Southern Homes & Gardens Blog

It might be hotter than we would all like it out there, but all the more reason to adhere to some important summer “to-do’s”!

• Plant hydrangeas and crape myrtles - they’re blooming, so it’s easy to see what color you’re planting!
• Water your lawn in the early morning.  Turf will have time to dry off before nightfall, preventing disease.
• Fertilize beds with Miracle Gro Liqui Feed or Shake & Feed.
• Right now is your last chance to plant bulbs such as cannas, dahlias, elephant ears and tuberoses.
• If the soil is excessively wet or dry, do not fertilize.
• Prune arborvitaes, junipers, yews and hemlocks.
• Now is your last chance to fertilize camellias and other broadleaf evergreens.
• Remove the foliage on your spring blooming bulbs when the leaves have completely died back.
• Cut back bearded iris and divide.  Keep Japanese iris watered.
• Weed ‘em and reap!  Pull weeds from planting areas as they occur.  Don’t allow them to bloom or seed.  Removing a few weeds now will save you a lot of work later. 
• Watch for harmful insects and disease problems and treat the plants as necessary.
• During dry weather, be sure to keep the garden adequately watered.  A deep, thorough soaking is more beneficial than a light sprinkling.
• Add SoilMoist to the soil in pots.  The granules absorb water and release it as needed.

It might be May, but there is always something to be doing to keep your garden & landscape looking fresh & alive - who said the grass has to be greener on the OTHER side?  Just follow some simple tips to keep your side of the fence looking happy & healthy:

·         Still plenty of time to plant annuals and perennials for spring and summer color.  Check out our blooming annual flats, now just $9.96 per flat with your Garden Rewards card (while supplies last).

·         Fertilize and water tomatoes regularly.  

·         Plant tropical vines at your mailboxes for bright flowers all summer. Good choices include mandevilla, bougainvillea and allamanda. 

·         Freshen the mulch in your planting areas. During warm weather, mulches help to regulate the soil temperature, conserve moisture in the soil and control weeds. 

·         Begin succession planting of hot weather annuals such as zinnias, marigolds, celosia and portulaca in May and continue through the month of June.  

·         Pinch back annuals to encourage bushy, compact growth. Annuals appreciate a continual supply of nutrients. Begin to fertilize them on a regular basis.  We like to fertilize with Miracle Gro All Purpose Plant Food.

·         Great time to plant long-blooming perennials like Daylilies, Purple Coneflowers, Shasta Daisies and Gaura.  Selected perennials are now 30% off with your Garden Rewards card (while supplies last).

·         Continue to plant perennials throughout the month of May.

·         When ground temperature is 70 degrees F, begin planting vegetables such as: okra, pumpkins, sweet potato, eggplant, pepper plants, watermelon, peas and butter beans.

·         Use weed killer on lawns – our pick is Image.

·         Fertilize roses in May to encourage a second bloom, and continue feeding them on schedule through the month of June with Espoma Rose Tone. Prune ramblers in June.

·         Fertilize azaleas with Miracle Gro All Natural & Organic Holly Food as soon as they finish blooming. 

·         Fertilize flower beds with Dynamite or Osmocote.  

·         Fertilize March vegetables with a balanced fertilizer such as Espoma Garden Tone.  

·         Use Ironite on shrubs and trees to promote healthy color and maximize root growth.

It’s that special time of year again, where we not only honor our mothers on Mother’s Day (Sunday May 9th), but where we team up with the Red Cross of Central Alabama to put on the annual “Taste of the Gardens”!  Join us tonight at the Vaughn Rd store location from 5-8pm and enjoy an evening filled with wine, tasty treats from Montgomery’s finest restaurants & caterers, bid on our silent auction items - all while benefiting the Red Cross! 

Tickets are $15 per guest and are available at:

Both Southern Homes & Gardens store locations

8820 Vaughn Road  /  3561 Wetumpka Highway

American Red Cross 

5015 Woods Crossing  OR by calling (334) 260-4017

You might be wondering with all of these natural disasters happening recently (floods, tornados & earthquakes) how in the world you can help those in need, or how you can make a difference.  By attending “Taste of the Gardens”, all proceeds from ticket sales & the silent auction go directly to the Red Cross - and directly into those in need.  It’s devastating enough to watch disasters on the news, but worse if it was happening to you & your family.  Knowing the Red Cross is here & ready to aid with disasters can certainly be relief mentally & physically. 

