By Amy-Lynn Albertson
N.C. Cooperative Extension

It’s spring, and the growing season is in full swing. Many people are looking to spruce up their spruce up their landscape or redo their container gardens. A benefit to perennial gardening is that with careful planning, a perennial flower bed will change colors as one type of plant finishes and another variety begins to bloom. Perennials add color, fragrance and texture to the landscape. They can also transform an otherwise dull yard into a spectacular place you want to visit repeatedly. Mark your calendars for Saturday, May 4, because you don’t want to miss the Master Gardener Plant Sale at the Rowan County Extension Center. This year, the Rowan Master Gardeners are offering a plethora of native or deciduous azaleas that are sure to impress you. Deciduous azaleas are known for their impressive range of colors and showiness. They have been cultivated over the years to produce many excellent hybrids. They offer various colors, including yellow, gold, peach, orange and flaming red, rarely seen in evergreen azaleas. The fall foliage of deciduous azaleas is often a brilliant shade of orange-red to maroon, making them a perfect addition to your garden. Some available varieties include pink shell, coastal, florida flame, plum leaf and Piedmont, and some are highly fragrant. So don’t miss out on this fantastic opportunity to enhance the beauty of your garden with these stunning plants. Although some species grow in wet soil, most, including those mentioned above, like good drainage. Give them moist, acidic soil containing lots of organic matter, such as chopped leaves, composted cow manure and ground bark. Water your deciduous azaleas several times a week during droughts in summer and fall. Pruning is seldom required, but if necessary, do it soon after the shrub finishes blooming.

Don’t miss out on the incredible selection of plants available at the Rowan County Master Gardener Plant Sale! On Saturday, May 4, from 8:30 a.m. to noon, come to 2727 Old Concord Road (Rowan County Extension Center) to browse and purchase native plants, pollinator plants, edibles and house plants. If you have any questions about landscape plants or other horticultural topics, please contact the Rowan County Extension Center at 704-216-8970 or check out their website at rowan.ces.ncsu.edu.

Amy-Lynn Albertson is the director of the Rowan County Extension.