Is it too late to plant in my garden?

It’s hard to believe, but the end of the year is right around the corner. Hopefully, you have some areas of your yard that you’re really proud of. Maybe you had some things that didn’t go as planned, and you’re now resigned that you must wait until next year. Thankfully, your window to plant is not closed. Check your soil. As long as it isn’t frozen, you can still plant. Being in the the south, our soil rarely freezes during the occasional cold snap.

Here are a few things you can plant in your garden this time of year:

• Trees and Shrubs. One of my favorite late blooming shrubs is the Sasanqua Camellia. The cooler temps and warm soil allow the plants to focus their energy on developing a strong root system. Strong root systems, make them better equipped to handle summer heat and drought.

• Spring/Summer Blooming Perennials. Some of my favorites are iris, daylilies, and daisies. Warm soil and shorter days encourage root growth, while plants spend less time growing flowers and foliage. Stronger, well established roots mean more flower production next year. Diseases and pests are also less of a concern during this time of year.

• Cool Weather Annuals. Some of my favorites are pansies, snapdragons, ornamental cabbage, sweet alyssum, dusty miller, and violas. Winter annuals are an opportunity to extend the growing season by a few weeks if not months.