Tennessee Gardening FAQ: Plant Care Answers for the Mid-South Climate
If the area from Memphis to the Smoky Mountains is home‚ then you've had to cope with humid summers‚ rare but penetrating hard freezes‚ and clay soil․ Your growing season varies by weeks from one area of the state to another‚ however‚ so broad-based advice might not be applicable‚ especially during the summer․ These FAQs are the most common questions we receive from customers in Tennessee and the Southeast U․S․‚ and they are tailored to hardiness zones 6a (higher elevations in East Tennessee) to 7b (western Tennessee around Memphis)․
Watering and Soil
What is the watering frequency for new plants in Tennessee clay?
Newly-planted trees‚ shrubs and perennials need daily watering for the first 10-14 days‚ especially if planted during a warm spell‚ then every two or three days for two weeks‚ then weekly thereafter․ Tennessee's red clay holds moisture in a different way than sandy or loamy soils‚ however‚ and containers require a different schedule․ Note that soil can appear dry but be moist below the surface and may drown roots before any signs are visible․ Insert a finger to the second knuckle to check if soil is dry enough to water․ If the soil is wet‚ wait a day or two․ If you have more than a handful of beds‚ buy a $10 soil moisture meter and save yourself the guesswork․
My soil is heavy clay․ Also‚ what actually fixes it?
Do not excavate and replace with amended soil (soil mixed with compost) as this causes a bathtub effect‚ where water is retained in the amended soil and not pressed into the surrounding clay․ Instead‚ mix a two to three inch (5․1 to 7․6 cm) layer of compost into the top six to eight inches (15 to 20 cm) of soil throughout the planting area․ If the garden beds stay muddy and wet after it rains‚ then build an 8-10 inch raised bed with bagged topsoil and compost․ This can be useful for plants such as ferns and hostas that enjoy some moisture but dislike being waterlogged․
Testing the pH of your soil may not be necessary․
Yes‚ if your plant will not tolerate a change․ Your county's UT Extension office can test soil and tell you pH and nutrient levels for free or nearly free․ However‚ blueberries and dogwood trees require an acidic (pH 5․0-5․5) soil to grow․ This pH is present in the mountain soils of the eastern part of the state‚ but not in a limestone-rich Middle Tennessee basin where the northern and southern parts of the state meet․ Blackberry‚ however‚ tolerates a neutral or slightly alkaline soil quite well and so is more likely to be successful as-is in a Nashville garden․
Choosing the Right Plants
What thrives in the heat and humidity of the Tennessee summer?
Try Black-Eyed Susans‚ coneflowers‚ and our native sunflowers in full sun․ They're drought-resistant‚ and even our usually oppressive July humidity won't faze them․ Best of all‚ they're perennial‚ returning year after year without division or pampering․ If your yard leans toward the shady side‚ try Hostas‚ autumn fern‚ and Virginia Bluebells․ A lot of Tennessee yards are shadier than they think‚ thanks to mature hardwoods․ We ship a lot of hostas to customers who have heavy tree cover who have tried the sun lovers and they just don't thrive․
How can I tell if a plant can survive at my site?
Check the hardiness zone given in a plant's description against your own․ For example‚ Chattanooga and Knoxville are both 7a‚ Nashville is mostly 7a‚ and Memphis is mostly 7b․ Don't just assume a location is in the South․ Higher elevations in the Smokies may be closer to 6a or even 5b in isolated areas․ A zone 7-9 plant is probably not going to survive a cold snap up in the mountains even if that region is still Tennessee․ In general‚ look for something rated a zone hardier than your location․ You never know when a December 2022 cold snap is just around the corner․
Here are some ground covers to consider under trees where grass refuses to grow․
Partridge Berry is one of the best answers to this question‚ for it is a native‚ evergreen‚ low-growing ground cover which will tolerate deep shade․ It spreads slowly and carries bright red berries to punctuate the winter scene․ It was a far better long-term solution for the shaded‚ root-bound conditions under oaks and maples than forcing turf grass to grow where it never would․
Planting Timing
Perennials and trees are best planted in Tennessee during fall‚ or early spring․
Fall‚ by a wide margin‚ and this is one thing a lot of general gardening advice gets vague about․ Mid September to November provides soil that is still warm for good root growth‚ with air temperatures that have cooled down enough so that plant stress is reduced․ With roots already in the ground by winter‚ it has less stress establishing when the summer heat arrives․ It is also possible to plant in spring‚ but one has to beat the heat and humidity that are typical in Tennessee‚ which are detrimental to newly planted material․ If you're ordering bare-root perennials or trees from us‚ we recommend having them shipped to arrive around your first frost date in fall․
How long does it take for a newly planted tree to look established?
Do not panic if it takes one or two years of established growth for the plant to become noticeably large above ground; it often takes that long for sufficient root growth to occur‚ and heavy fertilization‚ which encourages leaf growth‚ often leads to leaf growth faster than the roots can grow․
Propagation
Can I grow these plants from cuttings in my home?
Yes‚ for many woody shrubs and some perennials․ Take softwood cuttings in late spring‚ when the new growth is still a little bendable but not yet woody․ Cut 4-6 in (10-15 cm) sections‚ cover the ends with rooting hormone‚ and place the cuttings in wet potting soil․ Cover the pots with clear plastic bags to retain humidity․ After that‚ keep it out of direct light for seven to ten days and irrigate regularly to keep the soil moist․ Once the roots have started forming‚ the cutting will feel as though it has resistance when you tug on it slightly; slowly remove the bag over the next few days and expose it to normal light․
Why is my cutting molding and not rooting?
They are probably too damp and not enough air․ Remove the bag for an hour once daily to allow the plants to breathe‚ and ensure the potting soil is not compacted․
If we didn't cover your question here‚ Tennessee's growing conditions are varied enough that we'd be happy to talk through the specifics of your yard and point you toward plants that will actually grow well in your location!
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