Hyams Garden Center and Accent Store

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Come Find Your Joy

Perhaps your Christmas joy is found in the traditions you’ve loved for years.

Perhaps it is in discovering a new ornament that makes you smile.

Perhaps it is the magic of a beautifully decorated tree, the glow of candlelight, the sound of bells, or the sight of a nativity that brings the story of Christmas into your home.

Or perhaps it is simply the pleasure of walking into a room overflowing with Christmas and remembering how wonderful this season can be.

This year’s Christmas Room travels around the world—from Bethlehem to New York, Nashville to the North Pole, Scotland to Charleston and Paris—bringing together a wonderful collection of Christmas traditions, colors and characters.

There is elegance and there is whimsy.

There is the sacred and the playful.

There are treasures for time-honored traditions and inspiration for creating new ones.

And through it all runs one beautiful message:

JOY TO THE WORLD.

At Hyams, we believe that decorating for Christmas is about more than making a room beautiful. It is about creating a place where memories are made—a place where family gathers, traditions continue, and the simple pleasures of the season have room to shine.

So come wander.

Come look.

Come remember.

Come discover something that makes you smile.

Come find a little Christmas joy.

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The Charleston Garden in Transition: Beauty Between Summer and Autumn

September is a month of subtle changes in the Lowcountry. Summer has not quite surrendered, yet autumn is beginning to make its presence known. The garden responds in its own quiet way—with softer light, cooler evenings, changing blooms, and the first hints of a new season.

There is something particularly beautiful about a Charleston garden in September. The crape myrtles may still be flowering. Hydrangeas still provide generous sweeps of color. Lantana, pentas, salvia, and other summer favorites continue to welcome butterflies and hummingbirds.

Yet something feels different. The days are gradually becoming shorter. The evening air occasionally carries a hint of coolness. Shadows stretch a little farther across the lawn. The garden is beginning to turn the page.

Don’t Rush Summer Away

One of the pleasures of gardening in Charleston is that our seasons rarely arrive according to a strict calendar. September may be called the beginning of autumn, but the Lowcountry garden often remains gloriously summery for weeks.

There is no reason to remove healthy flowering plants simply because September has arrived. Let your lantana continue blooming. Enjoy the last flushes of summer annuals. Allow crape myrtles to finish their spectacular display.

A garden should be allowed to change naturally. Rather than replacing everything at once, think of September as a bridge between two seasons.

Notice the Changing Light

Perhaps the first thing you notice is not a change in the plants at all, but a change in the light. The intense brightness of midsummer gradually gives way to a softer quality as the days shorten. Morning light filters differently through the branches of live oaks, and late-afternoon shadows begin to lengthen across garden paths and porches. This changing light can make familiar parts of the garden look entirely new.

A garden bench beneath an old oak, a brick walkway bordered by shrubs, or a simple container on a Charleston piazza may suddenly become a favorite place to sit at the end of the day.

Let the Garden’s Structure Take Center Stage

As seasonal flowers eventually begin to fade, the underlying structure of the garden becomes increasingly important. This is one reason experienced gardeners place such value on trees, shrubs, evergreen foliage, walls, paths, and architectural elements.

A mature live oak provides form and shade regardless of what happens to be blooming beneath it. A Southern magnolia contributes glossy evergreen foliage throughout the year. Well-placed shrubs define pathways, frame entrances, and provide continuity from one season to the next. Flowers may change, but a thoughtful garden always has something beautiful holding it together.

Refresh Without Starting Over

September is an excellent time to look critically—but kindly—at your garden. Which plants have performed beautifully? Which ones struggled in the summer heat? Is there a bare corner that could use a new shrub? Does a container need refreshing? Could a tired flower bed benefit from a new layer of mulch? Small improvements can have a surprisingly large effect.

Instead of redesigning the entire landscape, consider making a few thoughtful changes that will carry the garden gracefully into the next season.

Begin Thinking About Cool-Season Color

Eventually, the time will come to introduce plants that prefer cooler weather. Pansies, violas, snapdragons, dianthus, and other cool-season annuals can bring fresh color to the garden as summer flowers begin to decline.

