No matter where y’all live, gardening is an excellent passion; however, it can look different in various regions and areas. While you may want to follow traditional gardening instructions as a beginner, you might not have the success you desire with your plants. With that said, y’all will be able to grow gorgeous plants with a few helpful tips for planning and planting a southern garden. Follow along for my favorite gardening practices to maintain a magnificent landscape.
Plant Fruit Trees in the Fall
Y’all probably already know that most gardening practices say to plant fruit trees and perennial plants in the spring, but that’s not always the best practice when it comes to gardening in the south. In most regions, early spring is the best time to plant new trees, so they have enough time to establish in their new home before a cold winter hits.
However, heat is the biggest concern in the southern states. Because the weather usually doesn’t drop below freezing during the winter months, y’all should consider planting your fruit trees during the fall to give them a chance to establish over the winter before the blistering summer heat comes around.
Stay on Top of Watering
Gardening can be more of an active hobby in the southern states because our plants often need more water than they get from nature. I prefer to water my plants manually. But if y’all aren’t fond of remembering to water your plants, consider setting up a drip irrigation system to ensure they get the proper amount of water despite frequent heat waves. Another more hands off approach to the dryness and heat of summer in the south would be to use some kind of drought resistant groundcover, plants can still go into this without any issues, but it’ll help to retain more moisture, so you can go longer between watering or irrigation. This can save you both time as well as money when it comes to your water bill, which can be significant especially if you’ve got a large garden.
Magnolia trees are popular in the south, and although many varieties are drought-resistant, others may need more attention. When y’all know which magnolia tree fits your yard and climate conditions, you can make the best decision when it comes to planting the most iconic southern tree.
Take a Break in Late Summer
Although the break from gardening often falls in the winter months for many people, this isn’t always the case for those in the south. The weather can stay warm throughout the winter, so we don’t have to stop planting new plants; however, I like to take my break from gardening in the late summer—July and August—when it’s the hottest. This way, I don’t have to worry about my newly planted trees withstanding scorching heat.
Avoid Planting Cool-Weather Crops in the Spring
If y’all live in the south, you should avoid planting cool-weather crops in the spring. Unfortunately, they won’t have enough time to grow and harvest before the intense heat sets in. Consider planting them in early fall to harvest during the winter months when it’s much cooler in the south. I prefer this route anyway, as planting these in the fall frees up tons of garden space for spring plants.
I hope these tips for planning and planting a southern garden help y’all decide the best way to go about gardening. While this hobby looks much different here, we can become successful gardeners by knowing how to work with the climate rather than fight against it.