Hyams Garden Center and Accent Store

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

Gardening Tips

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Fragrant and Beautiful Mosquito Repellent Garden: “A Scarborough Fair!”

There is a long history to the lyrically famous ingredients of “Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme.” Initially, they appeared in an old English folk song about a Medieval festival, “Scarborough Fair,” in Yorkshire, England.  Several centuries later, in the mid 1960’s, Simon & Garfunkel made them popular once again. Prior to the folk hit version of the lyrics, they were also sung as “Savory Sage, Rosemary and Thyme.”

Sage (Salvia officinalis), Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), Thyme (Thymus vulgaris)

Though the jury is still out for what purpose the original herbal mixture was intended, these three plants combined with a few others, can be used to create an intensely fragrant and beautiful space that not only delights “true lovers” of gardens, but repels mosquitos and other annoying pests. Perhaps the organizers of Scarborough Fair wanted to ensure a bug-free festival experience!

The secret is in the scent. Mosquitos and other biting insects seek out their victims by the gases and odors they emit. Sweat and exhaled carbon dioxide are just some of the enticing elements that make us so attractive to Mosquitos, No-see-ums and other biting pests. Creating a garden space with plants capable of giving off scents strong enough to interfere with the insects’ receptors can make it more pleasant for us to spend time out of doors and more difficult for them to enjoy a free lunch!

Along with the melodic trio mentioned above, a beautiful and fragrant mosquito repelling garden can also include Lemon Grass (Cymbopogon citratus), Citronella grass (C. nardus), Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis), Basil (Ocimum basilicum), Catnip (Nepeta cataria), Lavender (Lavendula officinalis), Bee Balm (Monarda spp.), Floss Flower (Ageratum), Marigold (Calendula officinalis), Mint (Mentha spp.), Lantana (Lantana camara),  Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare), Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus cinerea), (E. globulus subsp. Bicostata), (E. vernicosa).

A strong and concentrated amount of the oils present in these plants can help throw these annoying critters off of your scent. Burning or crushing some of these leaves can create an eco-friendly repellent. During an outdoor BBQ, toss a bit of Sage, Rosemary and Lemon Thyme on the grill. While working in the garden, pluck some lavender or mint foliage, crush them together and apply the oil. (Just be aware of any skin allergies before use.)

The best deterrent is to eliminate the environment that benefits the breeding of these insects. Finding and removing sources of standing water is an important first step. Mosquitos can lay 100 eggs at a time. They look for moist conditions that will trigger the growth of the larvae. Potted plants and containers, stagnant ponds, drainage ditches, and abandoned swimming pools are just a few of the common breeding grounds where mosquito and other annoying larvae thrive. Using products containing Pyrethrin (pesticides found naturally in chrysanthemum flowers) or Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt. a bacterium found naturally in soil) are some eco-friendly ways of mitigating mosquito proliferation. Pyrethrins come in a liquid concentrate or premixed liquid form that can be sprayed directly on plants and shrubs. Among other forms, Bt is available in a product known as “Mosquito Dunks” that can be submerged in water. It destroys mosquito larvae before they can become biting adults. It does not harm people, pets, wildlife or fish.

Visit our Hyams Garden Store to see our full line of pesticide products. Take a stroll through Hyams Nursery to experience firsthand the beautiful and fragrant choices available for making your own mosquito repelling garden space.

For more on mosquito repelling gardening visit:
Mosquito-Repellent Plants: Do They Really Work? | The Old Farmer’s Almanac

12 Mosquito Repellent Plants | Garden Design

19 Plants That Repel Mosquitoes (thespruce.com)

Life cycle: the mosquito (cdc.gov)

Lyrics, as published by Frank Kidson, 1891:

“O, where are you going?” “To Scarborough fair,”

    Savoury sage, rosemary, and thyme;

“Remember me to a lass who lives there,

    For once she was a true love of mine.

“And tell her to make me a cambric shirt,

    Savoury sage, rosemary, and thyme,

Without any seam or needlework,

    And then she shall be a true love of mine.

“And tell her to wash it in yonder dry well,

    Savoury sage, rosemary, and thyme,

Where no water sprung, nor a drop of rain fell,

    And then she shall be a true love of mine.”[6]

— Stanzas 1–3

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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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A Bit of Love for Your Roses

Every year, in the month of February, we are given a momentary glimpse of the beauty to come in Spring. Valentine’s Day suddenly surrounds us with bouquets of colorful cut flowers to share with those we love.

For Low Country gardening, Valentine’s Day also signals a good time to share a little tender loving “pruning” care with your rose plants.

It is good to prune while roses are dormant. The months of February and March are usually best. For fertilizing start with ‘rose-tone’ toward the end of February. One can also treat the rose plants with some All Seasons Horticultural Oil Spray to start them off clean from fungus and insects.

For hybrid tea and grandiflora roses, cut back no lower than 18 inches unless they have been damaged by pests or excessively cold weather. Alternating the height of the cuts will give the plant a more natural look.

For floribundas and polyanthas grown as a hedge, shears or hedge clippers can be used to remove one-third to one-half of height. Otherwise, clip back just below where they previously flowered or down to one-third of their length.

Just prior to the growing season, repeat-blooming old garden roses and shrub roses should be pruned. Tip-pruning throughout the growing season will encourage flower-bearing side shoots.

The Roses by Alan L. Strang

            I have roses in my garden,
            And their fragrance fills the air.
            How I love to watch them blooming;
            For they all are very fair.

            Some have deep red velvet petals,
            Some again are snowy white;
            And the little baby pink ones,
            Surely give you such delight.

            Pretty birds come to my garden,
            And sing there the live-long day;
            Yes the birds and pretty flowers
            Help and cheer us on our way.

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Orchid – Flower of the Year 2023

The stunning Orchid is “Flower of the Year” for 2023.

The exotic Orchid has been delighting planet earth with its variety of colors, shapes and species for millennia. It is believed to be among the oldest and largest members of flowering plant families with scientists dating its origins between 76 million to 84 million years ago and its species numbering over 26,000.

In the ancient Chinese, Greek and Roman civilizations they were valued for their medicinal and aesthetic qualities. The Aztecs prized them as a source for warriors’ strength by drinking a mixture of flavoring from the vanilla orchid and cocoa. Today, in Asia, they are frequently displayed during the New Year as symbols of happiness.

Orchids make wonderful gifts for any number of occasions. Their long-lasting blooms delight their recipients with a visual display of exotic, colorful, living art that only Mother Nature could sculpt with such perfection.

We invite you to the Tropical Green House at Hyams Garden Center to experience for yourself the visual symphony our wide variety of Orchids provides.