Plant Preparedness
Summer could be dry or wet, but it will defi nitely be hot. Here's how to ensure your garden and containers survive whatever weather lies ahead.
By Brannon S. Dawkins
As we enter the first days of summer, you may still be filling
your yard, flower beds and front-porch pots with a variety
of beautiful flowers and plants. But will your selections survive
a scorching Alabama summer or a summer floating in aboveaverage
rainfall? We sat down with some local experts for tips on
surviving the summer and ensuring all of your hard work in the
yard does not go to waste.
Lighting the way for your plants
Jamie Pursell, general manager of Leaf & Petal on Cahaba Road,
knows many of his customers often make the same mistake, year
after year. "You have to make sure you match the correct plants
with the light conditions in your yard," Pursell says.
For example, if you're planting annuals in an area that
receives morning sun, you will have the best luck planting impatiens,
begonias, New Guinea impatiens, caladium and torenia,
Pursell says. If you need flowering plants that must handle the
heat, there are still a lot of options. Verbena is a good choice,
but it is a thirsty plant that requires regular watering. Purslane
is heat-friendly because succulent-looking leaves store a large
amount of water. Other heat-tolerant annuals include cuphea,
zinnia, lantana and scaevola.
And for spots in your yard where the lighting is unpredictable, Pursell has a favorite: the dragonfly begonia. "It can handle partsun or full-sun and is a favorite for those tricky spots," he says.
Avoid sending your plants swimming
Another important part of picking the right plants for particular
locations in your yard depends on the draining of the soil. "Many
people put the wrong plants in the wrong place," says Sallie Lee,
an urban regional extension agent with the Alabama Cooperative
Extension System.
"It's critical and important to know that plants don't like standing water," Lee says. "They can't swim and they don't like their feet wet." Southern favorites, such as gardenias, azaleas and camellia, need a well-drained site.
This is important to know, because we could have a wet summer similar to last year, Lee says. "We've been under the influence of El Niño and we're still under that system."
If you depend on an irrigation system, ideally it should have a rain gauge so you know when to turn your system off. If not, turn your system of if we're getting regular rainy days throughout the week, Lee says. "It will save you money and keep your plants from dying."
