Late Spring Gardening Tips 

The Spring season comes with such an abundance of options and possibilities when it comes to gardening projects, but are you taking these important steps to care for your garden in the late spring months? Here are some essential late spring gardening tips.

Prune your Spring-Blooming Trees and Shrubs

While it is true that most spring-blooming trees and shrubs benefit greatly from early spring pruning, there are some spring-blooming plants that hold their new buds on old wood. Some examples of plants that do this are Azaleas, oakleaf hydrangeas, lilacs, wisterias, dogwoods, and redbuds. Wait to prune these plants until their blooms have faded in the late spring. Once the buds have faded, you may do some pruning by removing any dead/damaged branches and by shaping the plant to your preference. 

Harvest Spring Season Fruits and Vegetables

The fruits and vegetables that you planted in the fall are finally ready to harvest! Make sure you are harvesting these spring season crops while they are ripe and ready to eat! 

• Strawberries 
• Raspberries 
• Blackberries 
• Plums 
• Peaches 
• Watermelon 
• Onions
• Leafy greens 
• Summer squash 
• Tomatoes 
• Peas and beans 

Plant Summer and Fall Season Crops

Here is a list of fruits and vegetables that you can plant in your garden in the late spring to be harvested in the summer and fall months:

• Grapes 
• Berries 
• Peppers 
• Tomatoes 
• Eggplants
• Cucumbers 
• Leafy greens 

Prepare Your Garden Beds for the Intense Summer Heat 

A great way to prepare your garden beds for the South Carolina summer heat is to cover your beds in a thick layer of fresh mulch. This will allow your plants to store more moisture in the soil, protecting them from drying out in the high temperatures. It is also a great idea to water your plants in advance when a particularly higher heatwave passes through the area. Watering before a heatwave hits gives your plants a much better chance of remaining hydrated and healthy in the heat.