Native Pollinators
Around 40% of the flowering plants in North America require insect pollination for reproduction, though at the mention of the word “pollinator”, most people probably picture the European honey bee...
Tag: May
Butterflies in the Garden
Flying Flowers and Jewels of the Sky are just a couple of phrases that describe the beauty and fascination people have for butterflies. Though only one group of pollinators among many, they are...
Sweet Potato
Planting The sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) is a warm-season crop that is not planted until well after the last chance of frost in the spring. The soil temperature should be above 65 °F before...
Growing Annuals
Annuals quickly provide more color in the landscape for longer periods of time than any other garden plants. They are versatile, sturdy and inexpensive. Growth Rate True annuals sprout from seed,...
Lawn Renovation
Renovation is the improvement of a turfgrass stand without complete reestablishment. Reestablishment refers to complete destruction of the old stand, thorough site preparation and replanting....
An Introduction to Native Plants for SC Landscapes
Native plants have evolved in place over time; therefore, these plants tend to be hardy and well-adapted in the residential or commercial landscape. In many cases, established native plants can grow...
Southern Peas
Southern peas, black-eyed peas and field peas are all names for the crop known worldwide as cowpeas (Vigna unguiculata ssp. unguiculata). Cowpeas probably originated in Africa and were introduced to...
Okra
Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) is a warm-season crop grown in home gardens throughout South Carolina. It is a tall, upright plant with a hibiscus-like flower. The immature, young seed pods are the...
Attracting & Feeding Songbirds
A Primer in Backyard Songbird Conservation Birding has become one of the most popular pastimes in North America. Annually, thousands of Americans travel thousands of miles in search of rare and...
Summer- and Fall-Flowering Bulbs
Summer- & fall-flowering bulbs add beauty and interest to the landscape. They have exciting forms, fragrances and colors that other flowers cannot achieve. Most summer-flowering bulbs like warm...
Hanging Baskets and Window Boxes
Hanging baskets or window boxes full of flowers or foliage plants give a color boost to your house and garden. They can be used effectively even in a very small space. If you choose plants...
Fertilizing Vegetables
The best approach to fertilizing a garden is to follow the soil test recommendation. Spread lime and other fertilizer (evenly and uniformly) over the entire garden area. Gardeners who prefer to add...