Hyams Garden Center and Accent Store

Serving Greater Charleston Area with Quality, Variety & Professionalism since 1981

Gardening Supplies

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Plant of the Year 2025

Brunnera Macrophylla ‘Jack of Diamonds’ is the Plant of the Year for 2025, celebrated for its bold foliage and charming spring blooms. This shade-loving perennial features large, silver leaves with dramatic dark green veins, offering a striking visual appeal in gardens. In mid-to-late spring, its delicate baby blue, forget-me-not-like flowers add a touch of elegance, making it a perfect choice for shaded borders and woodland settings.

This plant may face challenges in Charleston’s climate, as it prefers cooler conditions and partial to full shade. While it can grow in USDA zones 3-8, Charleston (in zone 8b) might be on the warmer edge of its tolerance. If planted, it should be placed in shaded areas with consistently moist soil and protection from the intense summer heat to ensure its health.

Brunnera Macrophylla ‘Jack of Diamonds’:

  1. Placement: Plant in a shaded or partially shaded area, such as under trees or on the north side of buildings, to protect it from intense afternoon sun.
  2. Soil: Ensure the soil is rich, consistently moist, and well-draining. Add organic mulch around the plant base to retain moisture and regulate soil temperature.
  3. Watering: Keep the soil evenly moist but not waterlogged, especially during Charleston’s hot summers.
  4. Heat Protection: Use a layer of mulch to cool the roots and reduce water evaporation. Provide extra shade during the peak summer months if necessary.
  5. Maintenance: Prune back dead leaves and spent flowers to maintain its appearance. Monitor for slugs, which can be a problem in moist environments.

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Pre-emergent Application to Keep your Lawn Weed Free and Grass Green

It is time to start planning for spring weed prevention and grass greening up. The advantage of applying a pre-emergent herbicide is that it is able to prevent the seeds of those pesky spring weeds from even getting started. Remember, DO NOT APPLY A PRE-EMERGENT HERBICIDE IF YOU PLAN TO SEED YOUR YARD. It will have the same effect on grass seed! In general terms the times to apply pre-emergent herbicides are Valentine’s Day to prevent spring weeds, Memorial Day to prevent summer weeds and Labor Day to prevent winter weeds.

Spring application is most effective when the pre-emergent is applied as daytime temperatures reach 65-70° F for 4 consecutive days. That is usually between February 14th and March 1st.  Herbicide should then be watered in with half an inch (½”) of water to activate. The type of pre-emergent to use should be based on what type of weeds you have. Scotts Halts works very well on crabgrass and other grassy weeds. The 10 lbs bag will cover up to 5000 square feet and should not be applied to landscaped beds. By the way, the Scotts product is now called WeedEx with Halts.  Hi-Yield Turf & Ornamental Weed & Grass Stopper works well to prevent many broadleaf and grassy weeds, including crabgrass, and can be used on landscape plants listed on the label. The 12 lbs bag will cover up to 3500 sq. ft. An organic option would be Espoma Weed Preventer made from corn gluten. A 25 lbs bag covers 1200 square feet. It has some nitrogen as a fertilizer component in it too. We have several other options, bring in pictures or samples of the problems you are dealing with when you visit Hyams Garden Center diagnostic desk and we’ll figure out the best course of action.

As you move into late March early April, you will see the warm season grasses start to green up. Please resist the urge to apply a weed and feed at that time, as the post emergent component and the high nitrogen levels could easily burn the new growth. After you have cut the grass a couple of times an application of a slow release lawn fertilizer such as Ferti-lome 15-0-15 Centipede Lawn Fertilizer will help the grass to green up slowly, not burning the new growth or contributing to fungus problems. The 20 lbs bag will fertilize up to 5000 square feet. Once fully greened up and actively growing, you can apply a weed and feed such as Ferti-lome 15-0-4, St. Augustine Weed and Feed or Bayer 35-0-3 3 in 1 Weed and Feed for your Memorial Day application. Be sure to read the labels of all these products and follow the direction carefully.

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Ornamental Pots and Containers at Hyams

Hyams Garden Center carries a wide variety of pots and containers for indoor and outdoor gardening.

Made from the finest ceramic, terracotta, concrete and composite materials; and available in multiple styles and colors, these decorative containers are sure to enhance the beauty of your Low Country garden.

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Lawn Maintenance

Hey everyone, I hope you’re having a great Spring! If you haven’t fertilized yet, the time is here. It looks like everyone’s grass has greened up enough to tolerate an application of Ferti-lome 15-0-15 Centipede Lawn Fertilizer or something similar. It is a good formulation to ease all warm season grasses into fully greening up including St. Augustine, Zoyzia and Bermuda. Please hold off using any “weed and feed” products as the herbicide component could burn the new grass shoots. A strong healthy grass will choke out many of the weeds you may have now. If needed you could apply a weed and feed after the grass is fully greened up, and we have those on hand. We will have pre-emergents later in the month to apply around Memorial Day to prevent the dreaded Chamberbitter and Virginia Buttonweed. Selective herbicides like Image Kills Nutsedge can be applied after your grass is fully greened to control other problematic weeds. I have had several folks come in with some fungal issues and we have Scotts DiseaseEX on hand as well as a couple of other products. I hope these suggestions help you have a lawn you can be proud of! (Randy Howie)