Boxwood has long been a cornerstone of southern gardens, especially on historic estates in the Lowcountry of South Carolina. They are ideal for formal gardens with their dense growth habit that allows them to be pruned into hedges, rounded shrubs, and topiaries. Today, more than 90 species and 260 cultivars of boxwood are available. Littleleaf, Japanese, American (including English), Korean, and...
The best time of day to irrigate is the subject of some debate. One group suggests that early morning is the best time, while another group claims that afternoon is the best. Very few people...
Winter Irrigation Winter landscape irrigation has long been considered an oxymoron in the Southeast. A good portion of South Carolina’s 48 to 52 inches of annual rainfall finds its way to Earth...
Quite a bit of information about water use is known about agronomic crops such as tomatoes, cotton, and peaches. Most of this information was determined from research that compared crop yields (and...
Irrigation mismanagement occurs simply because few people know when to begin irrigating. Some wait until plants begin to wilt before adding water, while others are convinced that watering frequently...
Many in the Southeast view irrigation as a “quick fix” for problems encountered during a hot, dry summer. It is a simple way to get water to wilting plants and keep them alive until rainfall...
What Is Composting? Composting is a biological process that decomposes organic materials into a high-quality soil amendment. This process occurs in nature but can be accelerated and improved under...
There are four aspects of turfgrass establishment: selecting a turfgrass that is adapted for that particular area; preparing the soil for planting; planting, which may include seeding, sodding,...
Oaks (Quercus species) are important trees in South Carolina. The deciduous species are generally more common from the Midlands north, while the evergreens favor conditions in the Coastal Plains....
With heat, drought, and poor soil tolerance, annual vinca (Catharanthus roseus), sometimes called periwinkle, is popular for summer flower beds in South Carolina. Height/Spread The plants grow 1 or...
Many insect species are present in home gardens and landscapes. Groups like butterflies and moths catch the eye on a regular basis and tend to dazzle us with beauty and grace. Bees, native and...
A Primer in Backyard Songbird Conservation Birding has become one of the most popular pastimes in North America. Annually, millions of Americans travel thousands of miles in search of rare and...
