annual climbers bear clusters of flowers in a wide variety of colors including red, pink, blue, white and lavender. They will bloom late spring into summer and in cooler climates, they can bloom through fall. Sweet Peas lend a cottage feel to gardens and can be grown on bamboo tripods. They are great in a vegetable garden as they attract bees and other pollinators needed in the vegetable garden.

Sweet pea vines have tendrils and will attach themselves to most any type of support with meshing or lines. Regular deadheading or cutting for display will keep them blooming longer. Sweet peas require regular watering, especially as the temperature increases.

If you love Fragrance in your garden try sweet peas.

Water Lilies in a Water Garden

I had my first water lily bloom in our backyard pond. I enjoy our pond but it does take a certain amount of upkeep. Now that our pond is established I usually just have to worry about cleaning filters and adding water. On occasion I need to add some algaecide but the UV filter is a great help controlling algae.
A water garden opens up a new world of planting and landscaping possibilities. A pond can be a point of interest or provide a soothing sound in your garden. You can start small, with a hollowed-out stone that catches rainwater or jump right in with a half-acre pond that has water lilies, fish and a fountain.
Before building your water garden, it is best to do a little homework. Unlike regular gardening, where you can bungle your way through almost any trial and start fresh the following year, a water garden often involves a greater investment of time and money.

A natural-looking water garden should have sloped sides with planting terraces that step down toward the deepest area of the pond. Remember:

· Place in a location that receives at least 5 hours of sunlight a day.
· Avoid low spots or areas that accumulate runoff.
· Don't put the garden under large trees.
· Find a level spot.
· Provide easy access to electrical power and fresh water

My pond is fishless at the moment thanks to a snowy egret but fish are a nice addition to a pond. You don’t have to start out with expensive Koi. Our small pond of 250 gallons supports Comets with no problem. We’ve had 6 at one time and they grew to about 18”. They eat algae, tadpoles, and mosquito larva so I only supplemented their diet with pond fish food.

Pot Some Plants
Although your water garden will have a few floaters, you will need to pot up other varieties of aquatic plants before sinking them in the water container. Use sturdy plastic or terra cotta pots. Those black plastic pots that regular nursery plants come in can also be used - and they're free. Water plants must be grown in high-quality topsoil or potting soil made specifically for water gardens. Never use a commercial potting mixture. It's too light for aquatic planting.

Beauty in a barrel
You don’t have to dig a hole in your backyard to have a water garden. A barrel water garden is perfect for inexperienced gardeners or gardeners with space limitations. Start by purchasing a sturdy whiskey barrel that has been cut neatly in half, sits steadily on its base and has tight metal hoops. Scrub inside and out thoroughly, then wire-brush and repaint the hoops. Be sure to use marine grade paint if you decide to paint the barrel.
You can also buy a preformed plastic liner or PVC pond liner cut-to-fit from a gardening center or the gardening section of a home improvement store. Some ready-made barrel liners are even available with a drain near the top as an overflow in rainy weather.

Add a few fish to your water garden for extra appeal. Guppies, mollies, swordtails, mosquito fish and small gold fish are commonly available and live happily in a small container. These little fish not only add interest, they help keep plants healthy by eating aphids, mosquitoes, and other insect pests.

Now Blooming (early May)

What you’d see blooming in my yard if you came for a visit now:

Petunia, dianthus, daylily, (Easter) Lily, Roses, Hydrangea, salvia, Silver Sage, coreopsis, Rudbeckia, coneflower, Amaryllis, Iris, Flowering Tobacco, Impatiens, Sweet peas, Hostas, Magnolia, snapdragons, & Shasta Daisy.

Stunning Foliage

As it turns out you don’t always have to spend a lot on new plants or replacements for your garden. I’ve found some really good deals on discounted plants at Lowe’s. On the discount shelf there are out of season or out of bloom plants that I can pay only .25 a piece for 4” pots to 75% off on larger plants. One of my favorite finds was 3 of my Maple trees that I got for $5 and are growing very well and providing shade in my yard 6 years later. Last fall I discovered a plant with silver foliage in 4” pots for .25 each. I bought 4 and planted them in the backyard. I found out later the plants are called silver sage. It has large fuzzy leaves and has started blooming this month with airy flowers on tall stalks. Some people don’t like the look of the flower stalks and cut them off. I’m going to wait and see if birds or butterflies are interested in the blooms. I planted my silver sage in a boarder right outside my screened porch when I can see it often.

Silver sage likes to be nice and dry. If the leaves stay wet for several days they will rot and need to be removed. The crowns will rot and die in wet soil. Rabbits and deer don’t care for them but slugs consider them one of their favorites.

