Southern Homes & Gardens Blog

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.

It’s that special time of year again, where we not only honor our mothers on Mother’s Day (Sunday May 9th), but where we team up with the Red Cross of Central Alabama to put on the annual “Taste of the Gardens”!  Join us tonight at the Vaughn Rd store location from 5-8pm and enjoy an evening filled with wine, tasty treats from Montgomery’s finest restaurants & caterers, bid on our silent auction items – all while benefiting the Red Cross! 

Tickets are $15 per guest and are available at:

Both Southern Homes & Gardens store locations

8820 Vaughn Road  /  3561 Wetumpka Highway

 

American Red Cross 

5015 Woods Crossing  OR by calling (334) 260-4017

You might be wondering with all of these natural disasters happening recently (floods, tornados & earthquakes) how in the world you can help those in need, or how you can make a difference.  By attending “Taste of the Gardens”, all proceeds from ticket sales & the silent auction go directly to the Red Cross – and directly into those in need.  It’s devastating enough to watch disasters on the news, but worse if it was happening to you & your family.  Knowing the Red Cross is here & ready to aid with disasters can certainly be relief mentally & physically. 

Did You Know…

The American Red Cross helps people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies. Last year, almost a million volunteers and 35,000 employees helped victims of almost 75,000 disasters; taught lifesaving skills to millions; and helped U.S. service members separated from their families stay connected.  Almost 4 million people gave blood through the Red Cross, the largest U.S. supplier of blood and blood products.  The American Red Cross is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.  An average of 91 cents of every dollar the Red Cross spends is invested in humanitarian services and programs.  The Red Cross is not a government agency; it relies on donations of time, money, and blood to do its work. 

(from www.arc.org)