Cultivating: Spring Planting is LOOMING…

By Linda Lokey

To save you time and money, go ahead and research what to plant in your yard this spring.  Planning is paramount to success.  First, find your planting zone.  Most of the southern zones are 6, 7, or 8. Knowing your zone and then drafting a plan, will help you focus when it is time to buy.  Talk to your local nursery professional since they know what plants and flowers do well in your specific area.  Complete your plan with a nursery list of what to buy and, for the ultimate in organization, an aerial drawing of your future yard.

Get a head start and prepare your beds now for March or April planting.  First, loosen and enrich the soil, spread composted cow manure, soil conditioner, and sand over the beds using 1 (40lb) bag of each for every 4 feet of bed. Also sprinkle slow-release fertilizer over the beds at the rate recommended on the package.

If you can’t wait for March to plant, go ahead with your container planting.  This way you have a few festive, flowering areas and you can always move the containers close to the house or inside, if a rogue frost falls upon you.  When the flowers in the containers are overgrown, probably by mid-spring, move them to your new flowerbeds in your yard.  HAPPY spring planting! 

Flowers that plant themselves…

            bachelor’s button

            clasping coneflower

            coleus

            coreopsis

            cosmos

            crested cockscomb

            dahlia

            forget-me-not

            impatiens                       

            Indian paintbrush

            larkspur

            love-in-a-mist

            money plant

            opium and Shirley poppies

            spider flower

            sweet William

            zinnia

EASY HERBS

            Basil

            Mint

            Rosemary

            Chives

            Dill

Southern Living’s Best NEW Flowers for the South by: Rebecca Bull Reed

           Mandevilla Vogue

           Princess Blush verbena

           Stars and Stripes pentas

           Cajun Blue scaevola

           Plum Mist cuphea  

           Ragin Cajun ruellia

           Azure Skies heliotrope

           Bonita Shea begonia

           Blue Sue setcreasea

Top 10 Crops for Southern Gardens

           Sweet pepper

           Slicing tomato

           Bush snap bean

           Summer squash

           Broccoli

           Garlic

           Bulb onion

           Pole snap bean

           Cherry tomato

           Hot pepper