But there is no need to rush.

Charleston’s September temperatures can still be quite warm, so timing matters. Watch the weather and give cool-season plants the conditions they need to establish successfully. When the time is right, even a few new containers or carefully planted beds can give the landscape an entirely different personality.

Look Ahead While You’re Looking Around

September is also a wonderful month for garden planning. Walk through your property and imagine what you would like to see next spring. Is there a place where a flowering tree would make a difference? Would a new evergreen provide privacy? Could a garden path be extended? Is there room for a small sitting area beneath a shade tree?

Fall planting gives trees and shrubs an opportunity to establish roots while conditions become more favorable, making this an excellent season to invest in the long-term beauty of your landscape.

A Garden Is Always Becoming

Perhaps the greatest lesson a garden teaches us is that it is never finished. There is always something blooming, something fading, something growing, and something waiting to emerge. A mature garden is not beautiful because every plant is constantly at its peak.

It is beautiful because the whole landscape changes together. The crape myrtle finishes its summer display. A hydrangea slowly changes character. Leaves deepen in color. A new container comes into bloom. An old tree casts a longer afternoon shadow.

Each change becomes part of the garden’s story. Enjoy the In-Between. We often think of gardens in terms of their great seasons—the brilliant arrival of spring, the exuberance of summer, the colors of autumn.

But there is something especially appealing about the seasons in between. September invites us to slow down and notice.

Take a walk before breakfast. Sit on the porch in the late afternoon. Watch the hummingbirds make their final visits to the summer flowers. Listen to the rustle of leaves in the live oaks. The garden may not look exactly as it did a month ago, and it will not look the same a month from now.

That is precisely its charm.

A New Season Is Waiting

Autumn in Charleston does not announce itself with a single dramatic change. It arrives gradually. It is found in the cooler evening, the softer sunlight, the changing flowers, and the gardener quietly preparing the soil for what comes next.

At Hyams Garden Center, we believe this transition is one of the most rewarding times of the gardening year. Whether you’re preparing a lawn for fall, selecting a new tree or shrub, refreshing a container, or simply looking for inspiration, we’re here to help you make the most of every season in your Lowcountry garden.

So don’t hurry through September.

Pause.

Look around.

Enjoy what is still blooming, make plans for what comes next, and remember that a garden is never more beautiful than when it is quietly becoming something new.

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A New Season Begins: Planting for Fall in the Lowcountry

September in the Lowcountry is a month of transition. Summer is still very much present, but the days are beginning to shorten, the evenings slowly become more comfortable, and the garden is quietly preparing for another season. For gardeners, this is not a time to put the shovel away. It is a time to begin planning—and planting—for what comes next.

Fall Begins Beneath the Surface

One of the wonderful things about gardening in the Lowcountry is that autumn does not arrive all at once.

While our gardens may remain green and flowers may continue blooming well into September, the cooler weather ahead creates an excellent opportunity to establish many trees and shrubs.

As temperatures eventually moderate, newly planted trees and shrubs can devote more energy to developing their root systems rather than supporting vigorous top growth.

That makes fall an especially rewarding time to add permanent plants to the landscape.

Think About the Garden’s Framework

Flowers provide seasonal color, but trees and shrubs create the framework that makes a garden feel established. Before choosing another annual or filling another container, take a moment to look at the larger picture.

Is there a corner that needs shade? Could a flowering tree frame the view from a porch? Would an evergreen shrub provide year-round structure? Could a new hedge create privacy or define a garden room?

September is an excellent month to consider these questions and begin planning improvements that will serve your landscape for years.

Plant Trees and Shrubs With the Future in Mind

A tree planted in autumn may look modest when it first goes into the ground, but its future potential is enormous. Live oaks, magnolias, hollies, yaupon, and many other trees and shrubs can become defining features of a Lowcountry landscape.

Think about mature size before planting. Give trees enough room for their roots and branches to develop naturally, and avoid placing large trees too close to structures, overhead utilities, or confined spaces.

