Southern Gardening

Spring has sprung and it’s time to plant some containers, but just what’s in that bag of potting mix. Let’s find out. To be successful growing in containers you have to use potting mix made for containers which is much different than regular garden soil. When choosing a container potting mix I always look for these four ingredients. Sphagnum peat is the most important type of peat for a potting mix because it adds bulk and substance while being extremely light weight. It can hold a great deal of water and air and does not decompose quickly. Coconut coir is made from the husk of a coconut.

Have you ever been driving down the street in the spring and noticed a small tree that’s blazing with purplish pink flowers? You’re seeing saucer magnolia, one of the stars of the spring landscape. Saucer magnolia, known botanically as Magnolia x soulangiana, is by far the most popular of the flowering magnolias. They bloom before the leaves emerge so the flowers are the main attraction. The flower buds develop on the ends of the branches and are pubescent and silky to the touch. The buds swell and begin to open revealing the first glimpse of the coming colorful show.

Starting seeds indoors is a popular activity for dedicated home gardeners, but can be scary for the novice. Let’s look at some tips that will make it easy and help ensure success in starting your own seeds for the coming season. The good thing is the garden centers have all the supplies you’ll need. A fantastic way to get start is with a cell tray and clear dome, sometimes they’re called a seed starting greenhouse, and have everything needed to grow more than enough seedlings. Simply add water and the coconut fiber pellets soak up the water and expand. Break up the pellets to fill the cells.

Many gardeners consider green to be the color of spring, but this year yellow is the first color popping. Daffodil blooms are for many gardeners the first visible signs of spring. These vigorous plants thrive joyously in sunny, well-drained places and are a mainstay of the spring garden. Because they are long-lived bulbs, daffodils make for a glorious landscape legacy. In Mississippi the yellow flower are a more traditional looking daffodil, but there are many other selections. Dutch Master are early spring bloomers that display bold yellow flowers that makes a striking planting.