Summer Gardens in New Orleans
Plant to your heart's delight using these garden tips for a bountiful home garden that lasts from spring through the dog days of summer.
What is your picture-perfect summer garden? Whether you're experienced or new to gardening, proper preparation and planning are key to a successful home garden in New Orleans.
Dr. Joe Willis, an Agricultural and Natural Resources agent in New Orleans, stated the mantra "Right plant. Right place. Right time." is the secret to a flourishing summer garden. "First, assess where you are going to plant—whether in the ground, raised beds, or containers," suggested Dr. Willis.
He stressed the importance of starting with a soil test, which can be mailed to the LSU AgCenter, located at 104 Sturgis Hall in Baton Rouge, for a cost of $11."Soil plays a huge part in the growth and development of your plants," said Dr. Willis. "You can get the results within seven days on either the native soil or the soil in the containers, including a potting mix."
For the next step, Dr. Willis posed the question, "How much sun does your garden get?" He recommends monitoring sunlight exposure at various times throughout the day. "Generally, the east side of the house will get the morning sun, the west side of the house will get the evening sun, and the south side will get the all-day sun. By knowing the location and amount of sunlight, you can get a list of all the plants to put in your garden including annuals, perennials, or even a mix."
Another part of planning your summer garden entails selecting a color scheme, whether with a few colors or variations of one. "A mass planting of a single color looks best," Dr. Willis said. "You can also mix a mass of another color to create big swatches of color."
Fill in the beds with mulch to a depth of two to three inches, he suggested. "Putting mulch in your garden like pine or straw will help maintain the soil's moisture and keep the weeds down. A light-colored mulch is best during the summer to help the soil stay cooler."
Equally important for your garden's growth is choosing a water source and irrigation system. "Avoid overhead water systems," Dr. Willis said. "Water the soil by hose because you use less water and wet foliage tends to get disease." He explained that the only way plants absorb water is at the roots.
Lastly, Dr. Willis noted that sun-loving annuals are easy to grow and add curb appeal to your garden during the hot summer months. "Annuals are really popular in New Orleans," Dr. Willis said. "You only have to plant them twice a year and you have color all year round."
LSU AgCenter Horticulture Extension Agent Anna Timmerman agreed. She advised to clean out beds during the month of May as cool-season annuals such as foxglove, pansies, and petunias finish then plant warm-season annuals.
Types of Flowers
Timmerman mentioned planting vibrant flowers including torenia, coleus, verbena, lantana, pentas, salvia, impatiens, geraniums, begonias, and cleomes. More heat-loving flowers that require little to no maintenance or effort include sunflowers, monarda, rudbeckias, and hibiscus. "We are very lucky in that flower gardening is a year-round pursuit here in New Orleans, " Timmerman said. "Most gardeners use May as a good transition time."
If you want to incorporate roses into your garden, Paul Soniat, a horticulturist and former director of the New Orleans Botanical Gardens, recommended planting Knock Out roses. "During the summer, Knock Out roses are prolific bloomers and disease resistant," Soniat said. "They can be planted at any time. Also, old garden roses are much easier to care for during the summer. They don't get disease or insects, and these roses blend well with the landscape."
Soniat noted that some flowers, such as daisies, are pollinators, while others serve as host plants. "If you have milkweed in your garden, monarch butterflies will come to lay their eggs on this host plant," Soniat said. "Likewise, swallowtail butterflies like citrus, fennel, and dill to lay their eggs."
While some flowers attract butterflies, Dr. Willis stated that long tubular flowers can draw hummingbirds to your garden. "You can find lists of butterfly, honey bee, and hummingbird-attracting plants online. Pre-planting is the best way to be successful with your summer garden."
Garden Vegetables
May is also an ideal time to plan and prepare your summer vegetable garden. Leo Gorman, farm manager of the Grow Dat Youth Farm in City Park, begins the planting phase of their market crops around March 15 through mid-September.
"Crops that will germinate and thrive in the heat are tomatoes, eggplant, and peppers," Gorman said. "Vining crops like watermelon, cantaloupe, cucumbers, and squash are plentiful during the summer months. Even winter squash is a heat-loving squash that grows in the summer and is harvested in the fall. Basil and okra grow well in the heat, too."
Gorman, a farmer with 13 years of experience, advised home vegetable gardeners to follow this good rule of thumb: plant in full sun, in well-drained soil, and amend with organic fertilizer to combat seasonal challenges such as heat, drought, excessive flooding, disease, and pests.
Whether you're a gardening pro or a beginner, thoughtful planning, mindful plant choices, and well-prepared garden beds will produce the best results. "Summer is the most difficult and least productive time to garden in the Deep South," Timmerman commented. "Choose the proper plants and cultivars recommended for the season. Garden centers will often offer many plants out of season, but a little research can help guide your planting choices tremendously. Timing is the best weapon a gardener has in creating beautiful gardens here."
