Budding Out

Loquat Tree

Azalea

By Greg Elmgren, Elmgren’s Garden Center for Richmond Hill Neighbors - Spring is an ideal time for planting in the Southeast. Moderate temperatures and warmer conditions are great for fresh planting, but because winter has come to a close and everyone is excited about getting outdoors to garden, we receive tons of requests from people looking for all kinds of plants, shrubs and trees, some quite obscure and not suitable for this region.

So, we thought we would share with you a few of the best plants to install in your garden, yard, or flower beds that work really well in this climate. All of the following are highly recommended because they are easy to plant, require minimal maintenance and even during our cooler/colder months are considered cold hearty.

Fruit trees such as the Brown Turkey Fig tree are budding out as we speak. They are fast growing and really flourish during the late spring into summer months. They love the warm temperatures and appreciate the high humidity conditions — perfect for producing fruit that can be used for making preserves, jams, pies or delicious to eat right off the tree.

We also recommend Crape Myrtles. They are yet another variety that is easy to plant, maintain and come in a beautiful array of colors — pinks, whites, purples and reds. They give us the greatest amount of color during the summer. If you are specifically looking for color, Azaleas can also be a nice choice that offers a lot of variety.

Loquat trees, or commonly referred to as a Japanese Plum, is another tree that is tropical looking, with showy scented white flowers and does best in full sun. They grow tall, strong and its evergreen foliage emphasizes its winter hardiness. It is fairly drought tolerant, however it is happier with regular watering. They require very little to no pruning.

All of these as well as many more plants, trees and shrubbery are kept in stock at the garden center located in Richmond Hill. Call us today with any questions (912) 756-6726, or stop in and browse our selection.

Crape Myrtle

Crape Myrtle

Brown Turkey Fig Tree

Crape Myrtle