April marks when spring awakens gardens across Southeast North Carolina. By the first or second week of the month, the Azaleas are at or just past their peak. The roses have leafed out, and some early bloomers like “Lady Banks” begin to show off their spectacular yellow flowers. Spring and summer blooming perennials burst out of the ground, while the deciduous shrubs start to form buds and leaves on their twiggy stems.
The gardener’s chore list is long in April. Weeding, pruning, raking, fertilizing, mulching, and the spreading of pine straw - these are just some of the many tasks for willing hands. For the sake of time management, Wilmington horticulturist Henry Rehder, Jr. conveniently lays these tasks out in a day-by-day format in his book, Creating a Beautiful Landscape. Note, for example, that on this day – April 16th – it is time to fertilize the oleanders with 5-10-10 fertilizer.
It’s during this time of year that amateur and professional gardeners alike also flock to local nurseries, flush with beautiful, healthy-looking plants and flowers. The possibilities are seemingly endless when surrounded by shades of green, pink, white, and purple. But, as many longtime SENC-landers will attest, the growing environment in this region is formidable - brutal summer heat, unpredictable winters, drought, and torrential rain. Add in other factors, such as shade availability and directional orientation of the garden, and suddenly, gardening in Southeast North Carolina can seem like a science experiment that you didn’t sign up for.
To account for these difficulties, the advice of Wilmington master gardener and author Barbara Sullivan, is simple(ish): “Grow what does best wherever you happen to garden.” Fortunately, Sullivan’s book, Garden Perennials for the Coastal South, provides detailed recommendations for the best plant selections for this area based on a variety of factors. Aptly, she also identifies which plants are not suitable for the local environment. Astilbe – that enticingly fluffy perennial seen in garden centers this time of year – for example, is listed in a section of the book titled “Perennials to Avoid: Don’t Even Think of Growing These Plants Here.” And, of course, she is totally right, as personal experience can substantiate.
Both books are available in the SENC Book Collection at the Center for Southeast North Carolina Archives and History. Visit our Reading Room to learn more!
Resources:
Creating a Beautiful Landscape: Henry Rehder's Daily Guide, by Henry Rehder, Jr., 2000. SENC Book Collection, SB453.2 .N8 R45 (Also available in the Library's general collection for check out)
Garden Perennials for the Coastal South, by Barbara J. Sullivan, 2003. SENC Book Collection, SB434 .S86 2003 (Also available in the Library's general collection for check out)