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| Photo Credit: Sarah Landicho |
| Freak frosts still linger in early spring. Remember, “drought tolerant” doesn’t mean “frost resistant!” |
“Drought tolerant.” That’s the buzzword (or phrase) for gardeners throughout the Southeast this spring. And those words resonate with good reason, after most gardeners have been burnt, quite literally, by the ever-worsening drought in the 2007 growing season. But as a new year of spring fever carries us into the garden center, let’s not forget to employ a little common sense.
After seeing swift sales of portulaca in late March, I had to wonder if “drought tolerant” had caught on too fast in the consumer mind. It seemed that another phrase, often associated with early plantings, had slipped their minds: What about “frost resistant?” In the warm greenhouse, all kinds of flowers bloom and foliage thrives. Growers will always work to meet demand, and year after year there’s always a demand for early blooms. Given the 2007 drought, the 2008 growing season has created a bit of a unique situation: With the focus on drought-tolerant plants, folks are ready (and eager) to comply and get their gardens started with water wise plantings. What’s more, the spring rains have been quite encouraging so far, loosening the parched soil and returning all shades of green to our landscapes. It’s hard to fight the urge to get out there and start planting! Unfortunately, there’s a little hitch: Drought-tolerant plants are largely heat-loving plants, meaning they perform best when the soil and air is warm – day and night. Even after the magical frost-free date, the night air temperatures will still sometimes dip drastically compared with the pleasant daytime highs.
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