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Collier's Garden Scoop
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March 2016
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Primrose, from the Latin
prima rosa which means literally "first rose." They have long heralded the very start of the spring season.
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Once March arrives we can all begin to feel ourselves speeding forward into spring, the first daffodil and redbud blooms triggering the fast flow into the time of the year that literally bursts with life and
green. This month we linger in expectation of what good things the new growing season will bring to our garden and wait through these last days of potential frost so that the real planting can begin!
Fortunately, the nursery transforms dramatically during March, so with each passing day there will be more to see and choose from as we inch closer to April.
We hope to see you at the nursery this month!
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Collier's is now on Instagram!
Follow us for fun and inspiring pics of
plants & decor as they arrive this spring, along with info & ideas to help you along as you create and dig in your own garden!
And, we're hiring! (Details at the end of this email)
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March Blooms
Early Spring
Container Garden
Cure your spring fever by creating a container garden with colorful flowers and foliage that will tolerate cooler temps and even a light freeze, and will thrive until it's safe to plant all annuals in April. The average last frost in this area is April 15th, so there's still the possibility of a freeze until then- even though it's looking as though spring, like Easter, may come a little early this year with temps next week expected to be in the mid to upper 70s! But you just never know about an Alabama spring, so we don't recommend planting the majority of your annuals before early April (at which point you can check the extended forecast and have a good idea of whether or not it is safe to plant). It's certainly no fun to lose plants to a late freeze!
In this mix are deep burgundy cordyline as a height accent, lavender-flowered geranium to the right along with the pale-pink button blooms of English daisy, deep pink nemesia on the left with a white English primrose tucked below it, a deep orange marigold and bright pink petunia in the center and an eye-popping chartreuse lysimachia spilling over the front.
Here are a few more options for lots of cheer but little fear if it does get cold again, as all will tolerate temps down to 28-30 degrees: |
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Cyclamen
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English Daisy
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Dusty Miller
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Petunia
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English Primrose
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Violas & Pansies
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 Geraniums
Common but classic, and a favorite of many gardeners, Pelargonium species have been a tried-and-true member of Southern gardens for decades. However, some think of them as "fussy" and may be too intimidated to grow them because of past failures. There are just a few simple tricks to keeping geraniums healthy that when followed, will nearly guarantee success:
- Good drainage is a must. Geraniums will not tolerate 'wet feet' (soggy soil). This is one reason they make excellent container plants.
- Don't over-water. Thoroughly saturate the soil when you do water, and then allow the top few inches to dry before watering again.
- As much as possible, avoid wetting the leaves when you water. Wet leaves are a haven for fungal and bacterial infections, so the drier they stay the healthier your plant will be.
- Don't crowd them. Geraniums thrive with good air circulation, so over-crowding can quickly cause problems. Give your plant at least 10 to 12 inches of space (or more) to spread out.
- Pinch off yellow or dead leaves and remove blooms as they fade (pinch or trim off the entire stem along with the flower)- this encourages the plant to produce more buds and keeps it looking fresh.
Geraniums are ideal for the March garden. They will tolerate a light freeze but will also continue to thrive well into summer, especially if given some afternoon shade, although new hybrids are bred for increased sun and heat tolerance. Look for ivy geraniums as well this spring, with a trailing habit perfect for containers.
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 These are the first Boston ferns of the season and they are spectacular! Kimberly queen ferns arrive tomorrow, and we expect more lovely fronds next week, including some macho ferns. Since they can easily be moved indoors if it gets cold again, ferns are a simple way to make your outdoor spaces begin to feel a bit more like spring! |
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Early Edibles
March is a great time to plant many herbs, especially if you are using containers since most are easy to move and protect, or cover, if needed. Several herbs, including oregano, parsley, rosemary, sage and thyme are evergreen and don't even mind a freeze. The milder temperatures of March are also perfect for growing the leafy greens that you're used to seeing in the fall. Lettuce, spinach, arugula and mustard can be grown for the next 4 to 6 weeks and enjoyed before it gets hot and humid.
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French Lavender
Several more varieties of lavender will arrive during March, so plan to include at least one in your garden this year!
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Oregano
Golden & green-leafed varieties pictured. Oregano has a dense, carpet-like growth in the ground and will spill from containers.
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Rosemary
An indispensable herb in the kitchen and very easy to grow! Try one in a large container, or in the ground in well-drained soil.
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Sage
Allow sage plenty of room to spread out, provide good drainage, consistent watering and some afternoon shade in summer for best results in a
container or in the ground.
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Thyme
Silver thyme pictured here. Also in-store are orange thyme and lemon thyme, as well as red creeping thyme, commonly used as a ground cover in hot, sunny areas that receive regular water.
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Early edibles container garden idea: from back to front going clockwise: rosemary, lettuce, golden oregano, thyme, sage and spinach
in the center
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Lettuce & Spinach
Take advantage of the cooler temps to grow a few more delicious salads before heat & humidity kick in. Leafy greens thrive in temps between the low 30s and upper 70s.
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Strawberries
Plant these now for a delicious harvest starting in early summer. Read about strawberries and how to grow them in the March 2015 Garden Scoop.
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Tea olive at the nursery
in bloom during February
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Our tree, shrub, perennial and ground cover selection will grow by leaps and bounds during March. Several shrub shipments have already arrived, including camellias, Encore azaleas, spirea & blueberries with much more to come over the next few weeks.
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We love the glossy green foliage of teardrop ivy, which can be used in containers or as a ground cover. In the ground it thrives in partial sun or shade but will tolerate full sun. Once established it becomes dense and spreads at a moderately fast rate forming a verdant mat of delicately curved leaves. Can be pruned back as needed.
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The positively happy, bright green leaves of
lysimachia, or creeping jenny as it is affectionately called, just look like spring! This is another great option to spill out of containers or to quickly fill in damp, shady areas as a ground cover (it will tolerate sun as long as it receives enough water, but the foliage will develop a yellow-tinge).
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Collier's is hiring!
We are looking for part-time help during April & May. If you have a passion for plants, enjoy being outdoors and working with people, and have some time to spare this spring, this may be the perfect opportunity for you! Please contact jimmy@colliersnursery.com if you're interested and would like to apply.
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Early March Hours
Now open on Sundays from 1 to 5!
We will be open until 5:30 beginning Monday 3/14.
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Collier's Nursery
205-822-3133
2904 Old Rocky Ridge Road
Birmingham, AL 35243
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