ROANOKE, Va. – It might be a little cold out to be thinking about your gardening, but it is something you want to start planning for to make sure you get the most out of your flowers.
Mark Hodges from Mike’s Country Market and Greenhouse recommends paying attention to your soil, how much you water your plants and how much sun exposure they get before deciding what flowers are best for you.
In early April, if you want to get a head start on your gardening, Hodges said you can always start your flowers in a container and just make sure that you bring them inside if the temperatures start to drop.
If you are someone who would rather wait because you don’t want to be moving your plants around, he suggested waiting until there is a solid ten-day forecast of warm weather. “Most of what we sell are perennials and annuals. We do a lot of color annuals, a lot of hanging baskets. Most of that it is going to be too early to plant.”
If you are looking for a popular local flower that grows well in Southwest Virginia, Hodges recommended hydrangeas. They come in all different colors from blue, purple, pink, and white. However, to see more vibrant colors, you will want to pay attention to what is in your soil.
“It all has to do with soil pH. For a beautiful blue, you want a lower soil pH. We sell some aluminum sulfate if you ever have problems with them, you can use a fertilizer for that and it will lower the soil pH and you will get a better blue,” said Hodges.
When it comes to making a flower display, you will want to consider the amount of sunlight your flowers will receive. Different flowers grow better in part sun or part shade. Begonias and Ferns are plants that require a little less sunlight.
If you are looking for a low-maintenance flower, that is easy to take care of, Hodges recommends geraniums.
Lastly, Hodges says if you have any questions, to reach out to your local greenhouse for the best answers.
According to our weather team, the best time to start gardening is in the middle of April.