The right plant in the right place will reward you for decades.

Refresh Tired Garden Beds

By September, some flower beds have begun to show the effects of a long Charleston summer. This is a good time to take stock.

Remove plants that have truly finished their season, cut away damaged growth, pull weeds, and refresh mulch where necessary. But don’t be too quick to remove everything that looks a little tired.

Many summer plants still have weeks of beauty left to offer. A garden does not have to be perfectly manicured to be beautiful.

Prepare for Cool-Season Color

As temperatures begin to moderate, thoughts naturally turn toward the brilliant colors of the cool season. Pansies, violas, snapdragons, dianthus, and other cool-season annuals can bring a completely different character to the garden.

But patience is important.

September can still be hot in Charleston. Wait for conditions to become appropriate for the plants you’re selecting rather than forcing cool-season flowers into conditions they don’t enjoy.

When the time is right, a few carefully chosen beds and containers can transform the appearance of the landscape.

Don’t Forget Your Containers

Containers offer one of the easiest ways to transition a garden from one season to another. Summer annuals that are still healthy and flowering can remain in place while you begin planning their replacements.

Consider placing new containers near entrances, along pathways, or on the porch where they can be enjoyed every day.

A beautiful ceramic pot filled with seasonal flowers can provide a small but meaningful change without requiring an entire garden renovation.

Prepare the Soil

Healthy plants begin with healthy soil.

Before planting, take the time to improve the soil when appropriate. Incorporating organic matter can help improve soil structure, drainage, and moisture retention.

Avoid simply digging a hole and filling it with a small pocket of amended soil. New roots should be encouraged to grow outward into the surrounding soil rather than remaining confined to a highly amended planting hole.

And remember that drainage matters. Even plants that enjoy moisture can struggle when their roots remain constantly saturated.

Think About Spring While You’re Planting for Fall

Good gardeners are always thinking one season ahead.

Fall is also the time to begin considering spring-flowering bulbs and where they might eventually be planted.

Walk through your garden and look for spaces that could use an early burst of color next year. Consider how the morning and afternoon light change throughout the seasons, and think about what will be blooming around existing trees and shrubs.

A little planning now can create delightful surprises when spring finally arrives.

Leave Room for the Garden to Change

One of the pleasures of gardening is that it is never finished.

Plants grow. Trees mature. Light changes. Family needs change. A place that once seemed perfect for a flower bed may eventually become better suited to a bench or a shade garden.

Don’t feel that every decision needs to be permanent.

Use September as an opportunity to observe your landscape and make thoughtful improvements rather than trying to accomplish everything at once.

A New Season, A New Opportunity

The arrival of fall is not an ending. It is an invitation to begin again.

A new tree planted in September, a freshly prepared garden bed, a row of cool-season flowers, or even one beautiful container can change the way you experience your landscape.

At Hyams Garden Center, we love helping Charleston gardeners look ahead. Whether you’re searching for a beautiful tree or shrub, preparing a garden bed, refreshing your containers, or simply wondering what will thrive in your landscape, our knowledgeable team is here to help.

Come visit us as the seasons begin to change.

There is always something new to plant, something beautiful to discover, and another season waiting just beyond the garden gate.

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Before the Weeds Wake: Preparing Your Charleston Lawn for Fall

A beautiful lawn in the Lowcountry doesn’t happen by luck. It happens by planning ahead. One of the most important steps you can take this season is applying a pre-emergent herbicide to help stop winter weeds before they ever appear.

September is the time to start getting ready. A little preparation now can save you weeks of weeding later.

Why Timing Matters

Pre-emergent weed control works by creating a barrier in the soil that prevents weed seeds from successfully germinating. The important word is before.

Once winter weeds have emerged and are visible, a pre-emergent treatment is too late to control them. That is why paying attention to the changing weather in September is so important.

For Charleston and the surrounding coastal areas, Clemson Extension recommends applying fall pre-emergent when nighttime temperatures reach approximately 55–60°F for four consecutive days. This typically occurs between mid-September and early October, although the exact timing varies from year to year.

