Learn from local experts about how they plant, maintain and support pollinators in their own gardens
As the cold weather warms and the lively colors of spring begin to emerge in Chatham County, the question arises: What should I plant, and when? B&L Supply owner Lonnie Parcell suggests starting with shrubs and perennial plants in the spring.
“I’ve always liked to plant shrubs early in the year, sometime in March and April,” says Lonnie, who recommends planting foliage and flowers up until May. While you can plant later, Lonnie warns that shrubs especially become harder to maintain when planted in the summer, so it is best to start early. “A lot of shrubs are dormant right now, but they’re starting to come back with the warm weather, so get them in the ground soon.”
Lonnie tells his customers to wait until fall to start planting trees for easier maintenance. “In the fall, you have to maintain them for a little while, and then they go dormant,” he says. “[If you plant them] in the spring, you have to water them all year long.”
Rachel’s Native Plants owner Rachel Nelms says that if you want to commit to watering your plants in the summer, there are a few tips you should know to keep your plants healthy and thriving. “Water the plants before you put them in the soil,” she says. “Then, use compost or worm castings in the holes to retain moisture and water before and after planting and mulching.”
Rachel also recommends planting in the evening or during a shady time of day. “If I can’t plant in the evening or when it is shady, then I still do the other steps, but don’t ruffle up the roots as much,” she explains.
Rachel Nelms shares what she’s planting in her garden
- For sunny areas: Moss phlox (phlox sublata); Blue Eyed Grass (Sisyrinchium angustifolium); and mouse-eared coreopsis (coreopsis auriculata). “These are my staple border plants,” Rachel says. “They tend to stay green throughout the winter and are among the first to bloom.”
- For shady areas: Wild columbine (Aquilegia canadensis); green-and-gold (Chrysogonum virginianum); wild geranium (Geranium maculatum); foamflower (Tiarella cordifolia); and Jacob’s ladder (Polemonium reptans, pictured below).
- For year-round greenery: “Golden ragwort (Packera aurea) is a real workhorse,” Rachel says. “It stays green all year, likes sun or shade, wet or dry conditions, and is typically the first to bloom, giving pollinators an early source of food.” The leaves stay low to the ground, but the flower stalk rises 8 to 12 inches.
Common gardening misconceptions
Kyle Sandorse, sales manager and resident beekeeper for Country Farm & Home, often hears customers questioning whether they should buy organic or non-GMO plants compared to inorganic. “I would always say, and personally prefer, to do non-GMO or organic,” Kyle says. “And the less plastic you use [while planting], the better. If you do use plastic, try to reuse it.”
Lonnie urges customers to think beyond aesthetics and keep light level requirements top of mind when choosing location for plantings.
“People often ask, ‘Where does this plant need to be planted?’ and they want it [in a particular spot] when it shouldn’t be put there,” says Lonnie. He says it is important to pay close attention to each plant’s light needs.
“There are plants that don’t like the sun, there are plants that love the sun,” he says. “A lot of people want a particular plant in the sun all day, when it needs to be around the back of the house in the shade.”
Protecting native species and pollinators
Consider choosing native species that support pollinator habitats for your spring garden, like a wildflower mix from Mellow Marsh Farm. “Supporting pollinators in spring is actually an act of supporting them all year long,” Rachel says. “Not only do I have something blooming from February and March through November, I’ll also set them up for success in the colder months by providing overwintering habitat and food,” Rachel says.
She recommends using fallen leaves as mulch, as some butterflies and moths overwinter, or make cocoons, in the leaves, which then leave seed heads for birds to eat. Rachel also suggests planting shrubs with berries and waiting to cut back grasses and other species with stalks, as native bees overwinter in stalks and ladybugs overwinter in grasses. If she does cut them back, she leaves the stalks or grass trimmings next to the plant until the weather warms, so the pollinators have a chance to “tidy up” on their own.
If you haven’t started your pollinator garden yet, no need to worry. “It’s kind of like that saying, ‘The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago, the next best time is now,’” Rachel says. “If you don’t already have something available in spring, that’s OK. Get it planted now, and you’ll be ready next year!”
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