Did You Know…

The American Red Cross helps people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies. Last year, almost a million volunteers and 35,000 employees helped victims of almost 75,000 disasters; taught lifesaving skills to millions; and helped U.S. service members separated from their families stay connected.  Almost 4 million people gave blood through the Red Cross, the largest U.S. supplier of blood and blood products.  The American Red Cross is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.  An average of 91 cents of every dollar the Red Cross spends is invested in humanitarian services and programs.  The Red Cross is not a government agency; it relies on donations of time, money, and blood to do its work. 

(from www.arc.org)

If you haven’t been into see us recently then you’re missing out on some fantastic NEW spring goodies!  Here are some of our favorite picks for Spring:

In the Garden:

3gal Single Red Knock Out Roses - $9.99 (reg. $19.99)

Southern Favorites Perennials - 20% off

(Dianthus, Hosta, Scabiosa, Heuchera, Shasta Daisy, Guara, Rubeckia & Verbena)

In the Home Store:

We’ve got so many cute & stylish items that are rolling in our backdoor…we know you’ll be just as tickled to have them!

Monogrammed Hand Towels & Bath Wraps!

Mainstreet Collection:  Totes, Lunch Totes, Laptop Cases, Cosmetic Bags & more

Mud Pie:  Coasters, Trivets, Note Pads, Cheese Plates & More!

Mainstreet Collection:   Accessories & Clutches

Mainstreet Collection:  Spring Croc Purses

So, when would the perfect opportunity be to shop all of these FUN items?  This Thursday, of course for our Ladies Night Out!  Join us at the Vaughn Rd location on Thursday April 29th from 4-7pm for light hors d’ oeuvres by The Fresh Market, a free wine tasting by Derk’s Filet & Vine, special door prizes from Metro Fitness and Southern Homes & Gardens too!  We’re also upping the ante by offering all our special guests 20% off the ENTIRE store (April 29th 4-7pm - Vaughn Rd location only)!

It’s sure to be a spectacular evening out, so leave the husbands or babysitters in charge & grab your favorite gal pals for Ladies Night Out!

Truth be told, we’ve got a LOT going on this spring!  We’ve got the start of warmer, sunnier days - which means happier plants & planting weather!  We couldn’t be more excited as we’ve got lots of great blooming color, hanging baskets, sun-loving plants, shade-loving plants & more.  Got a specific look in mind?  Ask our staff experts on how to achieve it - we LOVE to help!  We’ve even created a few container recipes that are true no-brainers when it comes to creating a “wow” factor - check out our “Contain Yourself: Gardens-2-Go!” display!  We’ve got ever-changing recipes for sun-loving plants and recipes for shade-loving plants too!

Sun-Loving Recipe:  “The Julie”

Shade-Loving Recipe:  “The Taylor”

What’s Thriller, Filler & Spiller mean?

Thriller:  Just as the name implies, thrillers are meant to be big, attention-getting star players.  They are usually tall, upright plants, with outstanding qualities such as colorful foliage, intriguing shape, or dramatic flowers that last all season long.

Filler:  The fillers are billowy, more finely textured plants that surround and weave through the thriller.  Fillers add mass to the overall composition and, more importantly, establish a dialogue wiht the thriller.  Fillers add a textural contrast or colorful counterpoint.  Position these fillers around the thriller and use a mix of plants for this job - some with foliar interest, others with flowers.

Spiller:  The main role of a spiller, however, is to sprawl over the side of the container, softening its edges and tumbling toward the ground.  Well-chosen spillers continue the dialogue begun by the thriller and filler.  To deepen that conversation, look for spillers that echo or contrast with the pot’s other plants by virtue of shape, color or texture.

What else is new?  Check out our new newsletter, available in-stores now:  Inspirations!

Our March/April 2010 issue is packed full of great advice & tips for everything spring-planting!  Stop by your closest store location to pick one up today!

Annual Flats - Our Favorite Picks for Blooming Spring Color….just $9.96 per flat!

Impatiens:  One of our most popular bedding plants!  Their small size makes them easy to fit into any shady spot in a container, at the front of a border, along a walkway or any place you want to add a splash of season-long color.  Pinch the growing tips of young stems as you plant them to encourage them to branch.  Once they’re planted, care is simple.  Just keep them watered and you don’t even have to deadhead them as they self-clean!

