Southern Homes & Gardens Blog

Free Garden & Design advice:

Count us IN!

We’ve been pretty darn excited about Christmas and the holiday season in general coming, much like many small children we know!  The difference is that we have been anticipating this seminar like kids who wait under the Christmas tree for Santa Claus on Christmas Eve!  We’re talking about Aaron Shiver, Monrovia’s head Boutique Designer (and Alabama native!) coming to our Vaughn Road store location on Saturday (Oct. 29^th) to share his garden and design expertise on unique containers, indoor displays and landscapes with gorgeous holiday and winter interest.  Aaron promised to even tell us how to  incorporate the season’s yummiest flavors & colors into  the mix….or as he put it,

“ . . . a Martha – in –t he – garden at the holidays ! ”

Ooo, la, la!  We simply cannot wait!  Catch Aaron in action tomorrow (Friday) as he transforms the Monrovia Plant Boutiques at our stores into something truly magical! 

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Perfect Pansies:

A fall planting favorite

Pansies are the cold weather plant of choice for fall and winter – they’re known for being exceptionally hardy, thriving in our area during our southern winters.   Pansies are multi-purposes as they can be planted in the landscape as full beds or borders and also bring fabulous color to our outdoor fall & winter containers. 

Thriller & filler. . .

Standing alone, it can serve as the ‘thriller’ element in container gardens, or it can be planted under upright shrubs (‘thriller’) as the ‘filler’ element too.   Got a mixed container that you just want to add a dash of pizzazz?  Toss in some pansies & voila! 

You can eat THAT?

Did you know that pansies are edible?  Sure enough, pansies make a beautiful garnish for fruits, salads and desserts!  Just add them to your herb garden or plant them with lettuce and parsley for a nice combination of texture and color – but please make certain you’re using only food-safe insecticides if you plan on indulging in these edible blooms!

Shop our gorgeous selection at both store locations – use your Garden Rewards card and get a flat of pansies for just $9.96!

(an $11.96 value)

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It’s only the beginning of June, and a record-setting month already!   When high temps hit and no drenching rain in the forecast, be sure you are watering your grass, plants and landscapes adequately.  Just like people, plant life can become quickly parched in the heat too.  Here’s a few simple watering tips to keep in mind this summer:

Quick Assessment

If the plant looks wilted, stressed, or the top 2” of soil is dried out, it’s definitely time to give ‘em a drink!

Time of Day

Early mornings are best as the plant has time to soak it up before the heat of the day hits (& can sustain moisture levels better throughout the day).  Late afternoon lends a good chance of increased water loss through evaporation. In addition, if the leaves have not had adequate drying time, the cooler evening air can encourage fungal growth.

Frequency

This will largely depend on important factors such as weather forecast, soil type, and specific plant requirements. When it’s time to water, remember that infrequent, deep watering is better than frequent, shallow watering because it promotes deeper root growth.

Stumped on specifics?  Simply visit with one of our SH&G staff experts in the garden center and they’ll have the definitive answer(s) you are looking for.  They can even work with you to help devise a plan of action to remedy your planting obstacles.

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The long awaited spring planting season is upon us, which means spring cleaning indoors and out.  When the weather and temps cooperate, be sure to make time to clean up flower beds and surrounding areas, in preparation for the all-important Spring growing season! 

So, what can we be doing?

Removing cold-damaged foliage/stems from our perennials to prepare room for new growth.  In general, leaving an inch or two of the stems above the ground surface should be fine.  Although we might want a ‘cleaner’ appearance by removing this old growth after the first killing frost in the fall, we need to remember that even this ‘dead’ foliage will offer the plants some protection against extreme low temperatures.  And with our recent history of dramatic winter temps, that could have made the difference between survival and cold-kill.

