Mulching your summer garden

South Carolina environments can either be a plants best friend or worst enemy depending on what type of soil you have. Making amendments to your soil may be the only way to yield any good results from your growing efforts. There are many types of mulch that is available free or for purchase for you southern garden.

Bark Mulch

Image via WikipediaThis type of mulch typically has to be purchased somewhere and although it comes in a wide variety of colors to aesthetically enhance your garden it does have a few draw backs. Bark mulch is fairly pricey, doesn't decompose as quickly as some. Some types of bark/wood mulch can attract pests such as roaches and termites. Make sure not to place it too close to your homes foundation. Bark mulch is also susceptible to molds and fungus that could if touching the base of your plant kill it.

Pine Straw

Image via WikipediaPine straw mulch has been a southern favorite for many many years throughout the south. It is lightweight, easy to use, is readily available and allows for air circulation. As time goes by pine straw breaks down rather quickly and decomposed into the soil requiring more applications. Like bark mulches pine straw does harbor insects, and it is not uncommon to find roaches and other types of pests underneath a batch of pine straw.

Synthetic mulch

Synthetic mulches retain their color, come in a wide variety of colors and do not decompose over time like organic mulch. Ideally suited for beds that are close to the foundation of your home due to inability to rot or mold. Black plastic landscaping material is great up against the home, and placing synthetic mulch that mimics shredded bark mulch is a great choice. As with any type of plastic, it can become very hot in summer so make sure there are sufficient holes to allow for rain and airflow. With vegetable gardens, it is generally best to avoid synthetic mulches since there is ongoing debate on the chemicals of synthetic mulch leaching into the ground and because they are not biodegradable, there is no telling where it could end up years down the road.

Gravel and stone mulch

Image by James Bowe via FlickrPossibly the best choice for overall weed suppression especially if used in conjunction with plastic landscape fabric underneath. Stone may absorb heat on the top, but usually maintain a cool temperature underneath. Make sure to use porous landcaping fabric. If water is puddling anywhere in the bed, you may not have enough holes, add some easily with a pitch fork or other garden tool.

A look at the Carolina Jessamine

Image by Vicki's Nature via Flickr

 
One trip to South Carolina during the late months of December through April, and you will notice a delicate yellow flower on a very vigorous vine, the sweet smelling wild Jessamine, South Carolina's own state flower. Whether it is clinging to a pine tree in the forest, or completely covering an old fence post, one thing is obvious, this plant is a symbol of perseverance.

Adopted officially as the South Carolina state flower by the General Assembly in 1924, the yellow Jessamine was found a deserving representative of the South Carolina landscape.
The vine sap, and nectar of this beautiful wild growing vine has toxins similar in molecular structure to strychnine related alkaloids and no part of the plant should be consumed. In spite of that, it is harvested for its perfume, which is quite difficult to reproduce otherwise, and some herbalists use the plant for ailments of varying descriptions.

Mocking birds love the heavily intertwined nature of the stems from this vine and set up nests in them regularly. It is a popular flower in gardens in the south east and make excellent fence covers, it will readily climb trellis's, arbors and walls. It can be an effective means for deterring deer as they will not consume the plant. When planted around fencing it will discourage deer from coming onto the property to consume vegetables and fruit.

A note from the author: I grew up picking, smelling and giving bouquets of these lovely flowers to my mother from out of the woods behind our home. Not once did I ever get any skin irritations, or suffer any ill effects from this plant. Therefore, I would not worry greatly about having this lovely sweet smelling plant in my own yard. With a little caution and common sense this can be a lovely addition to many landscapes.

Other articles by this author:

• Top 3 South Carolina home and living articles
• The Southern Magnolia 
• Timeless home design, the key to not becoming a trend 

Create a “Memory garden” for Mother's Day

Image via Wikipedia

Mothers rarely expect expensive gifts on Mother's Day. Most mothers really just want some of your time. However with Spring in full bloom in South Carolina, adding lovely things to your mom's garden might be a wonderful gesture, a constant reminder of your love. Planting and gardening together may be a great way to start a lovely tradition that the whole family can participate in and enjoy.
Starting a “memory garden” for your mom that the whole family can contribute to every year is a fun and warm way to spend time with mom. You can even improve on a garden mom already has established. Whether it is Mother's day, mom's birthday, Christmas or any other occasion or anniversary, your mom will love seeing the “memory garden” you and your family create over the years. Be sure to use low maintenance plants, so it will be easy for mom to maintain and make sure to stop by occasionally and help tend to it.
 