Size:  6-8″ tall

Bloom Time:  Spring & Fall

Light:  Light Sun to Full Shade

Soil:  Moist, well-drained

Begonias:  From the glossy foliage, to the clusters of large flowers that weigh down the long stems from summer to fall, the Begonia is wonderful to put in a mixed container or in the landscape as a mass planting.  Begonias prefer shade and if you make sure they don’t get that hot afternoon sun you will see the foliage color will be deeper and the flowers brighter!

Size:  12-18″ tall

Bloom Time:  Spring to Fall

Light:  Light Sun to Shade

Soil:  Well-drained

Petunias:  Most people have grown petunias at one time or another and there is a great reason!  They are easy to care for and have brilliant colors all season long.  Mid-summer when Petunias might get a little leggy, just cut them back - making it more compact adn full of flowers.  It’s easy, just trim the stems back as much as half when they get too long, then feed them with an all-purpose liquid fertilizer like MiracleGro’s LiquiFeed.

Size:  8-12″ tall  /  24-36″ wide

Bloom Time:  Spring to Fall

Light:  Full Sun

Soil:  Well-drained

Marigolds:  There is not much that is more cheery than a marigold - even to a butterfly!  Perhaps they like the warm colors o fyellow, gold, orange & creamy white.  Make sure you keep them well watered during the heat of the summer to keep them from wilting or drooping, this keeps the insects out too.  Deadheading is important if you want to keep color and the nectar flowing.  Once a week, snap off the spent blooms and you will have color all season long.

Size:  6-30″ tall

Bloom Time:  Spring to Summer

Light:  Full Sun

Soil:  Moist, well-drained

Don’t forget that you’ll NEVER pay tax on items that we grow - just look for the Southern Favorites logo!

What’s Going on RIGHT NOW at SH&G? 

Spring Open House of course - shop storewide sales on plants, patio & more today & tomorrow only (Saturday March 27th, 8am - 6pm / Sunday March 28th, 12noon-5pm). 

Check out our bustling Calendar of Events on our website for upcoming free seminars & weekend events!

Brr! It’s safe to say that winter has officially arrived in the area this past week - it looks like the frigid temps & biting wind are here to stay for awhile. Just as you bundle up to protect yourself from the cold & frost, learn how to keep your plants happy & protected from winter’s harsh elements too…

• Covering exposed plants with a sheet or plastic offers excellent protection.  By doing so, it will ward off cold winds & frost damage.  Make sure to ’seal’ the base of the covering with soil.  If covering with plastic, make sure to shade the plastic so to keep the temperature from building up inside.  The plastic will trap moisture & warm air as it radiates from the soil.  Once the weather moderates or it begins to rain, remove the covering completely.
• Shade plants from direct winter sun, especially early morning sun.  Plants that freeze slowly and thaw slowly will be damaged the least.
• Mulching is a great way to protect plant roots - bark, straw, sawdust, peat moss, leaves & even grass clippings can be used.  Once the threat of harsh weather has passed, mulching materials can be removed.
• Light Snow Cover is actually one of Mother Nature’s best blankets of protection.  Up to 2-3″ of snow not only insulates the ground around your plants, it also provides a blanket of protection over the leaves.

Here’s a few more good to-do’s in regards to container gardens, evergreens & roses:

• Bring ‘em inside if at all possible to your garage (but avoid placing the containers in a heated room).  Once the weather improves, go ahead and place them back outside.  Containers are especially prone to freezing & frost damage since they are exposed to air on all four sides, but the bottom as well - so make sure not to neglect them.  If the planted container is too large or heavy to move into the garage, simply mulch around the sides of the container, or wrap the container with blankets (we know it’s not attractive, but it works!)
• Evergreens should be protected by reducing water loss.  Since plants transpire water through their leaves, evergreens continue to lose water during the wintertime - therefore, moisture must be taken up through the roots.  We typically think of watering shrubs during the summer months, but don’t neglect the chore just because it’s cold.  The roots will absorb the moisture when available - but if the ground is frozen (or it’s a dry period) the moisture won’t be available.
• Roses can be protected by mulching up over the base of the rose canes (depth of 8″-12″).  Once the weather has mediated, remove the mulch protection.  Most climbing roses are very hardy and rarely need covering protection.

We enjoy hearing from our customers, so if you have questions we’d love to answer them for you - simply give us a call or stop by at either store location & ask to be connected with one of our Nursery or Greenhouse experts.

