Impatient Gardener

Dr. Gary Bachman: With spring upon us, here are some tips for the impatient gardener, today on Southern Gardening.

Announcer: Southern Gardening with Gary Bachman is produced by the Mississippi State University Extension Service.

Dr. Gary Bachman: Many of us are still suffering from cabin fever, impatiently waiting to install that new landscape bed that we have been planning all winter. Here are a few tips to help that new garden bed look more established. To get your landscape bed off to a fast start, you have to begin with good soil. Till in a three to four inch layer of compost to loosen the soil for better drainage and allow good root growth. We all want that instant impact from a new landscape bed. Splurge on a few large plants, five gallons or bigger, to create a more grown-in look. Grasses like Fireworks Pennisetum is a good choice and creates multi-season interest. Add faster growing shrubs like Spirea Slender deutzia to fill in open areas and create early floral interest.

Flowering shrubs like Drift Roses will give a floral display the first year. Use larger annuals like Cleome to quickly give the bed size. Pick colorful bedding plants around the front and in between the other plants for quick color splashes. Adding flowering perennials, like the Mississippi Medallion selections for 2015 Suburban Nancy Gale Daily and Delta Jazz Crape Myrtle will add summer color for years to come.

The garden is a great instructor in the virtues of patients, and like fine wine, good things come to those who wait. But if you use these tips, you can get great results a little quicker. I'm horticulturist Gary Bachman for Southern Gardening.

Announcer: Southern Gardening with Gary Bachman is produced by the Mississippi State University Extension Service.