There are plenty of wonderful shops that specialize in wonderful gardening items in South Carolina. For a full list of wonderful nurseries from all over South Carolina, see : The Helpful Gardener. For a list of wonderful ways to make mom's garden beautiful check out these suggestions:

Image via Wikipedia
1. Jackson and Perkins gift certificates- Mom will love being able to use her gift  certificate to purchase some of the beautiful roses, flowers, and garden accents from Jackson and Perkins. Jackson and Perkins is world renowned for their spectacular roses and if you visit Edisto Memorial Gardens during the month of May, you will be able to see Jackson and Perkins roses growing in one of their many official test gardens.
2. Spring Hill Nurseries- One great source of giving a living gift to your mom and making a memory garden is by visiting Spring Hill Nurseries online and taking a look at the customer rated flowering trees. Flowering trees are beautiful to look at and mom will enjoy your contribution to her memory garden. Spring Hill has great prices and tons of information, and delivery available so you can give your mom a great gift any time of year.Image via Wikipedia
3. Herbs in a pot- If your mom has limited space consider a container garden that will be easy to maintain and can be replenished regularly. There's nothing like a home cooked meal flavored with herbs cut fresh from your garden. The best part is that you don’t need to cultivate an entire backyard plot to grow enough herbs to use in meals – a simple container on a deck or patio can provide herbs all season, as you need them. Here’s how to create an herb container garden. Read more here: Herbs in a Pot
   Image via Wikipedia For more gardening suggestions and inspiration, see: The Southern Garden.
   

 

 

 

 

 

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• The Stella D'Oro lily: a keeper for your southern garden

The Stella D'Oro lily: a keeper for your southern garden

Image via WikipediaA Southern garden would not be complete with out including this wonderful daylily. The gorgeous, fragrant Stella D'Oro daylily is a keeper. This compact bloomer offers year after year beautiful gold trumpets of fragrance. It does best  in sunny to partially shaded locations. It is also a versatile grower, and can do well in zones 3-9. With such flexibility, the Stella D'Oro can do well in many areas of the United States. Disease and pest free, it is a no fail plant for even the palest of green thumbs.


Here is the run down on this wonderful lily and why you need them in your garden this summer.


Botanical Name: Hemerocallis 'Stella de Oro'
Form: Herbaceous perennial
Sun Exposure: Partial Shade/Full Sun
Height/Habit: 15 - 24"
Spread: 18 - 24"
Spacing: 18 - 24"
Hardiness Zone: 3 - 9(-40° F)
Foliage Type: Strap like, medium green. Dormant in winter.
Flower Form: Trumpet-shaped 2 - 3" flowers.
Flower Color: Deep, golden yellow

Flowering Date: Peak in late spring/early summer, sporadically throughout the summer with a heavier repeat bloom in fall

Planting Requirements: Able to plant anytime the ground is workable. At least one month before a severe freeze going into winter.

Soil Requirements: Adaptable to most soils except water-logged heavy soil.
Growth Rate: Fast
   
Unique Characteristics: Showy, deep golden yellow blooms on dwarf day lily plants are perfect for a front border location. The initial blooming begins in late spring to early summer with a profusion of blooms followed by sporadic blooming throughout summer and into early fall.

Pruning: To remove spent flower stems to tidy up plants.

Time of Pruning: Throughout the summer.

Additional Information: Stella d' Oro translates to 'star of gold'. 1985 Stout Medal Winner, the highest award for a day lily. If you like to order online, you can find great deals from Spring Hill Nursery. Spring Hill Nursery is currently offering a deal on all orders of $100.00 or more, a free Perennial grab bag. Check it out today!

