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April at the nursery...
Spring has sprung early this year! We've been in full swing for about two weeks now, thanks to this unusually warm weather (upper 80s in March?!). Even those gardeners that won't plant until Good Friday will get their hands dirty early this year...Easter is Sunday, April 8th. Stop by the nursery soon and be awed at our plant-packing abilities- seems like we have trays of beautiful plants tucked in every available space...We're stocked up on annuals, perennials, herbs, veggies and everything in between! Bring on your garden questions, photos, sketches, dimensions and ideas! We are here and ready to help you plan your most spectacular garden yet! It's time, so HAPPY GARDENING!
And don't forget...
CONTAINER GARDEN CONTEST
This spring, try not to contain yourself!
The possibilities are endless...What will you create?
1st and 2nd prizes will be awarded in each of four categories:
Best Sun-Loving Combo, Best Shade-Loving Combo,
Best Use of Color and Most Unexpected Container
1st prizes will be $100 Collier's gift cards and
2nd prizes will be $50 Collier's gift cards!
Deadline for submissions is Saturday, June 2nd
so you have all spring to plan, plant and fertilize
to get your containers looking spectacular!
Stop by the nursery for contest rules and more info
or email us at info@colliersnursery.com. |
Garden Checklist for April
By April 15th even the most hesitant gardeners are comfortable planting annuals in the ground.
Visit the nursery this month to peruse our best selection of perennials!
Replacing an azalea? Now is the best time to see blooms in person in order to match your existing shrubs.
Early April: Apply fertilome All Seasons with Barricade to zoysia and bermuda lawns.
Late April: Apply fertilome All Seasons with Barricade to St. Augustine lawns. |
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Native Plant Spotlight:
Carolina Jessamine
Carolina Jessamine (Gelsemium sempervirens) is native to the southeast and is the state flower of South Carolina. You may have seen its bright yellow blooms along the edges of woods and interstates during the past month. The tubular, fragrant blooms open in February and last into April each year. Carolina Jessamines perform best when sited in full sun with well-drained soil. They are fast growing once established and can grow up to 20 feet or more. Use this native vine to cover a trellis or arbor, or even as a groundcover! Leaves are evergreen to semi-evergreen and may take on a bronze tone in winter. |
Perennial Perfection
Our Favorite Garden Perennials
Spring is a wonderful time to plan and plant a perennial garden and we carry our largest selection of perennials this time of the year. Perennials return each year and generally bloom 3 to 6 weeks at a time. The following lists include some of our favorite garden perennials, chosen for their durability, dependability and many for their profuse blooms. When selecting perennials for your garden choose plants that bloom at different times of the year for color that extends throughout the season. Trim dead flowers from your perennials and enjoy a fresh flush of blooms! Most perennials thrive when divided every 3 to 4 years. We carry many more perennials than are listed here so stop by and discover these and other favorites! Best Bets for Sun
Balloon Flower (Platycodon grandiflorus) Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia sp.) Coneflower (Echinacea) Ice Plant (Delosperma sp.) Tickseed ( Coreopsis sp.) Pincushion Flower (Scabiosa sp.) Sedum sp. Verbena 'Homestead'
Wandflower (Gaura lindheimeri) Best Bets for Shade
Astilbe sp. Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis) Columbine (Aquilegia sp.) Coralbell (Heuchera sp.) Creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia) Lenten Rose (Helleborus orientalis) Plantain Lily (Hosta hybrids) Solomon's Seal (Polygonatum sp.) Woodland Phlox (Phlox sp.) |
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Seven Worst Gardening Mistakes
...and how to avoid them!
Inspired by an article in the wonderful book Easy Gardens for the South (find it on Amazon) the following are seven common gardening mistakes and, most importantly, how to avoid them!
1. CHOOSING THE WRONG PLANT
- Ask questions! Collier's knowledgeable staff is always happy to answer questions and help you find the best plant for your space. The Jefferson County Extension Service, located at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens, also offers a wealth of information. Contact them at 205-879-6964.
- Take advantage of the "Info Age." Use the internet for access to instant information about plants, as well as endless photos of what they look like when established.
- Stock your shelves with the garden library must-haves listed in our May 2009 e-newsletter and consult them often!
2. PLANTING IN AREAS WITH POOR DRAINAGE
- Fix the drainage problem, even if it involves bringing in a professional.
- Otherwise, only use plants that are proven to perform well in wet areas. Check out these recommendations from Walter Reeves, the Georgia Gardener.
3. OVER OR UNDER-FERTILIZING
- Ask a Collier's employee to recommend the best fertilizer for your needs and then follow the label directions exactly.
4. WATERING INCORRECTLY
- Check out these tips to avoid "Water Woes" in our May 2010 e-newsletter.
5. PILING SOIL & MULCH AROUND PLANT STEMS
- This is one of the easiest and fastest ways to kill a plant (causes the stem to rot)! Read over our Planting Guide to avoid common planting mistakes and ensure healthy plants.
6. SPACING PLANTS INCORRECTLY
- Plants, like people, enjoy their personal space and need the proper amount of room to grow and thrive. Spacing plants too closely together can cause plants to quickly out-grow and overwhelm a space, result in general unhealthiness, thinning of foliage, sparse blooms and can encourage disease from lack of air circulation.
- Space plants according to their expected size when mature.
- Follow all advice under #1 (above)!
7. PLANTING IN THE WRONG AMOUNT OF LIGHT
- Study the light patterns in your yard during each of the four seasons and make notes for future reference.
- Select plants that will thrive in your light conditions.
- Full sun = 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day
- Partial sun = 3-6 hours of direct sunlight per day, from morning to early afternoon
- Partial shade = Morning sun with shade by noon, or all day sun that is filtered through trees
- Shade = Less than 3 hours of direct sun per day
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