Extreme heat waves are stressful for almost every type of plant in your garden, from flowers and vegetables to shrubs and trees—but especially for container-grown plants.
01.08.2024 - 13:38 / hgic.clemson.edu
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The Upstate region and all of South Carolina are in a state of drought, according to the National Integrated Drought Information System website drought.gov. Some areas in the Upstate are in a moderate to severe drought.
During a drought, water lawns with one inch of water per week. If you have an irrigation system, adjust the sprinkler heads so they are not watering the driveway, sidewalks, or the street to conserve water.
Trees, shrubs, and perennials should be watered in the early morning when the temperatures are cooler and there is less evaporation. To conserve water, consider installing soaker hoses or a drip irrigation system in landscaped areas.
Evergreens such as Leyland cypress and arborvitae are sensitive to drought, and needles can turn brown. Be sure to water consistently.
Mulch helps conserve moisture in the soil. It also keeps the soil temperature cooler in the summer. Add 2 inches of mulch around trees, shrubs, and in landscape beds.
Fertilizer that contains nitrogen should not be applied to warm-season lawns any later than August 15, which is two months before the average last frost date. This includes fertilizers marketed as winterizers.
Annual summer flowers will continue to bloom with regular watering and fertilizing. Cut back leggy stems and remove old flowers to encourage more blooms.
Plant marigolds and mums for fall blooms. Marigolds bloom until frost, longer than most mums.
There are many perennials that bloom in August. Add Turk’s cap, toad lily, cardinal flowers, and Japanese anemones to shady areas. Add asters, salvias, Joe pye weed, and black-eyed Susans to sunny areas.
In the vegetable garden, set out transplants of broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower. Sow seeds for
Extreme heat waves are stressful for almost every type of plant in your garden, from flowers and vegetables to shrubs and trees—but especially for container-grown plants.
Growing up in the Lowcountry, Drew English, High Hampton’s head gardener, was a hobbyist gardener well-versed in the plants that thrive in South Carolina's long and humid summers. But, as many hot weather residents do, English began to spend more time escaping to the cooler temperatures of the mountains.
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While home gardeners are often plagued with too much sunshine during the dog days of summer, downpours are another thing to be concerned about.
How do you begin the process of designing or refining your own gardens, especially when there are so many things that you need to take into consideration? In this class, award-winning UK garden designer Annie Guilfoyle will guide you through the elements that make for a successful design and show you how to develop a garden that really suits your taste and lifestyle. This webinar will focus on how to use sketching and observation as tools to develop your technique. The process of designing your space should be fun, according to Annie, so she’ll share insights for how to develop your style using the influences of things you really like, such as textiles, art, and architecture. There will be plenty of suggestions on how to start your design process and gather inspiration—and, of course, we will touch on those oh-so-important plants.
Correctly identifying grasses is no easy task, but it is crucial when it comes to maintaining a lawn. Incorrect identification can lead to improper management practices, resulting in a poor quality stand or even plant death. Two warm-season turfgrasses commonly used in South Carolina lawns but often misidentified are centipedegrass (Eremochloa ophiuroides) and St. Augustinegrass (Stenotaphrum secundatum). Both types of grass produce stolons, commonly called runners, and inflorescence (seedheads or flowers) that, at first glance, can appear similar.
You can grow wildflowers in a border, a pot and a window box as well as in a meadow.
The walled garden in a rose-filled garden designed by Julian and Isabel Bannerman
“Paul from Hull developing his garden with GardenAdvice”
As the summer months arrive, temperatures rise, and gardens dry out more quickly. To ensure your garden remains fresh and healthy, a few smart watering tips are crucial. In this article, we share practical summer watering advice to help you care for your plants, even during the hottest days.
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Garden mirrors offer a simple way to create interest and light in the garden. They can create the illusion of more space and add focal points that lead you through the garden. And, with so many types of garden mirror to choose from, you can match the design to your hard landscaping and planting to enhance your garden style.