The carefree Peony for your southern garden

Image via WikipediaImage via WikipediaImage via WikipediaImage via WikipediaImage via WikipediaImage via WikipediaSouth Carolina gardens can be a challenge for many, finding the right plants for the environment that can tolerate drought, heat and a lot of sun is a top priority. However, with a little care and diligence there are great choices that can work in the southern zone 8 growing area. Peonies are big and showy bushes with beautiful vibrant flowers.

They are long lived perennials that require minimum care, do well in zones 3-8, and can live in partial shade to full sun. The other wonderful feature of these flowers is their delightful fragrance, making them one of the best choices for your South Carolina perennial garden. Three great choices for your southern garden:

Sorbet Peony
The unusual pink and white 5-7" double blooms of this hybrid are as delectable as an elegant dessert. Fragrant flowers provide breathtaking beauty in early summer, and handsome foliage turns red in fall. Bushy plants grow up to 4' tall and require no care. Space 36" apart. Does best in full sun to part shade. #1 field-grown plants. Paeonia lactiflora ‘Sorbet’.

Taki Peony
For many generations, captivating, carefree peonies have been the pride of spring gardens throughout America. These luscious, full, multi-petaled flowers have a delightful fragrance, are exquisite in any garden and provide long-lasting beauty for your late spring bouquets. After they bloom, you’ll enjoy the lovely emerald foliage as a shapely 24-30" hedge. These hardy plants are easy to grow and can be left undisturbed for years. Plant 24-30" apart. Choose from three popular varieties. Does best in full sun to part shade. #1 field-grown plants. Zones 3-8. PaeoniaPaeoni

Image via WikipediaGay Paree Peony
Pink-raspberry blossoms with fluffy white centers atop sturdy 30-36" tall stems in early summer. Fragrant and romantic, they are amazing when grouped in borders or bouquets. #1 field-grown plants. Paeonia ‘Gay Paree’.
To order these online I suggest checking out Springhill Nursery.

 

 

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Top three flowering plants for your southern garden

The Knockout rose, a great choice for disease resistance

South Carolina has a long growing season, and Spring starts off with a burst of color in most landscapes. Cherry trees, Bradford Pears, Dogwoods, and Azaleas dominate most gardens in the south in  early Spring. There is one flower that is quite a challenge in most gardens, even in the south, and  that is roses. High temperatures, drought, and  humid nights, often prove to be the enemy when growing roses. Finding one that is a good fit for your yard is important. The Knockout rose may the one of the best to meet this challenge.

Continue reading on Examiner.com: The Knock out rose

Encore Azaleas, a bloom for all seasons

Gorgeous pink Azaleas (Photo credit: dawnella66)

 Encore Azaleas are the perfect new solution for more blooms throughout the season. Sold in most gardening centers, it is more cold tolerant, adaptable to its environment and blooms up to nine months a year. This is a great improvement over the regular Azalea which only blooms three weeks out of the entire year.

Continue reading on Examiner.com: Encore Azaleas, a bloom for all seasons - Columbia home and living | Examiner.com 

Lantana

Image via Wikipedia

 Lantana are beautiful and great for covering bare spots in any garden setting. They have vivid colors and can tolerate harsh growing conditions often seen in the south. Heat, and drought do not seem to affect this plant and they have a pungent aroma to boot. Bright colors of yellow, orange and red, among others will set your garden off and once they are planted, very little worry is in order. They will come back year after year and do their part in your garden to make it lovely. Butterflies will love this addition to your yard as well.

Continue reading on Examiner.com: Great plants for the novice southern gardener - Columbia home and living | Examiner.com

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Great lilies to plant in your southern garden

Image via Wikipedia

South Carolina has an ideal environment for planting many different species and types of lilies. These varieties listed below are also well suited for planting zones 4 , up to 9 making them lovely and ideal choices to plant this Spring in your garden for years of enjoyment.

