Flower and Garden

Almanac & Calendarfor the Midlands of

South Carolina

Presented by the

LexingtonCountyMasterGardenerVolunteersAssociation

FirstEdition

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W hat i s t he S out h C aro l i na

Mas t er Gard en er P rog ram ?

This volunteer training program is administered by theClemson University Cooperative Extension Service.Introduced in Charleston County in 1981, the MasterGardener program is now offered in 36 counties.

INSTRUCTION: The Master Gardener program is dividedinto two parts: instruction and service. In the classroom,participants receive at least 40 hours of intensive, practicalhorticultural training. Some of the topics are listed below:

Soils and Plant Nutrition

Entomology Vegetable Gardening Tree and Small Fruit Culture

Culture of Woody Ornamentals Turfgrass and Weed Management Basic Landscape Design

Problem Solving Botany and Plant Physiology Selecting, Planting and Managing Ornamentals

IPM and Pesticide Safety Composting

Successful completion of the classroom portion of MasterGardener training involves regular attendance and passinga final exam.

W hat i s Ex pe c t ed o f M a s t e r G ar d en er s ?

After completing the required classroom instruction,

Master Gardener participants are required to volunteer at

least 40 hours of educational service in the Clemson

Extension office or in the community. Volunteer activities

are coordinated through the local county Extension office

and Master Gardener association.

Master Gardeners share their knowledge and skills in anumber of ways: answering home horticulture questionsand diagnosing plant problems at the Extension office andevents; speaking to businesses, churches, garden clubs,neighborhoods, schools and civic organizations;working with both youth and adult groups; and much,much more.

Many Master Gardener participants far exceed the expected40 hours of service. Many continue in the program beyondthe first year, motivated by their willingness to help othersand the personal satisfaction derived from participating inthis volunteer community education program.

W i l l I L ea r n M o r e a f t e r B ec o m i ng

a Master Gardener?

Master Gardeners never stop learning. Volunteer activities,Master Gardener association meetings, Extension in-service trainings, and State Master Gardener Conferencesoffer Master Gardeners a wide range of opportunities toincrease their knowledge, develop new skills, exchangeprogram ideas, and forge new friendships.

I s t he Sout h C aro l i na M as t e r Gardene r

Program for Me?

Do I want to learn more about plants, pests,landscaping and gardening?

Do I want to participate in an intensive, practicaltraining program?

Do I look forward to sharing my knowledge withpeople in my community?

Do I have the time to commit to both the training andthe volunteer service?

If you answered “yes” to these questions, then the SouthCarolina Master Gardener Program could be for you.

H ow C an I Bec om e a M as t e r Gardene r?

If your county has a Master Gardener Program or is part ofa cluster of counties that offer the program, then apply foradmission to the Master Gardener Program through yourlocal Clemson Extension agent. Enrollment is limited, socall today and learn how you can become a South CarolinaMaster Gardener. If you don’t have 16 weeks free, you cantake the course online with the same lessons and benefits.For class dates and more registration information go to:http://www.clemson.edu/extension/mg/mgonline.html

Our first ever cover features the whimsical fairygarden of LCMGV Master Gardener SandyRaymond. It is a miniature within a real-lifegarden setting. The photo was selected because ofits lively and whimsical nature, plus its beauty.

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Greetings!Welcome to the first Flower and Garden Almanac andCalendar for the Midlands. We at Lexington MasterGardener Volunteers would like to thank the Aiken CountyMaster Gardeners for their support and inspiration. Wehope with this publication gardeners will find usefulinformation on growing in the Midlands of South Carolina.Whether you have clay or sandy soil, we have “been there& done that.” On the following pages you will hear fromlocal master gardeners what plants, trees or shrubs haveworked for us. You will revel in the detail of the monthlycalendar as to what to do and what to look for. All of ourinformation presented to you is research-based with manyof the fact sheets from Clemson Home and Garden Centerused as reference. When in doubt, our advice: Look it up!

