Spring has officially sprung in the South and
that means it’s time to get going on your garden! If you live in Tennessee,
Georgia, the Carolinas, or one of those other wonderful southern states, the
adage “April showers bring May flowers” couldn’t be more true this season.
Whether you’re building a foundation for summer landscaping or want a simple
springtime garden to enjoy, there are a host of plants that you can start
growing now to make the most of the season.
Plants to Kickoff Your Spring
Garden
Grass
Believe it or not, not all grasses are created
equal … especially when it comes to planting in the South. States like South
Carolina, Tennessee and others are in what’s called the “transition zone,” which means lawns in these
states may need a mix of grasses that will tolerate both warm and cool seasons.
For warm-season grass, bahia grass
is tough and well-suited to the heat and humidity of the South, while bermuda grass is excellent for weed
resistance and heavier wear and tear. There’s also centipede grass, which grows best in the acidic soil of lower
Southern states or St. Augustine,
which is the grass of choice in these states as well because it grows well with
sandy soil. When it comes to cool-season grasses, anything from the fescue family is good for your spring
garden, as is perennial ryegrass.
Trees
If you’ve ever driven by a tree with downy
white flowers or bright pink blossoms, you’re probably in the South. Lucky for
those of us who live in the lower half of the U.S., you have some pretty
awesome options when it comes to planting trees in your springtime garden. Here are some
of our favorites:
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Cornus florida otherwise known as
the flowering dogwood is one of the
most popular Southern trees. The state flower of both North Carolina and
Virginia, the downy white flowers on this dogwood look just like snow when they
fall from their trees, giving your garden the illusion of a springtime winter
wonderland!
●
From every movie based in the
South to Joanna Gaines, magnolia
trees have become synonymous with Southern living. The magnolia is the state
flower of Mississippi and Louisiana and it’s not hard to wonder why – deep
green leaves combine with bright white flowers with stunning results on these
blossoming beauties!
●
If you’re looking for an easy,
no-fuss tree to plant in your Southern garden, go for the crepe myrtle. These bright trees thrive in full sun and bloom in a
variety of shades from bright pink to deep purple, and even the occasional red.
●
Forsythia is also a great choice for an easy
spring garden. The bright yellow buds that blossom on these easy-to-grow trees
will give your garden the pop of color it needs through the spring.
●
Although they aren’t known to last
very long, cherry blossom trees
remain an immensely popular choice for spring gardens in the South. Take a walk
around the cherry tree-lined Capitol Basin the next time you’re in Washington,
D.C. and you’ll see why – they are stunning and smell amazing!
Flowers
No garden is complete without some bright and
sunny flowers! Plant some of these beauties in the spring and enjoy them all
through the summer and even into fall.
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Want a bright pop of color that’s
easy to grow and maintain? Start with the Mandevilla
Vogue. Known for its red and pink petals, the mandevilla is perfect for
containers and baskets that get lots of sun.
●
Looking for the perfect
filler-flower to complement your standout roses or hydrangeas? Try the ‘Blue Sue’ setcreasea.
These delicate pink flowers surrounded by purple-green leaves grow low on the
ground, making them the perfect ground cover for other flowers.
●
Want a sturdy flower that still
looks beautiful? Go with the ‘Azure
Skies’ heliotrope. No matter how hot or humid your summer gets, this light
purple powerhouse will stand the test of time.
●
Want to welcome the birds and
bees? The ‘Stars and Stripes’ pentas
flower is your new best friend … not to mention all the butterflies and
hummingbirds that love this scarlet bud.
●
Don’t even know what you’re
looking for? Let the ‘Cajun Blue’
scaevola come to the rescue and ease your indecisive mind! The simple
purple blossoms on this flower complement pretty much every other color.
How Does Your Garden Grow? These
Tips Will Help!
Now that you know what to plant, here are a
few quick tips to help you get started on your road to a beautiful springtime
garden in the South!
1. Make sure you’re ready.
Before you plant anything, make sure your
garden and all the tools you need are
ready to go. Clean out any leftover foliage or dead plants from last year’s
garden, prune any remaining trees or bushes and make sure all your tools like
clippers and shovels are in good shape.
2. Fertilize your soil.
Your spring garden will only be as good as the
soil underneath it. Be patient with your new flowers and trees and make sure
your soil is new, clean, and most importantly, fertilized.
3. Plant properly.
It may be a surprise to know, but not all
flowers and trees are planted the same way. Make sure you follow the
instructions on how to plant each type of flower in your garden.
4. Water well … but not too much!
Of course, watering is important for every
flower and tree, but did you know that it is possible to water too much? Make sure you read the
guidelines for each item you plant so you know how much water (not to mention,
sunlight!) it should get.
Are you ready to start building your
springtime garden in the South? Let us know what you’re dreaming up in the
comments below!
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Photo by Christian Allard on Unsplash