East Montgomery: 8820 Vaughn Rd. /  Tel: (334) 387-0440

Wetumpka:  3561 Wetumpka Hwy. /  Tel:  (334) 277-6746

We debuted our Quick & Easy Decor Package last season & it was met with cheers & excitement - so, we’ve brought it back this season! If you love the tradition of a fresh-cut Christmas tree, then this decorating package is for you. We’ve rolled all the Christmas decorating necessities into a simple bundle that will make the holiday transition enjoyable & painless! Breathe in a sigh of relief this year (& get a fabulous fresh dose of fresh-cut trees, wreaths & garland!) by purchasing our Quick & Easy Decor Package - just $99.99 with your Garden Rewards card while supplies last!

Quick & Easy Decor Package includes:
-one Fresh-cut Fraser Fir Christmas Tree (6-8ft)
-one 10ft Fresh-cut Fraser Fir Garland
-one Fresh-cut Fraser Fir Wreath (bow not included)
-two 7″ Poinsettias (pot covers not included)

By purchasing the bundle, you’re saving up to $42.00 with your Garden Rewards card (savings may vary depending on the tree height chosen).

Thanksgiving means lots of wonderful things to all of us - gathering together with friends & family to celebrate all our special blessings & abundances. For some, it triggers fond memories of overeating, football games & officially kicking off the Christmas season with shopping! Rather than fighting the swarms & masses on the dreaded “Black Friday” (day after Thanksgiving) we’re offering our week-long shopping extravaganza (Monday Nov.23rd - Monday Nov. 30th) we’ve fondly entitled the Thanksgiving Blowout Sale! As Montgomery’s premiere Christmas store, we’ve got hundreds of ornaments for decorating or gifting, delightful decor, ribbon, trees & more! We think you’ll really love the savings too…talk about something to be thankful for!

30-50% off All Ornaments!

Selected Christmas Decor up to 50% off!

25% off All Undecorated Life-Like Wreaths & Garlands!

50% off ALL Life-Like Christmas Trees!

Fresh-Cut Fraser Fir Trees, Wreaths & Garlands are here too!

Don’t forget to shop for the perfect gift to give friends & family - everyday home decor, accessories, purses, bags, lunch totes, & more are abound at our Vaughn Road store location.

Find the area’s BEST selection of patio furniture at both our store locations - what’s even better? It’s ALL on sale (excludes previous purchases & special orders)! What a perfect gift to enjoy year-round! Style & selection may vary upon store location.

ALL Patio Furniture is 50% off!

ALL Fountains & Birdbaths 30% off!

(Style & selection may vary upon store location)

*All discounts & sale prices good with Garden Rewards card November 23-30th, or while supplies last. Discounts may not be combined with any other discount or offer. Excludes previous purchases & special orders.

Yes, it’s definitely that time of year! Just because Halloween is right around the corner, doesn’t mean you have to put off dreaming of decorating your home for the Thanksgiving & Christmas holidays - we love this season just as much as you do, so why not celebrate it by putting together your decorating plan of action? Join us tomorrow morning at 10am (just in time for that second or third cup of morning coffee) and come get all the latest tips & tricks from our staff experts! Bring a friend for a fun morning out!

The weather forecast couldn’t look better, so while you’re visiting us, be sure to shop the LOWEST prices on pansies in town…and don’t forget, you’ll never pay tax on items we grow!

Last but not least, if you’ve been thinking of getting that new patio furniture, it’s your last weekend to save 50% off ALL patio furniture (discount good with Garden Rewards card only)….so hurry in for the best selection!

The Fall Sales Event:
Friday October 2nd: 9am - 6pm
Saturday October 3rd: 8am - 6pm
Sunday October 4th: 12noon - 5pm

Fall Planting season is here, which means we’re inviting you to join us for our annual Fall Sales Event beginning today thru Sunday October 4th! We’re bringing you our LOWEST plant prices in 20 years - we have over 50 items at below wholesale prices too. Now is the best time to stock up on all those great trees, shrubs, bedding plants & more that will transform your landscapes, beds & containers into a beautiful Fall backdrop. By saving up to 70% on so many great plants, it’s hard to resist!

We’re proud to offer our Garden Rewards members 20% off our ENTIRE STORE* as well! We have great items that are still in-stock for Fall home decor - wreath, doormats, tabletop decor & more!
*Non-sale items only. Not valid on previous purchases or special orders.

All Patio Furniture is now 50% off! Thankfully, we are located in the South, which means mild weather during the fall & winter seasons - perfect to still enjoy the outdoors! Select from our high quality cast aluminum sets or our all-weather resin wicker sets - with many different styles to choose from, we’ll surely have what you’re looking for.

The Savannah Collection