If you are a weekend gardener or avid one, this publicationholds information that will be useful. We love to not onlytalk the talk but walk the walk through our manyeducational programs, outreach community projects,scholarship programs, and support of the communitythrough the Clemson Extension office.

Read, enjoy, and get some “dirt” beneath your nails as youwork in your lawn and garden!

How to Use the AlmanacThe Almanac is easy to use and takes advantageof Clemson University's extensive horticulturedatabase. This information is available to you atthe Clemson Home and Garden Information Cen-ter located on the Internet at http://hgic.clemson.edu. In presenting information wewill often refer to an HGIC bulletin. These bulle-tins carry detailed information about trees, shrubs,flowers, lawns and so much more. They discusshow to care for these plants and also how to dealwith their problems when they occur. It is impos-sible to print detailed information on hundreds oftopics in a small almanac but the HGIC databasemakes it possible to obtain this information easilywhen needed.

Additional HelpThe Master Gardeners are now offering additional servicesto increase your gardening information. In response tomany requests we opened our new website . Please visit:LCMGV.org or visit the Master Gardener Help Desk,Lexington County Extension Office, Monday thru Fridays,from 8:00 to noon, and 1:00 to 5:00.

LCMGV History

Lexington County Master Gardeners first began withclasses in 1983-84. In 1987 the class of six eager membersdecided, with the help of Sam Cheatham, to gather formonthly “Update” meetings. Sam brought topics of interestsuch as various plants and how to recognize and care forthem. He also taught the ladies about numerous diseasesand how to best eradicate them. The small but dedicatedgroup of ladies known as “The Sweet Peas” birthed a two-page newsletter in 1994 known as The Green Sheet. TodayThe Green Sheet provides information about heritage andcultivated plants, plant diseases and treatment, and beautifulgardens mostly provided by members of the organization.plants.

On December 7, 2004 Lexington County Master GardenerVolunteers incorporated as a non-profit organization underthe laws of South Carolina. As of June 30, 2012, there are213 members, including several honorary members. Theorganization is growing as Clemson continues to confercertification to local graduates of the program.

The mission of the Clemson Extension Master GardenerProgram is to select, train, and utilize knowledgeablevolunteers to facilitate the educational work of the localConsumer Horticulture Agent by delivering research-basedinformation to citizens of the state. We do that byproviding educational programs such as those presented atthe regional libraries in addition to other venues by ourvolunteers.

Locally, the mission of the LCMGV is to:

Provide gardening support to its members and to thecommunity through inspiration, education, and leadership.

Current LCMGV Programs & Events

Annual Garden Tour of Homes (Spring)Annual Plant Sale (September)Community ProjectsScholarships (Horticulture Majors)Speaker’s BureauLibrary DisplaysState Master Gardener Jamboree

Junior Master GardenersThe Green Sheet (Newsletter with Gardening Tips)Community Help Desk (Lexington County Extension Office )

Check our website for details related to these and other programsand events. (LCMGV.org )

Copyright © 2014 Lexington County MasterGardener Volunteers Association. All RightsReserved

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Table of Contents

Section 1: Introduction to the Gardening Almanac with an overview ofweather and climate conditions

Clemson Master Gardener Program ............................................................................................................ 2Welcome............................................................................................................................................... 3

Table of Contents .........................................................................................................................................4-5

Weather

USDA Hardiness Zones, AHS Heat Zones ................................................................................................6-7Timing is Important................................................................................................................................................8More Weather Information...................................................................................................................................9

Microclimates.................................................................................................................................................10

Soil

How Do You Start A Garden?........................................................................................................................... 11Creating Great Soil ........................................................................................................................................ 12-13/Midlands Soils ........................................................................................................................................ 13Mycorrihizal Fungi .............................................................................................................................................. 14Soil Testing: Why Do It? ..................................................................................................................................... 15Clemson Soil Test Report Sample................................................................................................................16Gardening in the Shade....................................................................................................................................... 17

