Planning your garden
Winter is a great time to plan and prepare your garden beds. So, relax by the fireplace and browse your favorite seed catalog and dream big. On those warm winter days clean up your beds and amend the soil. Our Pennsylvania Mushroom Compost (PMC) is steam pasteurized and nearly weed and disease free. Top dress your flower and vegetable garden in the winter with 3-4 inches of Mushroom Compost and let the earthworms take it down to the root zone. Roses, azaleas and hydrangeas can also be top dressed with PMC, simply pull back the mulch add compost and replace the mulch. When the weather warms up in the spring you will be amazed by the new growth!
Timetable for starting seeds for tomatoes
Tomatoes are one of the most difficult vegetables to grow in the Lowcountry and timing is everything! Plant disease resistant and heat tolerant seed varieties round Valentine’s Day and set young plants out around St. Patrick’s Day but watch out for a late frost. Add a tablespoon of gypsum to the garden soil for each plant to prevent blossom‐end rot.
Timetable for starting herb seeds
Sow dill, cilantro, and parsley seeds directly in the garden in late fall or late winter. Wait until April to start basil seeds then set out plants in early May. Basil loves the heat as do okra, lima beans and peppers.
Tips for winter lawn care
Turn off your sprinkler systems in the winter. Too much water can cause root rot and fungus problems. Lawn fungus can be a problem when the temperatures are between 60-80 degrees. Lawn fungus will hit in fall, but the damage may not show till winter. Look for uniform brown circles and apply a fungicide as soon as possible. If lawn fungus has been a problem in the past, apply fungicide to prevent problems before they show up. Top dressing with Cotton Compost in the late winter will help your lawn recover from fungus and insect damage.
Need expert advice?
Stop in our Johns Island store for expert advice and counsel to help you get your garden ready for our early Charleston spring. We’re here to help.