April in the garden

Things to consider / do in the garden this month:

*Be prepared for cold snaps at night. Use row covers newspapers or sheets to protect seedlings.
*Start seeds indoor of warm season vegetables and flowers if you haven’t yet.
*Stake perennials before they get too tall.
*Finish pruning roses. Remove dead and diseased wood first.
*Check on cool season crops for harvesting. Sow seeds directly in the vegetable garden toward the end of the month.
*Begin transplanting warm season seedlings outdoors, at the end of April when the soil has warmed and night temperatures stay above 50 degrees F.
*Give your bulbs some food once they finish blooming and allow the foliage to remain until it begins to turn yellow
*Feed fruit and nut trees and bushes
*Keep ahead of the weeds
*Turn the compost
*Sharpen Tools
*Test and amend your soil if you haven’t already
*Prune flowering shrubs when they finish blooming.
*Plant and divide perennials and Dig up and divide spring flowering bulbs after the flowers have faded and the foliage as browned.
Take time to enjoy the flowering plants in your yard!

Bulbs in full bloom…

Bulbs in full bloom…can spring be far away? When the leaves of spring-flowering bulbs emerge, advice says to apply a complete fertilizer. Usually I never get around to this but this year made the effort! I always seem to remember after they bloom and that is the time you don’t want to Fertilize since they are going dormant. Also after the bulbs have finished blooming resist the urge to remove leaves or braid them. Let the leaves die naturally. The leaves are needed to harvest energy that is channeled to the bulb for next year’s flowers. I plant daylilies among the bulbs that help hide the yellowing leaves of the spring bulbs. When flowers of these bulbs fade, cut them off to prevent seeds from developing and taking energy from the bulb.

Now Flowering - March 2011

Now blooming in my yard Iris hollandica a bulb that flowers in mid to late spring for 2-3 weeks. Plants are about 20 inches tall. Planting depth: 5 inches deep. Climatic zone 8 with mulch, Zones 9 to 10 without mulch. Requires full sunlight and keep moist during growing season.

Also blooming Tulips: Tulips are classified with perennials but often need to be treated as annuals. You can dig up your tulips once the foliage has died & store them in a cool dry area for replanting in the fall. But I just buy new ones in the fall. I’ve not had good luck storing them. Tulips need well-drained soil. To improve drainage add sand and compost to your soil. Tulips enjoy full sun. If you are planting other bedding plants amongst tulips; it is a good idea to plant them before the bulbs, so as not to damage the bulbs with the trowel later.

Loropetalum chinense var. rubrum 'Burgundy':I love this shrub! The striking color of the flowers of this evergreen member of the witchhazel family has drawn attention to this species. Height and Width:'Burgundy' is reported to have reached a height of 14 feet. Habit: Evergreen or semi-evergreen (depending on U.S.D.A. hardiness zone),robust, vase-shaped to rounded shrub to small tree. Foliage: 'Burgundy': new leaves red-purple, older foliage dark reddish purple to dark olive green. Foliage of 'Burgundy' may exhibit an orange red coloration in hardiness zones where it is not completely evergreen. Flowers are a shocking pink. Culture: Prefers, moist but well-drained acid soils with high organic matter. Hardiness: U.S.D.A. Zones 7b-9

May 2005

Flowers and shrubs took off in my yard during May. Hydrangeas bloomed and for the first time so did my Little Gem Magnolia. It was nice to see flowers filling in my new beds. I still did not have much afternoon shade in the backyard at this time so I could only plant shade loving plants along the back of the house where shade was provided by the second story around 2 pm. My hydrangeas didn’t seem to mind this or did my elephant ears or impatiens. We mulched the new front flowerbed and planted a small Maple tree. I decorated the porch forMemorial Day and put out a flag for our son who was serving on the USS Carr in the Persian Gulf.

March 2005

I joined the National Wildlife Federation Backyard Wildlife Habitat Program and started to landscape my yard to provide Food, Water, places for birds to nest and cover for them to raise young. Since I didn’t have trees for nesting I installed a Bluebird house and it was immediately occupied. This pleasantly surprised me because I thought my yard was so unwelcoming to wildlife! I continued to plant, adding Caroline Jessamine in front of the garden shed. I also started planting hydrangeas hoping to someday have some as gorgeous as my grandmother’s. While shopping at Home Depot one weekend in March my husband said, “Let’s build a pond!” I didn’t argue because I had wanted one for each of the last two yards. I’d heard the sound of water would attract more birds so was happy to add this to the yard. Actually it was in my original plan for the backyard that was submitted to the homeowners association before we even moved in but didn’t know then it would ever get built.