Mother’s
Day Sale & April Newsletter
Hibiscus
and More would like to honor all the gardening mother’s that have visited the
web site throughout the years. We would like to thank each and every visitor
with my Mother’s Day sale. This year’s Mother’s Day Sale is dedicated to
my mother, June Meola, who taught me the passion and love of gardening. My
mother is one of the reasons we started the web site: Hibiscus and More because
I wanted to share my passion in gardening and growing plants to a larger
audience, the World Wide Web. The goal of Hibiscus and More is to provide
honest and up to date gardening advice, and to provide high quality plants and
gardening merchandise at a reasonable price.
Spring
Chores For April and May:
We have
had an unusual hard, cold winter this year, and spring is a little late. We
have had a few reports that numerous plants are about a month behind in
their usual bloom date. Gardening friends in GA informs us that as of 3-21-2010
the Daffodils and Forsythias are just starting out, and only the Bradford Pears
with flowers. I lived in GA for 10 years and my mother’s Daffodils always
bloomed in early February.
Plant: Spring is one of the best
times to look for trees, shrubs, and roses. Numerous flowering shrubs and trees
are in bud or full bloom in your area, and certain species of plants are only
offered during spring.
Roses: Your roses should be
trimmed between February 12 – 20; if you have not pruned your hybrid tea roses
it is not too late to trim them now. For more information on trimming, caring,
and fertilizing your roses click on my blog.
Vegetable
Gardening: Garden
center retailers are still reporting skyrocketing sales for vegetable starts
and seeds this year versus last year’s sales. Start planning and planting
your vegetable garden now to reap the rewards of homegrown vegetables, if you
are thinking about having a vegetable garden this year, today is the time to
start. Vegetables can also, be planted in large containers or raised planter
beds. Put on your gardening gloves and reap the rewards and benefits of a spring vegetable
garden. According to gardening experts, the second week in April is the time to
start planting: Tomatoes, Peppers, Eggplant, Beans, Corn, Squash, and
Cucumbers. For more information on vegetable gardening click on my blog.
Color
Annuals: April
or May is the month to start thinking about replacing your cool weather color
annuals with spring and summer annuals. Here are a few of my favorites:
Caladiums, Celosia, Coleus, Cosmos, Dahlberg Daisy, Dusty Miller, Gazania,
Geranium, Gerbera Daisy, Ivy Geranium, Lantana, Marigolds, Mexican Sunflower,
Moss Rose, Periwinkle, Petunia, Primrose, Purslane, Salvia, Snapdragons,
Verbena, Wax Begonia, and Zinnia. All of the annuals mentioned can be planted
in soil or in containers.
Bulbs: This year our spring bulbs
maybe a little late because of our unusual cold winter, but if you
have spring bulbs that are still blooming or starting to bloom you may want to
enjoy a few of the flowers as fresh cuts indoors. On all perennial bulbs, let
the foliage die back naturally, as the foliage dies the bulb transports
the nutrients from the foliage to the bulb and will use the nutrients from the
foliage and stores these nutrients to the bulb for next year’s growth and
flowers. As the foliage dies, it may look untidy and displeasing. To alleviate
this annoyance, you can pull up the foliage in a bunch and then roll the
foliage down as you would a paper bag, and then tie the rolled-up foliage with
a rubber band.
Shrubs: Trim your spring
flowering shrubs after they finish blooming and fertilize with the appropriate
plant food.
Azaleas: Once your azaleas
finish blooming trim back to shape. Azaleas bloom on last year’s growth so it
is important to trim your Azaleas no later than the middle of June. Azalea’s
set their blooms during the fall months, and this is one reason to trim your
Azaleas during the time frame that is provided. After pruning your Azaleas, you
need to fertilize them with an Azalea plant food and also add a new layer of
mulch. Instead of throwing your spent coffee or tea grounds away your Azaleas
will benefit from sprinkling the grounds around your Azalea bushes, and any
acid loving plant such as Ferns, Tropicals, Junipers, Boxwoods, Camellias,
Rhododendrons, and Hollies.
Hibiscus
Care: Time to
Go Outdoors. Once the weather warms up in your area, to 40 - 50 degrees,
you can start acclimatizing your Hibiscus by placing it in the shade
outdoors and then slowly move the plant to partial shade and finally to full
sun. With the unusual weather we have been experiencing this spring bring your
prized Hibiscus plant back indoors if you get freeze warnings. Now would be a
good time to fertilize and prune your Hibiscus. Follow the recommended
fertilizer rates listed on the label. Pruning encourages a bushier plant.
Houseplants: April is the time to move
your houseplants outdoors and place them in an area that is full shade. The
temperatures should be around 45-50 degrees at night before moving them
outdoors. After a few weeks you can move them to an area that receives filtered
shade, in other words, morning light, afternoon shade. This is also, the time
to check for any bugs on your plant. Be sure to check underneath the leaves,
and if you see those pesky critters on your prized houseplants spray with an
insecticidal soap or horticulture oil.
Hibiscus
and More’s Mother Day Sale Is To Honor Mother’s Around The World and we are Offering
A Wonderful Sale Of Gardening Themed Products. To insure on time delivery by
Mother’s Day all purchases should be ordered no later than April 25.
Give the
gift of flowers that will last forever floral fine art prints. Do you see a print
that is sold out? Are you looking for a flower or foliage print not listed?
Send an email to Cheryl@hibiscusandmore.com to order.
Happy
Mother’s Day From Hibiscus And More. ©Cheryl Meola 2022.