Section 2: Monthly Things To Do and Things To Watch For

January ......................................................................................................................................... 18-19February .............................................................................................................................................20-21March..................................................................................................................................................22-23April ....................................................................................................................................................24-25May ..........................................................................................................................................26-27June .....................................................................................................................................................28-29July ......................................................................................................................................................30-31August .................................................................................................................................................32-33September...........................................................................................................................................34-35October................................................................................................................................................36-37

November............................................................................................................................................38-39

December ............................................................................................................................................40-41

Section 3: Ornamentals

Midlands Native Plants........................................................................................................................................ 42

Wild Flowers ..................................................................................................................................................43Our Faithful Friends...................................................................................................................................... 44-45Hydrangeas, Roses, Coleus, Chrysanthemums and Caladiums........................................................ 46-47Favorite Ornamentals of Lexington Master Gardeners .................................................................... 48-49

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Trees

How to Select a Tree: Location, Location, Location ...............................................................................50How to Plant a Tree: Digging a Hole is the Easy Part ........................................................................... 51Favorite Trees of fhe Master Gardeners ...................................................................................................52Midlands’ Flowering Trees...............................................................................................................................53Crape Myrtle ......................................................................................................................................... 54Magnolia .......................................................................................................................................................55Common Midlands Pine Trees.........................................................................................................................56Why do Trees Change Color? ..........................................................................................................................57Trees and Plants for Attracting Wildlife..................................................................................................58Attracting and Feeding Wild Birds............................................................................................................59

Lawns

Growing Grass in a Hostile Environment ...............................................................................................60Preparing the Soil for New Seed or Sod ....................................................................................................61Centipede, St. Augustine, Bermuda, Zoysia Grasses ........................................................................62-65Weed Management for Lawns and Flower Beds ...............................................................................66-67

Vegetables and Herbs

Home Vegetable Gardening .............................................................................................................................68Container Vegetable Gardening ..........................................................................................................69-70Tomatoes................................................................................................................................................7 1-72

Vegetable Planting Guide..................................................................................................................................73Vegetable Cultivars ......................................................................................................................................74-75Herbs .......................................................................................................................................................76-77Season Extenders/Freeze Protection..........................................................................................................78

Section 4: Miscellaneous Gardening Items

Home and Garden Integrated Pest Management, (IPM).......................................................................79Backyard Pests: Moles, Voles, Deer, Armadillos, Rabbits, Squirrels & Raccoons .....................80-81Backyard Pests: Insects .....................................................................................................................................82Fire Ant Management.................................................................................................................................83Common Pine Tree Insects ...............................................................................................................................84Tree Caterpillars and Worms ..........................................................................................................................85Poisonous Plants ....................................................................................................................................86-87

Pruning Calendar for Ornamental Trees and Shrubs ...........................................................................88Pruning Ornamental Shrubs............................................................................................................................89Winter Pruning ..................................................................................................................................... 90The proper Way to Use Water .........................................................................................................................91Useful Garden Measurements and Conversions ................................................................................92-93Garden Safety ..............................................................................................................................................94Tool Guide ..............................................................................................................................................95-97Gardening Definitions..................................................................................................................................98-99Plant Propagation......................................................................................................................................100Index ..................................................................................................................................................... 101

Association Addresses......................................................................................................................................102

Inside and Back Covers .......................................................................................................................... 103-104

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USDA Plant Hardiness Zones

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)breaks the continental United States into 10 climatezones. These are expanded further into A & Bdesignations per zone. The zones designate the lowesttemperature that a plant can tolerate and remain alive.

For years the Midlands was designated as zone 7B.Data for the past 15 years indicate that we have had asufficient climate change to move us into zone 8A.That includes the entire county of Lexington and mostof what is considered the Midlands South Carolina.Most garden and plant publications refer to thesezones when suggesting plants for a specific location.The map below shows Midlands and somesurrounding areas. All are primarily in zone 8A.

