By: Isabelle Puente

There’s no doubt that Tennessee has been in a constant cycle of too much rain one day then too much heat the next. A routine that has caused many to pray for steady sunshine but, imagine how our plants feel.

Tennessee has dealt with on and off droughts throughout the years with the longest of them lasting three years. Now with Tennessee considered a humid subtropical climate, it’s not unusual to see the kind of weather we’ve had the past couple weeks.

However, have we ever thought about how this affects our plants and gardens?

“This is summer in Tennessee, in the heat of summer when it gets humid and we see a lot of rain we do see a little more fungal activity,” said James Wick, nursery manager at Morris Nursery and Landscapes. “We’re checking properties and advising our customers to keep an eye on some fungal diseases and treat them if needed.”

Morris Nursery and Landscapes has been open for 48 years and continues to offer many customer services including retail nursery, diseases and insect control, lawn maintenance and full landscaping.

Wick said that there is really nothing special folks can do to protect their plants from this weather other than making sure you’re following what the plant needs to grow and thrive.

With all this talk about plants and weather conditions you might be wondering, ‘Well what can I plant that I won’t have to worry about as much?’

Well, according to TN Nursery, the top 10 plants to grow in Tennessee’s climate are black oak trees, boysenberry bushes, daffodils, hickory trees, maple trees, hydrangea shrubs, reindeer moss, shortleaf pine, walking fern and bird’s foot violet.

Now before you decide to start buying bulk seeds and gardening tools, it’s always advised to do proper research on what seeds your planting and where you’re trying to plant. If you have pets outside, it’s best to make sure that you’re plants aren’t toxic to them and it’s always advised to call 811 to ensure that you don’t dig into any utility lines.

(PHOTO: James Wick)