Happy Saturday! 

 

As we head into the Masters Weekend, the azaleas are putting on their show all across the South right now. This week in the garden is such a special turning point.

 

But as the spring bloomers are beginning to fade and warmer days are settling in, what you do right now really does shape how your garden performs in the weeks and months ahead.

 

We’ve been hearing a lot of the same questions from y'all lately, so I wanted to answer them in this week's newsletter, simply and clearly, so you can step outside feeling confident about what to do next for beautiful blooms all summer long! 

 

Read on for all the most asked Q&As! 

XOXO ~ 
Carmen

gardening tip of the week

Q: What Should I PLANT IN APRIL?

April is that in-between time when the answer to this really depends on where you live. 

 

For my friends down South, it is GO TIME. You can head to your garden center, pick up anything you see and get it in the ground as soon as you get home.

But, for my friends in cooler places where the temps are still getting down below 55 degrees at night, here are my recs for Zones 6-7a: 

To get the full list of what to plant now,  head over to the blog and read all about it! 

We are getting a lot of questions about when it is safe to plant tomatoes and other warm-season favorites. Before you get everything in the ground, take a quick minute to check your frost-free date for your area! This will be your guiding factor. 
Find your frost-free date here→ https://www.almanac.com/gardening/frostdates

 

It is a small step that can save you a lot of heartache and help your plants thrive.

Q: How do I plant containers that actually thrive?

A: Beautiful containers are not just about looks, they are about structure and balance.  I always come back to the same simple idea, the 3 T’s:

When you combine those three, your containers feel layered and complete.

Now let’s talk about what really makes them successful long term.

 

Drainage matters more than anything. Always use a container with a drainage hole, and skip the gravel at the bottom. Instead, fill the entire pot with a high-quality potting mix that holds moisture but still drains well.

 

As the weather warms up, your containers will dry out faster than you expect. Get in the habit of checking them daily. It makes all the difference.

 

Q: When should I prune

spring-flowering shrubs?

If your shrub blooms in spring, you want to prune it immediately after it finishes flowering and blooms begin to fade. This is a critical timing issue and one of the most common sources of improper pruning.

 

Plants like azaleas, spirea, and snowball viburnum form their buds on last year’s growth. If you prune too early or too late, you are cutting off next year’s flowers!

 

Once blooms fade, you can lightly shape the plant, remove spent blooms, and thin it just enough to let air and light move through. Try to avoid heavy shearing so the plant keeps its natural form.

Here are my Pruning Playbook Guides for trimming your azaleas, spirea and viburnum right now! 

Q: When should I Fertilize my Plants?

As plants wake up from winter, they are ready for nutrients, but more is not necessarily better. Fertilizer Rules to Remember:

 

Q: How should I Water my Plants?

Spring weather can be a little unpredictable, so this is the time to be thoughtful, not automatic. Water deeply, then give the soil time before watering again. This encourages roots to grow down instead of staying shallow.

 

Before you water, check the soil. The surface can look dry while the soil underneath is still holding moisture.

 

Containers will always need more attention than in-ground plants, and anything newly planted will need consistent moisture while it gets established. Just be careful not to keep things overly wet, because roots need oxygen just as much as they need water.

 

Q: How Can I Determine what Type of Sun Exposure my Garden Gets? 

When a yard has little to no trees, full sun is inevitable. 

But how do you know what type of sun exposure your garden has if you have more tree coverage? I'm walking you through the definitions of Full sun/ Part Sun/ Part Shade and Full Shade here! 

 

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