Dreamcatcher Carpet Lily 

Dreamcatcher Carpet Lily is more compact version of taller Lilies.  It is ideally grown in containers and along borders in your yard. Every year the plants produce more flowers than they year
before.
Botanical Name:
Lilium 'Dreamcatcher'
Form:
Hardy bulb
Sun Exposure: 
Partial Shade/Full Sun
Height/Habit: 
15 - 18"
Spread: 
6 - 9"
Spacing:
6 - 9"
Hardiness Zone: 3 - 8 (-40° F)
Foliage Type: Dark green, lance shaped, 3-4" long in whorls around sturdy stems.
Flower Form: 
Full upright flowers. Several flowers per stem.
Flower Color: 
Pink
Flowering Date:
Early to mid summer
Planting Requirements:
In the garden, 5-6" deep and 9-12" apart. In pots and containers 5-6" deep and 5" apart.
Soil Requirements: 
Prefers well-drained soil but will tolerate heavier soils.
Growth Rate: 
Moderate

Unique Characteristics:
Border lilies are referred to as the 'garden charmer'. Extremely suitable for planting in containers or front position in a border.

Pruning: 
Don't remove leaves until they have died down in fall. They help provide nourishment to the bulb for next season's blooms.

Time of Pruning: Fall

Commander in Chief Lily



This gorgeous lily has deep scarlet red blooms that grow up to 48 inches tall
in your garden. This lily produces a ton of blossoms and loves both full sun or part shade making it an extremely versatile plant for your garden.

Botanical Name:
Lilium 'Commander in Chief' (Asiatic)
Form:
Hardy bulb
Sun Exposure: 
Partial Shade/Full Sun
Height/Habit: 
3' - 4'
Spread: 
15" - 18"
Spacing: 
10" - 12"
Hardiness Zone: 
3 - 9 (-40 degrees F)
Foliage Type: 
Dark green, lance shaped, 3" - 4" long, 1/2" - 3/4" wide
Flower Form: 
Large upright facing flared flowers in bold terminal panicles
Flower Color: 
Scarlet (dark red)
Flowering Date: 
Mid summer
Planting Requirements: 
Plant with 4" of soil above the bulb
Soil Requirements: 
well drained is important.
Growth Rate: 
Moderate once established. It takes 6 - 8 weeks for a good root system to develop
Unique Characteristics: 
Strong growth and extremely hardy. It has 6-8" diameter flowers that are scarlet red.
Pruning: 
Cut back spent flower stems by 1/3
Time of Pruning: 
After flowering in Fall
Unique Characteristics: 
Border lilies are referred to as the 'garden charmer'. Extremely suitable for planting in containers or front position in a border.
Pruning: 
Don't remove leaves until they have died down in fall. They help provide nourishment to the bulb for next season's blooms.

Double Tiger Lily

English: Lilium lancifolium, Liliaceae, Tiger lily, flower. The fresh, blooming plant without bulb is used in homeopathy as remedy: Lilium tigrinum (Lil-t.) Deutsch: Lilium lancifolium, Liliaceae, Tiger-Lilie, Blüte. Die frische, blühende Pflanze ohne Zwiebel wird in der Homöopathie als Arzneimittel verwendet: Lilium tigrinum (Lil-t.) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

This beautiful orange lily has been an old time favorite for gardeners throughout generations, and many will continue growing and existing long after the old homestead has perished. This double blooming variety has more than 25 petals per flower, blooms in midsummer and can grow up to 48 inches tall.

Zones:
4-9
Light: 
Full Sun to Partial Shade

Botanical Name: 
Lilium lancifolium flora-pleno

Form: 
Hardy bulb

Sun Exposure:
Partial Shade/Full Sun

Height/Habit: 
30 - 48"

Spread: 
9 - 12"

Spacing: 9 - 12"

Hardiness Zone: 
4 - 9 (-30 degrees F)

Foliage Type: 
Narrow, lanceolate leaves 4" long, thick and glossy.

Flower Form: 
Approximately 3-6" orange flowers with black/dark brown spots.

Flower Color: 
Orange

Flowering Date: 
Mid summer

Planting Requirements:
Plant 6" deep and 9 - 12" apart.

Soil Requirements: 
Well drained soil, but will tolerate heavier soils.

Growth Rate: 
Moderate

Unique Characteristics:
On old time favorite Lilium which was first introduced in 1870. Perfect for cut flower gardens. More then 25 petals per flower. A very special classic Lily!

Pruning: 
Don't remove leaves until they have died down in fall. They help to provide nutrition to the bulb for next season.

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