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Collier's Garden Scoop
Early Spring 2021
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Current Hours:
Monday through Saturday 9 to 5:30
Sunday 1 to 5
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Early Spring Garden Checklist
What to Do and Plant
In Your Garden Right Now!
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Our average last freeze is March 23rd. The latest freeze on record occurred around mid-April.
Begin planting selections that will tolerate chilly air and soil temps, or a late freeze if we happen to have one.
A few of our favorite annuals to plant now include: alyssum, bacopa, diascia, dusty miller, euphorbia, geraniums, lobelia, marigolds, million bells, petunias, snapdragons and verbena.
There are a few annuals that will droop immediately if exposed to cold, so it is best to wait until the threat of frost is past to plant these, or be prepared to protect them as needed: angelonia, caladiums, impatiens, lantana, sweet potato vine and vinca.
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This colorful combination includes annuals that will tolerate a light freeze for worry-free blooms in containers and flowerbeds:
Geranium 'Tango Deep Pink'
Snapdragon 'Snaptastic Orange Flame'
Marigold 'Vanilla'
Dusty Miller 'Cirrus'
Lobelia 'Techno Upright White'
Petunia 'Colorblitz Blue Stardust'
Calibrachoa 'Cabaret Golden Yellow'
Bacopa 'MegaCopa Blue'
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Welcome Spring
with Ferns
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Add a pop of green to outdoor spaces with lush, vibrant ferns. Asparagus, Boston, Kimberly Queen and Macho ferns are all in stock now! These are also easy to move or protect if a cold snap occurs. |
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Our herb selection has already expanded dramatically and most herbs will tolerate a freeze. The exceptions are basil and mint- be sure to protect these when temps drop below 45 degrees.
Lettuce and strawberries are in stock and can be planted now.
Warm-season veggies such as tomatoes and peppers have begun to arrive! These can be planted as soon as you like, but be prepared to protect them from frost and freeze.
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Perennials are plants that live for more than two years, so with a little effort up front you can create a long-lived garden that will provide you with years of blooms and interesting foliage. There are two types of perennials: Herbaceous perennials grow and bloom during the warm season, die back in winter and re-emerge from the roots in spring. Evergreen perennials have foliage that persists through winter.
Perennials can be planted spring, summer or fall, although selection is best during spring.
For sun-loving perennials, provide at least 4 hours of direct sunlight each day. Shade perennials need less than 3 hours of direct sunlight each day.
Provide perennials with well-drained, organically rich soil.
Space perennials so that they have plenty of room to grow, as it can take them several years to reach their mature size.
Most perennials benefit from being divided every 3 or 4 years. Generally, this can be done in early spring or fall. Dig up and gently split clumps apart by hand or with a hand shovel.
Here's how to get perennials to re-bloom: After they have finished blooming, shear back all dead flowers. This will trigger the plants to produce another flush of blooms.
Provide a generous layer of mulch to help retain soil moisture and insulate roots from heat and cold. Water thoroughly at least once a week, in lieu of rain.
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It is still an excellent time to plant trees, shrubs, vines & groundcovers. So, finish up those landscaping projects before the summer heat sets in! |
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Crape myrtles, evergreens with insignificant blooms (boxwood, hollies & cleyera for example), roses, butterfly bush, all hydrangeas except oakleaf, summer-blooming spirea, evergreen ferns, perennial grasses, liriope & mondo grass can all be pruned or cut-back now.
Prune shrubs that have bloomed recently (if finished), such as forsythia, spirea and quince.
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Fertilize trees, shrubs and groundcovers with Hi-Yield Grower's Special as new growth emerges.
Fertilize perennials with Osmocote as new growth emerges.
Give your roses a boost with Bayer All-In-One Rose and Flower Care, a formulation of systemic insecticide, fungicide and fertilizer, that will help protect against aphids, Japanese beetles and black spot.
Apply lime (to turn pink) or aluminum sulphate (to turn blue) to French hydrangeas (follow label directions).
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In late March or early April, apply fertilome All Seasons to Zoysia & bermuda lawns.
Control weeds in your lawn by spot-spraying with fertilome Weed-Free Zone for zoysia and bermuda, or Hi-Yield Atrazine for weeds in centipede and St. Augustine.
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COLLIER'S NURSERY | 2904 OLD ROCKY RIDGE ROAD 35243 | 205-822-3133
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