Midlands of South Carolina: USDA Zone 8ATypical Maximum Low Temperature of +10 to +15º F

Small protected areas in a garden may contain whatare known as microclimates. These areas, protected bywalls, located near water or some other barrier, maybe able to provide enough protection to grow a plantthat otherwise might not survive in the zone. Trial anderror will provide information over the long term.Nonetheless, when selecting plants for our hardinesszones, choose on the safe side. You do not want tolose a valuable perennial if the temperatures dropsuddenly. Typically, the coldest periods in theMidlands occur between mid-December and earlyFebruary. The record low for the Midlands is slightly

below zero (1899) but this is very unusual. Theaverage low in January, the coldest month of the year,

is about 34F.

The USDA normally updates their zones every fifteenyears. The last revision was in 2012 so it is now up todate. The USDA map is displayed on many Internetwebsites and can be found at http://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/

Sunset garden magazine also publishes plant hardinesszones. This publication places the Midlands at thejuncture of zones 31 & 32. This is somewhat colderthan the USDA zone 8A. The magazine’s criteria fora plant’s performance is governed by the total climate:length of growing season, timing and amount ofrainfall, winter lows, summer highs, and humidity.For more information go to http://www.sunset.com/garden/climate-zones/sunset-climate-zones-southeast-00400000036361/ .

You can grow tropical plants in the Midlands asannuals. Most tropical plants such as Hibiscus andIxora will suffer when the night time temperaturesdrop below 55°F. If you have them in containers youcan bring them inside on those cooler evenings andput them back out in warmer mornings. Once thenighttime temperatures continue to drop below 50° Fit is time to bring them in for the winter. Treat them ashouse plants with plenty of sun, water and anoccasional fertilizer. For more information on tropicalplants see http://www.trop-hibiscus.com/index.html .

Meaning of Being in Zone 8A

We will probably never agree on the causes ofincreasing temperatures on earth. Conservationistsblame heavy industry for the release of hydrocarbonsfrom power plants. Heavy industry blames farmersbecause their cows are releasing methane gas. Somesay the increase comes from volcanic eruptions andothers are sure that the sun’s actions keep our planetin a constant state of temperature change from verywarm to ice age cold. We can understand everyone’spoint of view but the fact remains that ourtemperatures have risen enough to move us to a newUSDA climate zone, 8A.

The rising temperatures may be the result of acombination of all of the items mentioned above butthe fact is that we are now growing plants in theMidlands that have not done well in the past. We cannow grow some plants in Midlands as perennialsthat used to only be considered annuals.

Cold Hardiness Zone 8A

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Heat : As Important as Cold!An important consideration for Midlands gardenersis that keeping a plant alive means being aware ofmore than how cold the temperature may be inwinter. A cold snap may kill a plant instantly butprolonged heat can slowly destroy it. Flower budsmay wither; leaves may droop and become moreattractive to insects. Chlorophyll may disappear andturn leaves yellow or brown and roots may stopgrowing. These effects are more subtle and plantdeath is slow and lingering. According to thePlantsMap website (http://www.plantmaps.com/interactive-south-carolina-heat-zones-map.php),

Midlands of South Carolina: USDA Heat Zone 8Typical : 91 to 120 days of 86F or higher temperatures

all of the Midlands is located in Heat Zone 8. Thismeans this area normally gets 91 to 120 days of hightemperatures of 86º F or higher. That is theequivalent to 3 to 4 months a year of very hotweather. By comparison, the Upstate and CoastalLow Country of South Carolina have on averageonly 61 to 90 days of such warm weather.

Thousands of garden plants have now been coded forheat tolerance, with more to come in the near future.You will see the heat zone designations joininghardiness zone designations in garden centers,references books, and catalogs.

The key to growing plants in heat zone 8 is to besure that plants have sufficient water and nutrients tosustain them when the conditions become harshduring the summer. More information on using the

heat zone map also can be found at http://www.ahs.org, the website of the AmericanHorticultural Society.

