Every Alabamian knows how intolerable our scorching and often humid summers can be. The heat can make maintaining flowers and plants more difficult than usual, so it’s important to be prepared by knowing which varieties are able to endure the extreme weather.
Pam Clark, owner of the Garden Shop of Homewood, suggests several beautiful flowers capable of handling the summer exceptionally well. Diamond Frost (Euphorbia) is among her favorites. Pam says it “blooms profusely” in the summer, making it a lovely addition to your garden.
Another good choice? Pam suggests Periwinkles (Vinca) which don’t require as much watering as other flowers. Pam also recommends sedums and succulents for the summer, and says, “They’ve always been a big seller for us in the past years, because they work well in the heat and they’re so interesting.”
Lacking a green thumb or new to gardening altogether? Follow Pam’s simple tips to ensure your summer garden thrives:
• SIZE UP YOUR POTS: When potting your plants, make sure the pots are big enough to house what you’re planting. You don’t want to kill your flowers due to overcrowding.
• LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION: The little labels you find poking out from the soil in the plants you buy aren’t merely suggestions. Read the care requirements if you’re unsure whether your new addition needs full sun or shade. Your plants will do best in the appropriate location.
• GET A SOIL CHANGE: Pam says that after a few years, your potting soil loses a lot of its nutrients. Solution? Replace your old soil or just mix some fresh soil with what you’ve already got to maintain a nutrient-rich environment for your plants. Pam personally recommends adding a bit of “J 3 Organics,” which is made from worm castings. You can pick up a bag at most independent garden shops like Pam’s.
—by Barbara Silor,
Birmingham Home & Garden Intern
—photography by Barbara Silor
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