In other words, watch the weather, not simply the calendar.

Know What You’re Preventing

Several common lawn weeds are winter annuals. Their seeds germinate in the fall, remain relatively small through the cooler months, and become much more noticeable as winter progresses and spring approaches.

Annual bluegrass (Poa annua) is one of the most familiar examples. Other winter weeds may include chickweed, henbit, bittercress, and various other annual broadleaf weeds.

Preventing these weeds before they become established is generally much easier than trying to remove them once they have taken hold.

How to Apply Preemergent

Choose a quality pre-emergent product that is specifically labeled for your type of turfgrass and for the weeds you want to prevent.

For granular products:

– Apply the product evenly across a dry lawn using a properly calibrated broadcast spreader.

– Follow the product label carefully for the correct application rate.

– Water the lawn after application as directed on the label. Many granular pre-emergent products require approximately one-half inch of irrigation or rainfall to move the active ingredient into the soil.

– Avoid uneven application, which can leave areas of the lawn unprotected.

Always read the entire product label before applying any herbicide. The label is the best source for application rates, watering requirements, turfgrass restrictions, and safety precautions.

Established Lawns vs. New Lawns

Pre-emergent herbicides are intended primarily for established turfgrass.

If you have recently seeded or sodded a lawn, take particular care before applying a pre-emergent product. Newly established grass needs time to develop a strong root system, and some pre-emergent herbicides can interfere with establishment.

If your lawn is new, check the product label carefully or consult a lawn-care professional before applying anything.

If You Plan to Overseed

This is especially important for Charleston homeowners considering winter overseeding.

Pre-emergent herbicides prevent seeds from germinating—and that includes grass seed. If you plan to overseed a bermudagrass lawn with ryegrass, the timing of your preemergent application must be coordinated carefully with your seeding plans.

Clemson Extension notes that overseeding is generally recommended only for bermudagrass among South Carolina’s warm-season home lawns, and that preemergent applications must be timed appropriately if over-seeding is planned.

If you’re considering overseeding, be sure to determine your plan before applying a pre-emergent. The product label will provide the specific waiting period required between application and seeding.

A Strong Lawn Is Your Best Defense

Pre-emergent is only one part of maintaining a beautiful lawn.

A thick, healthy lawn naturally leaves less room for weeds to become established. Proper mowing, appropriate watering, and good overall turf management all contribute to a stronger lawn.

Mow at the appropriate height for your particular grass rather than cutting it excessively short. Water deeply when needed rather than giving the lawn frequent, shallow drinks. Avoid unnecessary stress during periods of heat or drought.

Healthy turf is better equipped to compete for sunlight, moisture, and nutrients.

Don’t Forget About Aeration

If your lawn needs aeration, think about that timing before applying pre-emergent.

Aeration opens the soil and improves the movement of water and air into the root zone—but it can also disturb the protective barrier created by a pre-emergent herbicide.

For that reason, Clemson Extension recommends completing necessary aeration before applying pre-emergent rather than afterward.

A little planning can help you accomplish both jobs without working against yourself.

Watch the Weather

September in Charleston can still feel very much like summer. Don’t be surprised if your lawn remains actively growing while you’re already thinking about fall.

The arrival of cooler nights is what matters most for fall pre-emergent timing.

Keep an eye on the forecast as September progresses. When those nighttime temperatures begin settling into the appropriate range, you’ll know that it is time to be prepared.

A Little Preparation Goes a Long Way

The best lawn-care projects are often the ones that happen before there is a problem.

A few minutes spent planning your fall weed-control strategy now can mean fewer winter weeds, less hand-pulling, and a healthier-looking lawn when spring arrives.

And if you’re unsure which product is appropriate for your grass, when to apply it, or how to coordinate lawn treatments with other fall projects, don’t guess.

Stop by Hyams Garden Center. We’re here to help you choose the right products and approach for your Lowcountry lawn so you can enjoy a beautiful landscape from summer through fall—and into the seasons ahead.