Plants That Do Well in Hot and Dry Climates

Crape myrtles are a favorite tree because of theirdrought tolerance, not to mention their beauty. Otherdrought-tolerant trees include redbud, Carolinacherry laurel, yoshino cherry, pecan, gingko bilobaand Southern magnolia. Some drought-tolerantshrubs include butterfly bush, holly, juniper, nandina,rose of Sharon, spirea, forsythia, camellia, Indianhawthorn, Japanese aucuba, boxwood, ligustrum andflowering quince.There is also a large variety of drought-tolerantperennials to choose from. A few of them includelamb’s ear, lantana, sedum, artemisia, baby’s breath,blanket flower, butterfly weed, cockscomb,coreopsis, gaura, geranium, bearded iris, globeamaranth, red hot poker, purple coneflower, verbena,yarrow, zinnia, bee balm, goldenrod, daylily, dustymiller, candytuft, shasta daisy and marigold. If youare in the market for drought-tolerant vines, considerCarolina jessamine, sweet autumn clematis,honeysuckle, English ivy, wisteria and Virginiacreeper.

Take the Following Steps to a Cooler, MoreComfortable, Energy Efficient Landscape.

Plant large deciduous shade trees on the east, westand southwest sides of the house. Avoid plantingthem directly south of the house where they willblock winter sun.

Plant deciduous vines to climb on trellises andprovide extra shade on the south and west sides ofthe house.

Shade outdoor activity areas by planting trees onthe south and west sides. Vine-covered arbors alsoare effective sun barriers.

Shade air conditioning condensers for moreefficient operation.

Plant trees and shrubs that will act as wind tunnelsto channel breezes into the house. Keep lowerlimbs pruned up to allow breezes to passunderneath shade.

Water lawns and plants in the early morning toreduce evaporation. Water deeply to develop astrong root system.

Use mulch wisely to conserve water.

Heat Zone 8

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Timing Is Important to Growing!

Success in the garden requires proper timing. Wecan never be 100% positive about the correct time toplant in the lawn and garden but we can userecorded data and some common sense. The firstimportant dates are the chances of early or late frostsin spring and fall. We get this information from theSoutheast Regional Climate Center. It can be foundat http://www.sercc.com/climateinfo/monthly_seasonal.html. This webpage gives us theaverage temperatures and precipitation based onalmost sixty years of observation. Using thesenumbers is far better than guessing or usinggrandma’s arthritic toe as an indicator. Using thesedata, let us look at the earliest possible frostprobabilities for spring and fall in the Midlands.

Spring50% chance of frost on March 2930% chance of frost on April 810% chance of frost on April 21

Fall

10% chance of frost on October 1830% chance on frost on October 2750% chance of frost on November 4

The latest recorded spring frost in the Midlandswas on April 24th and the earliest recorded frostin fall was on October 4th.

Though the numbers above apply generally to theMidlands, there are some variances caused byelevation differences and they can be significant.Low spots, where cold pockets can form, might beseveral degrees colder than an area just a mile or soaway. This can be the difference of a severe freezeand not even a frost. You can check your elevationon the computer by using a free program calledGoogle Earth. Similarly, land located near a largelake may be more protected from a frost because ofthe warmer thermal effects of the water.

Applying fertilizer or a pre-emergence herbicide toyour lawn should also be done in accordance withthe proper temperatures. In these cases we aretalking about soil temperatures. Unless you have asoil thermometer, this method of application may bea little difficult. Using the average temperaturesfrom the Southeast Regional Climate Centerwebsite, we can identify some target dates. Fertilizer

with nitrogen for lawns should be applied after the

grass greens up. This usually occurs after May 15thand as late as June 1st. Nitrogen applications incooler weather can cause problems when we get ashort warm-up and then a late frost or freeze. Thenew growth will be damaged and might take severalweeks to recover. It is better to wait a little and besafe. Clemson suggests that no nitrogen fertilizer beapplied in this climate zone on any southern turfafter September 1st. The exception might beoverseeding with rye or fescue.

