What's nesting in the TN Nursery this season (and why you should care)
Of course‚ what to plant now in Tennessee or anywhere in the greater Southeast depends upon your zone and your goals․ Tennessee gardens‚ for the most part‚ fall into USDA Zones 6b and 7b․ And although your growing season is longer than a northern gardener's‚ timing is as important to this selection as it is to the northern selection‚ as you can tell by examining our lists․ Again we have chosen these plants not just because they are beautiful but also because of their ability to tolerate the heavy clay soils‚ humid summer conditions and the freeze-thaw combination most common to Middle and East Tennessee at the end of winter․
This is more than just a pretty new inventory list․ Below‚ I'm going to talk you through everything that's come in‚ why each and every category matters in your particular growing space‚ and how to best use these plants the minute you bring them home․
Perennials are the backbone of easy-care gardens․
Perennials return each year without you having to plant them again‚ making them the most economical long-term investment to make in Tennessee's gardens․ The new additions‚ purple and gold coneflower‚ black-eyed Susan and salvia‚ should be reliable throughout most of the state․ That is zone 6a through 8a‚ and they seem to like our clay soil once they are established․
Unfortunately‚ nursery blogs do not mention that the perennials are building a root system for at least a year or two before they start to grow up․ The second year the plant is only about half the size it is when mature‚ the third year it is full size․ If you think you are going to have a plant that looks like the one in the garden magazines‚ forget it․ But if you want to create a garden that improves year by year with a minimum of maintenance‚ read on․
Plant most perennials from fall (September through early November in Tennessee) to give them roots time to take hold before the heat of the next summer․ They can also be planted in early spring‚ but will need to be watered more often in the following summer․
Native Plants: Solving Problems Import Species Create
Wherever possible‚ native plant species in the nursery trade should be the preferred plant selection since they are "green" in that they are best suited to the amount of rainfall‚ the pH of the soil and the extremes in temperature that occur in Tennessee‚ and require less work by the gardener․
Perennial flowers from further south‚ such as Lyreleaf Sage‚ thrive in our wet spring and dry summer․ Established plants usually need no watering after the first season they are planted․ And they seed themselves and fill in a partially shaded area over the course of two or three seasons with no extra cost or care․
Wildlife is one benefit‚ but there is a very practical side to it‚ too: native plants can attract native pollinators‚ such as mason bees‚ as well as butterflies and moths‚ to flowering food plants and ornamental plants in gardens․ If you have a vegetable garden‚ think of planting natives as part of the same system as your vegetable garden․
Note too that native doesn't mean plant anywhere․ Even native plants have specific light， water， and good drainage requirements․ And be certain that the plants you're growing can live in the heavy clay in your garden and not the amended garden soil of your raised bed․
Annual Flowers: Fast Color and Real Trade-offs
Annuals‚ of course‚ are plants that grow‚ flower‚ and die all in one season․ They are‚ after all‚ a short-term commitment and provide you with instant gratification․ Most annuals will bloom 6 to 8 weeks after planting‚ and bloom until frost․
Few Tennesseans realize that the best time to plant annuals‚ cool weather pansies‚ snapdragons‚ and dianthus is early spring and even fall․ Annuals are frost tolerant‚ but not heat tolerant for summer․ Warm-season annuals such as zinnias‚ marigolds or petunias should not be planted out until after the last frost date (April 5 east‚ April 20 middle and west Tennessee)․
Annuals require more consistent watering‚ dead-heading and monthly feeding to get blooms throughout the summer․ It's more work than our perennials and our natives‚ which are the most low-maintenance plants you can put in the ground‚ but there's no shame in going that route if you want color fast․
Indoor Plants: Why Winter Isn't the Wrong Time
Indoor plants solve part of the great problem that is simply impossible outside in its natural state in the depths of winter: the months when the garden is hibernating but your house needs something alive in it․
If you are a beginning or plant killer‚ succulents may be the best plant for you․ The leaves are thickened and fleshy‚ and are swollen with moisture‚ so these plants are likely to be unsuccessful victims of the most common houseplant killer‚ overwatering․ Water succulent plants every 2 or 3 weeks‚ allowing them to dry out completely (as in no moisture) between each watering․ For light‚ they prefer a spot where they will receive a few hours of sunlight or bright indirect light per day․
While pothos or snake plants will do well in low light‚ a succulent would not do as well without bright light and does not tolerate fluctuations in watering․
Deciding what best suits your space
You're going to want perennials or native plants in the long run‚ but if you want that instant gratification for a party or a new patio‚ or you don't want to look at bare dirt every day‚ you need annuals․ Even with the annuals‚ though‚ it's worth the effort if all you need is something that will bloom fairly quickly․ If you want something to live in the house and brighten up your days scattered throughout the winter‚ try some succulents or low light indoor plants․
We carry all of these plant styles‚ and most yards will have a combination of all four․ Check our plant list to see what we currently have in stock․ If you don't know what's best for your landscape in terms of light exposure and soil types‚ that's something we can talk about before you have to commit to buying․
