Step 1: Prepare and Dig
Before you do anything else, survey your tools and supplies. Clean and sharpen spades and pruners and replace any broken tools. Have pots and plants organized so you can quickly grab what you need. This is a good time to visit Pike Family Nurseries to get advice from our Certified Plant Professionals and check out our wide assortment of supplies, including Penington pots.

Before you dig, you need to know the type of soil you have. It could be sand, clay or silt. A soil test will help you determine your exact pH, which affects the plants you choose. You don't want to waste time with plants that can't thrive in your type of soil. You can improve on what you have by adding Pike Garden Soil. Or, if your soil is too hard to dig, consider containers or raised beds.

Step 2: Plant and Fertilize
Early spring in the South is a good time for transplants of Simply Beautiful ® violas, nemesia, diascia and snapdragon. After the danger of frost has passed in late spring, plant summer vegetables and set out your Simply Beautiful ® Dragon Wing Begonias, King Coleus and Serena Amelonia.

Think about Fertilization. There are three fundamentals of plant nutrition - nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Nitrogen spurs fast growth. Add it in spring when plants start their growth spurt. Phosphorus helps root growth and potassium wards off disease, strengthens cold hardiness and improves flower production. Pike Family Nurseries can help you choose the right fertilizer. Spectrum Color Burst is one of our favorites.

Step 3: Care and Protect
Mulch will be your best friend for two reasons; Helps retain moisture and keeps weeds away that compete and take over your plants.

Weed control is easy with a thick 2-3" layer of mulch over the soil. Mulch cools in summer and insulates in winter while conserving moisture. Pike Family Nurseries has everything you need from mulch to bark and pine straw. Also, be sure to apply the right pesticides from Scultz ®, following the label directions.