Hyams Garden Center and Accent Store

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

Gardening Supplies

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Shrub of the Year 2026

🌺 2026 Shrub of the Year: The Azalea

Where Southern Charm Meets Botanical Brilliance

Every year, a few plants step out of the wings and onto center stage. For shrubs — 2026 belongs wholeheartedly to the Azalea. Chosen as the National Garden Bureau’s “Year of the Azalea,” this flowering shrub is finally getting the spotlight it has always deserved.

Beloved across the American South — from manicured Charleston gardens to woodland borders glowing in spring — the azalea isn’t just a shrub. It is a season unto itself.

🌿 What Makes the Azalea 2026-Worthy?

A Symphony of Spring Color — blooms in coral, salmon, lavender, fuchsia, snow-white and everything in between

A Masterclass in Versatility — thrives in containers, woodland gardens, foundation beds, and formal borders

A Gift That Keeps Growing — many varieties return faithfully year after year, rewarding patient gardeners with decades of blossoms

🌸 Symbolism: The Poetry of the Azalea

Historically, azaleas have symbolized home, warmth, and abundance — the floral equivalent of a front-porch welcome and a pitcher of sweet tea.

They’ve also been associated with temperance and elegance, making them the perfect addition to gardens that want not only beauty, but grace.

🪴 A Whisper of Botanical Instruction

Azaleas prefer:

Dappled light — like sunbeams filtered through oak branches

Acidic soil — add peat moss or pine needles for a happy plant

Mulched roots — think of it like a cozy quilt for your shrub

A gardener who tends an azalea is really tending patience. Plant them, care for them just a little — and they will reward you exuberantly.

✨ A Dash of Whimsy

If azaleas could speak, they would say:

“We bloom when we’re good and ready…

and when we do, we intend to be unforgettable.”

And that — dear gardener — is precisely why the azalea is our 2026 shrub of honor.

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It is Pre-Emergent Season in Charleston

🌱 It’s Pre-Emergent Season in Charleston! 🌱

Now is the perfect time to protect your lawn from unwanted weeds before they even have a chance to sprout. In Charleston’s Lowcountry climate, applying a pre-emergent weed control in late summer through early fall is essential for keeping your grass looking lush and healthy all season long.

Why Apply Pre-Emergent Now?

Pre-emergent herbicides don’t kill existing weeds—they stop new ones from germinating. That means timing is everything. Once temperatures begin to drop from summer highs but before fall weeds germinate, your lawn is most vulnerable. Treating now helps prevent cool-season invaders like annual bluegrass, chickweed, henbit, and other broadleaf weeds from taking root.

Tips for Best Results:

Apply early: Don’t wait until you see weeds—it will be too late. Apply while soil is still warm, typically late August through September in Charleston.

Water it in: A light watering (or a good rain) after application activates the product and ensures it penetrates the soil surface.

Mow before, not after: Mowing before application helps the herbicide reach the soil without interference.

Reapply if needed: For longer protection, a follow-up treatment in 6–8 weeks may be recommended, depending on the product.

Protect Your Lawn Investment

Healthy lawns don’t happen by accident—they’re cared for season by season. A well-timed pre-emergent application saves you the frustration of battling weeds later and keeps your grass thriving through the cooler months.

Stop by Hyams Garden Center to find the right pre-emergent for your specific lawn type and get expert advice on application. Let’s keep Charleston lawns beautiful together!

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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.