Remove old, possibly disease-harboring, mulch, leaves, etc from the beds – you’ll  need to be aware of the foliage of Spring Blooming Bulbs (Daffodils, Jonquils, Hyacinths, etc.), that are already in bloom with some of the earlier bloomers too.   And, as bulbs and perennials make themselves more evident, you’ll want to apply new layers of mulch or pine straw (have you checked out attractive, long-lasting Textraw synthetic pine straw?).  The mulch will help keep down weeds, conserve moisture around your plants and protect them from extreme summer temperatures.

 Out with the old & in with the new!

Take a nature walk around your landscape – making notes about what you’d like to add in order to have good color and interest  year ‘round.  Make notes about each area that include

• how much sun (and at what time of day) it gets
• mature height of plants/shrubs/trees you want to add (reducing the need to trim)
• how easy/accessible is it to water that particular area 

Then visit our nursery to research what’s available to meet your requirements – with lots of new fresh varieties arriving daily, selecting your favorites will be the hardest part! 

Still stumped on what to tackle first or how to do it?  Snap some photos of your existing landscape and bring them in to show our knowledgeable staff – they’re happy to offer their expertise and guidance!

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• ENJOY NATURE’S COLOR SHOW:  Few things are more beautiful than autumn’s flame-colored leaves of red, yellow, gold and orange. If you would like to add some of these multi-hued trees to your landscape, visit the nursery now to see the fall color on each variety.

• PLANT TREES:  November is a great time to plant trees.  Although the top portion of the tree is dormant and not actively growing, the roots will continue to grow until the soil freezes.

• RAKE LEAVES:  Although it seems like busy work, raking leaves is an important gardening task.  A mat of leaves on your lawn can prevent water penetration and air circulation which could damage your grass.  After raking, add the leaves to a compost pile to reduce landfill waste.

• PLANT SPRING-FLOWERING BULBS:  Time to plant spring blooming bulbs such as tulips, daffodils, crocus and hyacinths.  Mulch the planting area after planting.

• FRESHEN MULCHED AREAS:  Add fresh mulch to your planting areas at a depth of no more than two inches.  Mulches insulate the soil and help to protect plant roots from freezing temperatures.

• FORCE PAPERWHITE BULBS:  Around mid-November, buy a paperwhite kit or place some Narcissus bulbs in a container with soil or a decorative planting medium like marbles or small stones.  Fill the container with water until it reaches the bottom of the bulb.  Place near a sunny window away from drafts and heat sources.  In two to three weeks, you should have fragrant paperwhite blooms that will last throughout the holiday season.  Paperwhite kits are a great gift idea.

TIME TO PLANT:  Fall is the ideal time to plant trees, shrubs, cool season grasses, perennials, and cool season annuals such as pansies and violas.

Pansy perfect for fall

Apply pre-emergents now for prevention later

Buy spring blooming bulbs, but wait to plant them!

Fall is here!

 

FALL IS FOR PLANTING: Fall is the best season to plant just about anything.  Cooler air temperatures and warm soil encourages vigorous root development.  By the time that the next growing season rolls around, the plants you set out in the fall have had a chance to root in and become established.

Keep up regular lawn maintenance this month

• LAWN MAINTENANCE: Continue to mow, edge and water as needed.  The best time to mow is in the evening when the grass is dry and temperatures have cooled.

Enjoy the sounds of silence

• ORNAMENTAL GRASSES: These versatile plants provide four seasons of interest and are often at their best during the fall when their “plumes” appear.  They are durable, low maintenance plants and are rarely affected by insects or diseases.  Looks aren’t everything.  Not only do they add distinction to the landscape, they also add an aspect of motion and sound.  The gentle waving motion of the grasses, and the accompanying sounds create a peaceful atmosphere.

Remove spent blooms and be rewarded with more!

• CRAPE MYRTLES: Continue to remove spent flowers and you may be rewarded with repeat blooms before frost. 

The official taste of Fall

• COOL SEASON VEGETABLES: Sow seeds or set out bedding plants of broccoli, collards, kale, lettuce, mustard, spinach and turnips. 

