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Seasonal Plant Tips

May/June
Vegetable Gardening
To offset the rising cost of food why not grow your own vegetables? You don’t need
a large space.  Simply, dig up a small area in your yard and plant a few of your
favorite veggies such as tomatoes and peppers. You can also
interplant veggies and herbs in your flower beds.
Can’t plant outdoors? Grow your veggies in a container
on a patio or balcony. With a little know how, high yield plants such as
tomatoes, peppers are fun to grow and worth the effort.

Container Gardening is the
HOT trend!

Whether you fill your containers with flowers, herbs or vegetables,
you need to get them off to a good start. I have a few basic tips and techniques
that will help keep your planter flourishing all season long.
Container gardening is not just filling the container with soil and random plants. Begin
with a container that is large enough to maintain the plant or combination of
plants throughout the whole growing season, also choose plants that are
compatible with size, color, light and moisture requirements. more
info…
is a great plant to grow this summer.  Not only does it tolerate heat, given the right growing conditions, zinnia will produce vibrant flowers all summer long.
Depending on variety, zinnia make excellent cut flowers,
container and garden plantings.
Back to the
Tropics

When night temperatures warm up to 50F, it’s
time to move your wintered-over tropical plants outdoors.  Warm weather plants
such as tropical hibiscus,
Mandevilla and Bougainvillea will flourish outdoors and bask in the sunshine. A
balmy rainfall will help wash away the indoor dust and all memories of a harsh
winter.
April
Look for a plant with dense, dark, shiny, green leaves along the entire stem of the plant.   Choose buds that are just starting to open, as well as a few unopened ones.
Did you know that potted bulbs plants like daffodils, hyacinths, tulips and lilies can be saved and coaxed to rebloom the next season? The secret is in their after-bloom care…
March/April
Here are a few bloomin’ reminders that spring is here.
Common Primrose- an early spring blooming plant that adds a big splash for a few bucks
Pansy-cool weather flowers bloom in early spring and can be planted in cool weather.
Forcing flowering branches-spring flowering trees and shrubs can be forced to bloom indoors.
Starting seeds indoors
Warm weather vegetable like peppers and tomatoes can be started indoors 6-8 weeks before planting outdoors when the weather warms up.
Check the back of the seed packet for timing recommendation and track back so that the plants are ready at planting time…more tips
Take cuttings from wintered over plants
Impatiens, Geraniums, Rosemary can be rooted in water or planted in potting soil mix to make new plants.
I rooted all three in water and then planted in peat pots for easy transplanting.
Houseplants spring cleaning
Take a good look at your houseplants that have endured the long cold winter. With longer, brighter days your houseplants should be waking up and starting to put on new growth. Give them a good “spring cleaning”.
Cut flowers

14 comments to Seasonal Plant Tips

  • rosalind jefferson

    I live in the desert. I would like to know what zone. I am. Whatt would good here. Besides catus

    what part of the country are you in?

  • Venessa

    HI! WHAT ARE SEASONAL PLANTS???

    Plants that bloom at certain times of the season-spring, summer, fall and in warmer climates even winter . Mums, kale, pansies are seasonal plant that bloom in the fall.

  • garden problems: leaves on tomatoes and beans:turning yellow. on tomatoes and lemon tree some leaves are curling. delphinium: leaves are dying on the edges. the edges are grey. The body of the leaf is still green but it’s happening all over the plant. Temp 95 and above. Too much water from watering then come thunderstorms.? How do you sweeten a pot and dry-out a deep one. What causes wilt? Thank you.

  • I planted an Endless Summer Hydrangea last spring(red bloom) and it bloomed all summer. It looked so healthy and beautiful. It doesn’t have new green growth yet, should I be concerned about this or is this a later blooming hydrangea? Thank you for any comments!

    Hi Ann
    You don’t mention what kind of spring you had. If it was cold, perhaps it’s still waiting for the soil to warm up. Although, I think by this time you should see some new growth. Check the base of the plant to see if there is any new growth. If you don’t see any new growth by the end of May, then you should be concerned.

  • Lynn

    I planted a hibiscus late summer in zone 7 (Oklahoma City area). It is about 4 ft tall. We’ve had our first freeze now and most of the leaves have fallen off the bush. How should I care for the plant over the winter? Should I water weekly when we’re not in a freeze? Would really love to see it come back in the spring. Your comments are appreciated.
    Lynn

    Hi Lynn
    You don’t indicate what kind of hibiscus it is. Is it the hardy kind (Rose of Sharon-Hibiscus syriacus) or a Tropical hibiscus? If it’s a tropical hibiscus, it will die outdoors because it is hardy in zone 10-12. See http://hortchat.com/info/tropical-hibiscus for more info.

  • carmem

    I bought a bouganvellia that appeared dead, as it was dry, woody and brown with absolutely no green part to it whatsoever, however I was reassured that the plant would eventually bloom and that the appearance it had was completely normal (I live in the UK) for the time of year. Almost 2 months on and the plant has not changed at all. I suspect it is dead but perhaps I am incorrect or maybe there is something I can do to revive it. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

    Hi Carmen
    Bougainvillea will not start to grow unitl the weather warms up May/June. If it doesn’t respond at that time then its dead.

