Man, what wonderful weather we are having! We need rain, but
the last few weeks have been most enjoyable.
Fall is for planting, so now is the time to get those plants
in the ground. I have notice several people re-sodding areas as well. New
annuals are adding fresh color to our Lowcountry landscape and ryegrass is
popping up on many lawns (and in some beds).
The many parks and public plantations the Lowcountry has to
offer are a great place to get design ideas for your yard or just to spend some
time alone or with families and friends.
Planting can take several forms. A random new plant, a small
renovation, landscaping an area that was not planted in the past, and planting
a whole new yard all require some basic skills and knowledge. Some people will
do it themselves and others will hire a professional.
When planting new plants there are a few things you might
want to consider. How tall and wide is the plant going to be a full maturity?
If it gets too big, you might be transplanting it in a few years. Is it going
to grow into my house and ruin my paint? Are the roots going to tear up my sidewalk
or foundation? Do I have overhead wires that the plant is going to grow into
leading to a safety issue? Is the plant an evergreen or is it going to lose its
leaves in the fall? If you have a bed of sun-loving shrubs, do you want to
plant a live oak that will shade them out in a few years, and then you have to
replace the shrubs? Is it going to shade my house in the summer, yet let light
in during the winter saving electricity? Is it going to shade out my turf I
love so much?
A landscape designer can help you through some of these
questions. Choose a designer whose work you have seen and like. Some designers
include lighting, irrigation, outdoor kitchens, fire pits, bricks, sidewalks,
fountains, statues, walls and drainage in their designs and other designers
stick more with the basics. If you like the more elaborate features but cash is
a little tight, most designers can break the project into phases. Working in
phases is nice because you are working toward a goal, and when you are
finished, you have the landscape of your dreams.
When you choose your plant material, it is best to go to a
local nursery / garden center. They have the varieties of plants that do well
here in the Lowcountry. The local nursery / garden center is going to have an
employee that works daily with local plants, knows the plant’s advantages and
disadvantages, knows if the plant is susceptible to any insects or disease and
might even know where you can drive by to see the particular plant growing.
If there are new varieties of a certain plant that are
available and resistant to disease or insects, those are the ones you want to
plant, and your local nurseryman (or woman) will be able to direct you to them.
So much to cover, so little space; however, I will be back
next week (I hope). Will you? Until next week treat for mosquitoes (Cyonara, or
EcoVia (organic)), Large Patch Fungus (Brown Patch) T-Methyl, Rats and Mice, Roaches
(Invict Gold), Neem Oil for overwintering insects and disease, and winterize
lawn with SeaHume and 00-00-25. Any salt damaged areas use Possum’s Salt Free
to leach the salts through the soil profile.
Bill Lamson-Scribner
can be reached during the week at Possum’s Landscape and Pest Control Supply.
Possum’s has three locations 481
Long Point Rd in Mt. Pleasant
(971-9601), 3325 Business Circle
in North Charleston
(760-2600), or 606 Dupont Rd,
in Charleston
(766-1511). Bring your questions to a Possum’s location, or visit us at
http://www.possumsupply.com. You can also call in your questions to “ The
Garden Clinic”, Saturdays from noon to 1:00, on 1250 WTMA (The Big Talker).
