The winter months seem like ideal ones for snuggling up under a blanket with a hot cup of coffee, not putting on gardening gloves and heading outdoors. But there’s actually quite a bit of gardening prep work that goes on in these winter months to ensure you have the most beautiful Charleston landscape come springtime.
First, you’ll want to get rid of all the dead stuff. Here in the Charleston area, our gardens were hit with several nights of freezing temperatures plus ice and even a little snow. That kind of weather turns plants to brown mush that needs to be pruned.
Pruning should begin after the last frost date for most plants (March 15th). At that time plants should be fertilized. Do not prune any Spring blooming plants until they are finished flowering (Please don’t touch those Azaleas!).
Palms were heavily hit by the bad weather and only the totally dead fronds should be cut back mid March. As the rest of the fronds brown out they can be cut back. Until then they will provide critical nutrients.
March is also an ideal time of the year to prune your rose bushes so they will be in peak condition for a burst of spring blooms. A local nonprofit, the Charleston Parks Conservancy, has a great rose pruning tutorial video on just how to prune your roses so you’re not damaging the plant, but rather making room for new buds and blooms.
Use the less busy winter gardening season to get your landscape ideas and gardening plans laid out for the spring. Do you need new tools? Have you ordered seeds or other plants (especially if you’re planning to buy in bulk)?
If you’re planning an overhaul of your yard, now’s the time to contact a Charleston landscape company to discuss ideas and get on their work schedule for the spring. While it’s chilly outside, you can be inside researching landscape layouts and organizing your vision to share with the landscape design company.
By spending a little time in the yard now, you’ll be ready to sit back and enjoy the spring blooms and bursts of color filling your landscape.
For other good South Carolina gardening tips, check out Clemson Cooperative Extension website with info on plants, trees, shrubs, lawns and how to care for them in our Carolina climate.
The winter months seem like ideal ones for snuggling up under a blanket with a hot cup of coffee, not putting on gardening gloves and heading outdoors. But there’s actually quite a bit of gardening prep work that goes on in these winter months to ensure you have the most beautiful Charleston landscape come springtime.
First, you’ll want to get rid of all the dead stuff. Here in the Charleston area, our gardens were hit with several nights of freezing temperatures plus ice and even a little snow. That kind of weather turns plants to brown mush that needs to be pruned.
Pruning should begin after the last frost date for most plants (March 15th). At that time plants should be fertilized. Do not prune any Spring blooming plants until they are finished flowering (Please don’t touch those Azaleas!).
Palms were heavily hit by the bad weather and only the totally dead fronds should be cut back mid March. As the rest of the fronds brown out they can be cut back. Until then they will provide critical nutrients.
March is also an ideal time of the year to prune your rose bushes so they will be in peak condition for a burst of spring blooms. A local nonprofit, the Charleston Parks Conservancy, has a great rose pruning tutorial video on just how to prune your roses so you’re not damaging the plant, but rather making room for new buds and blooms.
Use the less busy winter gardening season to get your landscape ideas and gardening plans laid out for the spring. Do you need new tools? Have you ordered seeds or other plants (especially if you’re planning to buy in bulk)?
If you’re planning an overhaul of your yard, now’s the time to contact a Charleston landscape company to discuss ideas and get on their work schedule for the spring. While it’s chilly outside, you can be inside researching landscape layouts and organizing your vision to share with the landscape design company.
By spending a little time in the yard now, you’ll be ready to sit back and enjoy the spring blooms and bursts of color filling your landscape.
For other good South Carolina gardening tips, check out Clemson Cooperative Extension website with info on plants, trees, shrubs, lawns and how to care for them in our Carolina climate.