Spring Excitement
April 2018 by Shelley Corey, Owner of The Mum Farm
Ever notice how when the sun is shining and the weather warms up, even strangers lift their heads to smile and greet you? That’s all part of the spring excitement that everyone feels once we transition into springtime. I myself have been in that springtime mode since March. Even though the weather outside was dreadful, inside the greenhouses springtime was evident. I often have friends that stop by to check on me and get a glimpse of spring, smell the earthiness of the greenhouses and marvel at how the plants grow so quickly in that environment. Mother natures' miracle at work…I’m just one of her helpers!
Well, the time has come to remind you that now is the time for trimming the shrubs (all those that are not spring bloomers), and cleaning up all the broken branches from winter. Time to clean up the perennial beds and maybe mulch to keep your weeding to a minimum, make sure the mower starts, and bring out the outdoor furniture! Really this is what we all wait for!
Lettuce (haha, a little plant humor) review some container gardening tips. Container choices are endless, but make sure it has drainage…nothing kills a plant quicker than having its roots sitting in water. I’m going to go around the farm and look for cool things I might be able to plant in…make it a scavenger hunt! I already planted up some echeverias in an old pair of kids boots, and some more in an old flour canister that graced my grandmothers’ countertop. Last year I planted up an old tea kettle and it spent the winter in my kitchen adorning my stove when I wasn’t cooking! Let your creativity flow! Sometimes we have to look at things differently to gain perspective…that goes for everything in life!
Good potting soil is a must, not top soil. Always buy plants that will grow where you are intending to place them. My first question to a customer is usually “will it be in sun or shade?” Remember sun means either all day sun or sun from noon on. If it gets only sun until noon or one o'clock, that’s an east location and that means a shade plant will do best there.
Now the real fun begins as you travel around to see what the growers have been growing for you. Plant choices are almost as endless as those for containers. Growers tend to grow different plants. My business focus is finding new, interesting and great performing annual plants for your container or garden plantings. I’ve grown loads of varieties of coleus this year. I have 4 different trailing varieties! The newest coleus varieties will take sun or shade making them fabulous additions to containers. This is the third year I’ve grown the new shorter cannas that make a stunning addition to a big pot, or are equally dramatic in the ground. They bloom non-stop all summer and are real show-stoppers from a distance! The new salvia “Saucy” grows 24 -30” tall, blooming continually and I’ve grown it in the brand-new coral color! I’ve also grown tall and short grasses to add texture to your plantings, along with trailing plants to add that “spiller” element. What fun you will have choosing! I tell customers to just walk through and pick up plants they like…more often than not, those combinations are some of the most interesting and unique!
Remember…Smile….enjoy the excitement…it's gardening season once again, and gardeners are some of the happiest people on earth!