  • Debbie D.

    I planted a bee balm in spring and I would like to know the best way to take care of it before winter so that I can enjoy it year after year. Thank you !

    Hi Debbie
    Bee balm (Monarda) doesn’t require too much care. You can either cut it down to about 3″ from the ground or leave it and let the birds enjoy the seeds thru the winter. In spring trim or remove all the dried stems and seed heads. Monarda can spreads easily and can become invasive in your flower bed, before you know it you will be pulling out clumps to give to your friends and neighbors.

  • Nancy K

    I live in southern Nevada and I have been collecting several different catus/succulent
    plants and putting them in pots around my yard. Now that it’s getting colder, I would like to keep them outside..but it does sometimes freeze here. Can I put them under my overhang by my house and keep them outside all winter?
    (buy the way…I LOVE your site!)

    Hi Nancy
    How nice to hear from you. You can keep your cactii under your overhang as long as they some sun. The basic minimum temperature for cactii is around 35-40F which causes them to go dormant for the winter. There are hardier cactii that tolerate much lower temperatures. To prepare your cactus for winter, gradually water less in the fall. The cactii will shrink or shrivel slightly and can even change color. This will make the plant cold hardy. Too much water will produce “soft tissue” which will be susceptible to cold damage. To be on the safe side, if a hard frost (20′s) is eminent cover your plants with a blanket, newspaper (no plastic) for extra protection.

  • Cindy

    A friend was going to dig up some elephant ear bulbs from her yard for me this fall. I live in Newnan, Georgia. Her son decided to help and pulled them up this week, October 1st and they are laying her yard for me to come pick up. Please let me know what to do now. I was going to prepare a bed and plant them this fall, can I still do that or do I need to winterize them or plant them in a pot, or can I just put them with leaves in the ground now? Please help.

    Hi Cindy
    Yes, you can plant them in your zone 8. It is marginal in your area so to be sure that your elephant ear will winter over well give them a 6″ layer of mulch after a freeze to protect it from the cold winter.

  • Brigitte

    Hi Kris, I got a thorn less Logan Berry Bush do I need one more for pollination? Thanks

    Hi Brigitte
    No, you don’t need another plant for pollination. Each plant will pollinate itself. The canes(vines) grow fast so be sure to train on on a fence or wall so they are easier to handle.

  • Nancy

    Just trying to figure out what to do to make my hibiscus plant get flowers on it. It has wintered nicely. still tall and green. new leaves. but no sign of any buds. what could be the cause of this. and what do I do to make it produce flowers ??

    Hi Nancy
    Is it indoors or outside? It may need more sun exposure. You don’t mention fertilizer. Since it is putting on new leafy growth try a balanced fertilizer (10-10-10) or a higher potassium fertilizer during the summer.

  • Nancy, Harvey's Lake, Pa

    Hello, I need your help again. I had received a dwarf weeping peach tree. it is 5 or 6 years old. the height is the same… but I would like to know if there is a certain fertilizer you would recommend for the “limbs” or branches to grow on it. It still has the same amount of them as when I got it… Also when is the proper time to set out hanging geranium plants ?? thanks for you help..

    Hi Nancy,

    The recommended fertilizer is the same as for any other fruit tree. Apply a balanced fertilizer 10-10-10 in early spring. Before bud break is the best time. Spread the fertilizer 2-3 ft from the trunk and extend out beyond the dripline. Set out your geraniums when day temperatures are 65F and night temps at 55F. IF the nights get too cool bring them indoors. Have a great spring!

  • Drenda

    Hello again. I live in zone 8 and sometimes it gets below freezing. I’m not sure what kind of hibiscus I have. When they freeze I cut them back at the end of winter. They come back good, they grow fast and they get about 5 to 6 feet tall, they’re just not making many flowers. I really appreciate your help. Thank you

    Hi Drenda,
    You may have a confederate rose (Hibiscus mutabilis). Some reason that they fail to bloom is: too wet, too dry, too much nitrogen (the 1st number) and too much shade. U. of Florida recommends: fertilize lightly 4x a year with a 15-5-10 or 15-5-15 with micronutrients. For large plants spread the fertilizer slightly beyond the dripline, 1/2 to 1 lb per plant in early spring, after 1st flush of growth, midsummer and September.

  • Drenda

    I would like to know when red maple trees are suppose to turn red and how long do they stay red? I think someone sold me regular maple trees because mine have yellow and brown leaves that are falling off. thank you

    Hi Drenda
    Depending on the weather and temperatures, leaves can stay colored for several weeks. A hard freeze can cause leaves to drop earlier. Red maple (Acer rubrum) is so called because new growth – leaves and petioles are often red. It is one of the first trees to color in the fall-which can vary from greenish yellow to yellow to brilliant red. In order to assure good fall color you need to make sure that you have a cultivar of red maple such as “Autumn Flame”, “October Glory” or “Red Sunset”. These are known to retain their leaves and maintain brilliant fall color longer.

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