So far it has been a good spring. Though we have had some extremely warm days, we have also been enjoying some relatively mild days and cool nights recently. We have even had good spring rains and our plants are growing. Take advantage of this weather to continue your local gardens blooming work in earnest now, because soon summer’s heat will be upon us.
If you wish to add plantings to your landscape and garden, it’s best to do most of it soon, before summer’s extreme heat arrives. That doesn’t mean you can’t still plant in summer, but it’s much more pleasant to work outdoors now, and it’s less stressful to start new plants while temperatures aren’t as high.
Watering and irrigation
If you add new plantings, make sure you have a system in place to water them until they become well-established. One of the most common causes of failure of new plantings is under or over-watering. I’m a big fan of micro-irrigation, a low-pressure, low-flow-rate type of irrigation that efficiently delivers water directly to where it is needed most, the root zone of plants.
What to plant for color
So what are some of the plants you may wish to be planting now? Color in the garden is a priority for many of us and nurseries are now loaded with many options. Make sure you visit a nursery that has informative plant signs that give you details to help you make the best selections. I often hear people say that they want all perennials so that they don’t have to buy and replant each year.
Replace overgrown shrubs
You may be replacing overgrown shrubs close to your house with more appropriately sized plants this spring. Some interesting ones I’ve seen in the nursery that may grow no taller than three to four feet are ‘Touch of Gold’ holly, Loropetalum ‘Cerise Charm’, ‘Florida Sunshine’ Ocala anise, and two cultivars of Distylium, ‘Cinnamon Girl’ and ‘Swing Low’. Spreading or prostrate Japanese plum yew, Cephalotaxus harringtonia ‘Prostrata’, is another commonly used shrub that is easily maintained at a low height.
Lawns and citrus
If you do have problem areas in the lawn, this is an excellent time to buy grass plugs. Or pieces of sod to fill in areas of the lawn. If it’s an area that you continually replant, be realistic about whether there’s really enough sunlight for grass to grow well there.
Crepe myrtle flowering season is just around the corner. When selecting crepe myrtle cultivars, consider the mature height and spread of the plant. And make sure you select a cultivar that won’t outgrow the site. You shouldn’t have to prune a crape myrtle to keep it at the desired height. There are shrub-sized and patio-sized crape myrtles if that’s what you need. The garden center personnel should be able to help you find the appropriate variety if you tell them your needs.
More veggies
Fertilize vegetable plants that you planted in March or April. You can also still plant heat-tolerant vegetables such as okra, eggplant, peppers, Lima beans, southern peas. And sweet potatoes, as well as herbs such as basil, fennel, and rosemary.
Master Gardener Volunteers have been propagating a wide variety of plants all year for Saturday’s Open House and Plant Sale. Including native trees, shade-loving ferns, pollinator plants, and a variety of summer fruits and vegetables.
Proceeds from the Plant Sale fund Leon County Extension’s horticulture program, school garden support, and the expansive demonstration garden. Be sure to check out the 4-H Silent Auction and Mother’s Day bouquet sale. Both provide funding for 4-H youth clubs and camps.