Treat these beauties right and be rewarded

• ROSES: As summer’s heat decreases, roses begin to perk up.  Apply a water soluble fertilizer (20-20-20) to the plants and you should get a last hurrah of blooms before frost.

Fall mums offer a big 'wow' factor

• GARDEN MUMS:  Chrysanthemums should be available in mid September.  These colorful fall perennials can be enjoyed in containers or planted in the ground.

Got other gardening or planting questions?  Call, click or visit us today to get your questions answered – we love to help!

July has arrived in full force which means we’re in the heat of summer and our plants, trees, yards and landscapes need some extra TLC. 

• Keep your lawn and garden adequately watered during the hot, dry summer months. Lawns need about an inch of water per week. Remember, a deep, thorough soaking is more beneficial than a light sprinkling.   

• Fertilize flower beds every 14-28 days.
• Cut back leggy annuals to encourage fuller plants and plenty of blooms. 
• Fertilize crape myrtles, butterfly bushes and hydrangeas with All Purpose Plant Food.  

• Watch for lacebugs, aphids and spider mites on flowers and shrubs. Use Triple Action to get rid of these pest.
•  Be sure that all tall annuals and perennials are securely staked so that they will remain upright during the afternoon thunderstorms that are so common at this time of year.
• Off with their heads! Remove dead blooms as they occur on crape myrtles and hydrangeas and you may be rewarded with a new flush of blooms.  
• Rejuvenate roses in July and August. Do not fertilize, but continue to spray for insects and diseases. Give the plants a light pruning in July to encourage new fall growth.

• Continue to pinch Chrysanthemums and Dahlias through the month of July.
•  Tomatoes are ripe for the picking. If blossom-end rot (brown blotches on the bottom of the tomato) strikes, sprinkle several cupfuls of lime around the base of each plant to increase calcium in the soil. Tomatoes that split on the vine are the result of inconsistent watering. Keep the soil uniformly moist throughout the planting season.  

• Set bird baths in a shaded spot to slow evaporation and keep the water temperature from becoming too hot. 

It might be May, but there is always something to be doing to keep your garden & landscape looking fresh & alive – who said the grass has to be greener on the OTHER side?  Just follow some simple tips to keep your side of the fence looking happy & healthy:

·         Still plenty of time to plant annuals and perennials for spring and summer color.  Check out our blooming annual flats, now just $9.96 per flat with your Garden Rewards card (while supplies last).

·         Fertilize and water tomatoes regularly.  

·         Plant tropical vines at your mailboxes for bright flowers all summer. Good choices include mandevilla, bougainvillea and allamanda. 

·         Freshen the mulch in your planting areas. During warm weather, mulches help to regulate the soil temperature, conserve moisture in the soil and control weeds. 

·         Begin succession planting of hot weather annuals such as zinnias, marigolds, celosia and portulaca in May and continue through the month of June.  

·         Pinch back annuals to encourage bushy, compact growth. Annuals appreciate a continual supply of nutrients. Begin to fertilize them on a regular basis.  We like to fertilize with Miracle Gro All Purpose Plant Food.

·         Great time to plant long-blooming perennials like Daylilies, Purple Coneflowers, Shasta Daisies and Gaura.  Selected perennials are now 30% off with your Garden Rewards card (while supplies last).

·         Continue to plant perennials throughout the month of May.

·         When ground temperature is 70 degrees F, begin planting vegetables such as: okra, pumpkins, sweet potato, eggplant, pepper plants, watermelon, peas and butter beans.

·         Use weed killer on lawns – our pick is Image.

·         Fertilize roses in May to encourage a second bloom, and continue feeding them on schedule through the month of June with Espoma Rose Tone. Prune ramblers in June.

·         Fertilize azaleas with Miracle Gro All Natural & Organic Holly Food as soon as they finish blooming. 

·         Fertilize flower beds with Dynamite or Osmocote.  

·         Fertilize March vegetables with a balanced fertilizer such as Espoma Garden Tone.  

·         Use Ironite on shrubs and trees to promote healthy color and maximize root growth.