Finally, when do you apply a pre-emergenceherbicide? This is one of the most important meansof preventing weeds in the lawn. In the Midlands,we have two crops of weeds: summer and winter.Some are annual, while others are perennial and bi-annual. All are a nuisance to the average gardener.The best way to control them is by having a thick,healthy turf that prevents them from invading. Whenthat fails we can use a pre-emergence herbicide thatprevents the weed seeds from germinating.

These herbicides should be applied before the seedsstart to germinate. In the spring, pre-emergenceherbicides should be applied when air temperaturesreach 65 to 70° F for four consecutive days. Onaverage, this is March 1st in the Midlands. In the fall,to control winter annuals, apply pre-emergenceherbicides when nighttime lows reach 55 to 60° Ffor four consecutive days. On average, this is aroundSeptember 15th.

If you miss the pre-emergence application you canattack the problem later with a post-emergenceherbicide. In spring, that would be when the grass isgreen and growing and you have mowed the lawnonce or twice. In the fall, the best time would beafter the lawn has gone dormant and the weeds areeasily viewed. Remember that cold temperaturesreduce the effectiveness of herbicides. Considerdelaying an application if the temperatures dropbelow 50° F.

Old Wives Tale

Wrong! You should put down lawn pre-emergence herbicides in early spring when theforsythia bushes are in bloom.Right: That may be too late! Spring pre-emergence herbicides should be in the groundbefore the soil temperatures reach 55º F.

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Feb Jul°F Jan45.1

Mar Jun Sept76.6

Oct Nov DecApr63.5

Aug80.5

May71.648.1 55.1 78.4 81.6 63.8 54.3 46.1

Feb Jul°F Jan56.5

Mar Jun Oct Nov DecApr76.7

Aug90.9

Sept85.3

May83.960.2 67.8 89.7 92.3 76.4 67.2 58.5

Feb Jul°F Jan33.7

Mar Jun Oct Nov DecApr50.4

Aug70.0

Sept63.9

May59.335.9 42.5 67.1 70.9 51.1 41.3 35.0

Average Precipitation

inches Jan3.8

The Air Quality Index for Lexington County is in the “Good” range 95% of the time. The area does get a lit-tle snow, but averages less than 2 inches annually, and usually it melts quickly. There are periodic tornados,but most are Category 0, and have caused few or no injuries. In the last reporting year, four were identifiedas having formed within 50 miles of the town of Lexington. The worst tornado in recent memory occurred inApril 2009, injuring 14 people and doing considerable property damage. All things considered, however, wehave a mild climate with plenty of time for growing just about anything. For more climate information go tohttp://www.dnr.sc.gov/climate/sco/.

Feb3.8

JulMar4.4

Apr3.1

May3.4

Jun Aug5.5

Sept4.0

Oct2.8

Nov Dec3.34.5 2.65.5

More Weather Information

Lexington, South CarolinaLatitude: 3 3°98'N Longitude: 81 °22'W Elevation: 394.0’

The chart below offers some helpful information for your plantingThe figures shown are average temperatures and should not be considered maximum or minimum for plantingpurposes. Usually, our warmest month is July. On average 23 days in July have a high temperature of 90º orgreater. The coldest month is January. It averages 15 days of lows below freezing. Our warmest recordedtemperature is 107° F (3 different times). And our coolest day on record was –1° F in January 1985.

Our precipitation also fluctuates. Here are some interestingfacts:

Highest Daily Rainfall: 7.1” September 4, 1998 (Pelion)

Annual Average Rainfall: 46.61”Average Number of Rain Days: 113 (30+% of the year)

Wettest Year: 70.53” (1964)

Driest Year: 27.38” (1954)

Mean Snowfall: 1.6”

Largest Monthly Snowfall: 18.2” (February 1973)

Average Temperature (1948-2012)

Average High Temperature

Average Low Temperature