Southern Gardening

Gardeners in Mississippi know we need plants that can thrive in the summer heat. However, working outdoors for any length of time can take a toll on even the hardiest gardener. The dangers of overheating in shouldn’t be ignored. According to the CDC, since 1979 heat-related deaths in the United States outnumber those from hurricanes, lightening, tornadoes and earthquakes combined. Here are some of my simple tips to avoid heat-related problems. A good tip I follow is to plan gardening activities in the mornings and evenings, which are going to be the cooler times of the day.

In my role with MSU Extension as the Southern Gardener I’m frequently asked to evaluate problems in the landscape. There are times when I consider myself part of the CSI: Horticulture unit. Some crimes against horticulture are very obvious, such as the highly publicized crape murder spree that occurs unabated each spring. But another more insidious crime against horticulture occurs without much media attention: burying our trees alive with mulch. This is a crime of passion, because we love our trees so much.