Time to Grow

April 2026 Issue
Introduction by Lindsay Gifford

Information provided by Espoma Organic™️ & Espoma Pocket Guide™️, www.espoma.com

As the Lowcountry heats up and the pollen fades away,
yards, gardens and flower beds can practically be heard begging
you to dig, plant and snip away their winter blues.

While you may want to jump in gardening boots feet first, rush to your favorite nursery, and buy plants willy nilly, it pays to step back and make a plan for both your garden, plant beds, and their foundations.

Whether your expertise is on garden club presidential level or you are simply a beginner, there is always something new to learn. Talking to the pros at your favorite garden center is invaluable when it comes to considering how plants will perform in our unique climate and growing zone. But even the pros have their go-to resources, and Espoma, the original and largest manufacturer of organic fertilizers in the lawn and garden industry, is one of them. With nearly a century of providing high-quality organic products, Espoma is a pioneer in natural gardening solutions, developing effective natural products that work in harmony with nature to grow beautiful lawn and gardens.

Dedicated to inspiring people to express themselves through gardening, Espoma has created an extensive selection of videos and guides to help your gardening knowledge bloom. Log onto www.espoma.com to learn more, and read on for great tips on creating a solid foundation for your garden. Now, let’s go play in the dirt! Be sure to consider the following when planning:

• What type of sunlight does my garden bed receive?

• Do my plants need to be deer-resistant?

• How often do I need to water?

• What type of soil foundation should I have?

• How often should I fertilize and with what type of fertilizer?

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In-ground Planting Tips:

• Dig a hole twice as wide and same depth as the root ball.

• Loosen roots and spread them into the prepared hole.

• Remove 1/2 of the soil and replace it with compost, peat moss
or Espoma Organic® Garden Soil.

• Mix in the appropriate amount of Bio-tone® Starter Plus.

• Refill hole with amended soil.

• Do not mound stems. Water thoroughly and add mulch.

Feeding Tips: 
• In general, feed trees/ shrubs twice a year—spring and fall—and flowers/vegetables once per month through the growing season.

• Apply plant food like you would salt and pepper, spreading thinly around drip line of plant. (See Figure 1.)

• Do not apply plant food any closer than three inches to the plant stem.

• Wash off any plant food that falls on stems or foliage.

• Water thoroughly and add mulch to help conserve water and control weeds.

Container Planting Tips:
The Ideal Soil: A good potting mix should physically support the plant and supply adequate air and water to plant roots. The mix should be light enough so that roots can move and grow within it, yet heavy enough to hold sufficient moisture and support the plant. If you see a pool of water that is not draining after you water your plant, the mix is too heavy and compact.

Planting in Containers:
• Select a container that is larger than your plant’s current pot and has
a drainage hole at the bottom with a tray to catch excess water.

• To prevent soil from escaping, add a layer of small stones to the bottom of the container.

• Fill container 1/3 full of the appropriate Espoma Organic mix.

• Carefully remove the plant from its current container
and gently loosen the root ball.

• Center plant in the container and fill with additional potting mix.
Allow at least 1” between the top of the soil and the rim.

• Gently pat down the mix and add more if required.

• Make sure the plant is about the same depth in the soil
as it was in its original container.

• Water plant thoroughly with a slow gentle spray and allow to drain.

Growing Tips for Containers:
• Repotting: House plants require regular repotting for optimum growth. If your plant is not growing, or if you see roots growing from the drainage holes, it’s time to repot to a larger container.

• Watering: Avoid over watering by allowing the soil to dry to the touch between waterings. Use a tray or saucer to catch water as it drains from the bottom. Do not allow plants to stand in water. Outdoor container plants can require frequent waterings (once per day in hot, dry conditions).

• Light: Some plants thrive in direct sun exposure while others prefer shade. Check plant tag or consult your local garden center to determine preferred exposure.

• Feeding: Frequent watering can easily leach nutrients out from the root zone. Feed plants monthly during the growing season beginning two weeks after planting with Espoma Organic® Plant Foods.

For more in-depth information, click here.

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Mulch Needed!

5 Reasons to Add Mulch
1. Adds beauty, color, and texture to garden
2. Keeps soil from washing away
3. Helps retain moisture in the soil
4. Suppresses weeds
5. Insulates soil and roots from temperature extremes

Selecting the Right Mulch
There is no universal mulch for everything. There are pros and cons to every mulching material. Natural mulches are very common and are composed of plant matter. Examples include straw, shredded leaves, bark, pine needles or wood chips. These mulches decompose over time which helps improve the soil but also means they must be replaced once or twice a year. Colored mulches are made by adding a dye to a natural mulch. Whether you’re using rich black to make your perennial garden pop or soft red to accent your home, colored mulch gives you more flexibility and creativity.

 

8 Tips for Magnificent Mulching
Not all plants are the same, but these basic directions provide good rule-of-thumb guidelines mulching.

1. Spring fever.
After a long winter, nothing says spring is here like a new bed of mulch. It looks great, and will also help warm the soil.

2. Stay out of the weeds.
Always weed before applying mulch.

3. Scratch the surface.
Lightly rake the soil to loosen up the surface before mulching.

4. Feed first.
This is an ideal time to feed evergreen and acid-loving plants such as Rhododendrons, Azaleas, Dogwoods and Hollies with a high-quality plant food like Holly-tone. Before you mulch, apply it in a circle around the drip line of shrubs or trees.

5. How mulch is too mulch?
A uniform depth of 2 to 3 inches works for most mulches around established plants. Mulch that’s too deep can actually smother young plants.

6. No volcanoes!
Never pile up mulch next to anything. Keep mulches 2 to 3 inches away from the stems of woody plants and 6 to 12 inches away from buildings to avoid pests such as rodents, termites and other insects.

7. Put a ring around it.
When mulching around trees, the mulch should extend away from the plant to a little beyond the drip line.

8. Give it the smell test.
Replenish or replace mulch when it decomposes. Mulch should smell woody or earthy; if mulch smells sour like vinegar, replace immediately.

You can find Espoma Organic products locally at:
The Greenery (960 William Hilton Pkwy, Hilton Head
The Green Thumb, 35 Dillon Road, Hilton Head
Bruno’s Landscaping, 109 Dillon Road, Hilton Head