Mother’s Day is just around the corner, and if you’re looking to celebrate with a beautiful plant or traditional hanging basket, Wayne County Farm Bureau member Nick Robson of Robson’s Greenhouse in Belleville said there are a few tips to keep in mind.
First, don’t be worried about how a plant will hold up if you’re purchasing it ahead of Mother’s Day.
“The long-term forecast is favorable for planting,” Robson said. “Right now, there’s only a slight chance of a light frost in some parts of the state this week, and that's when you’d want to use something like an old bed sheet to gently cover more sensitive plants like begonias or impatiens.”
Plants bred to be hardier — like those found in your locally-owned greenhouse’s hanging baskets — can even go outside right now.
“They’re made to withstand some cool temperatures, and they're perfect for Michigan,” Robson added.
In fact, he said it’s best to start getting plants accustomed to cooler nights now, so they can start the process of acclimating and be ready to withstand any cool nights ahead.
“A healthy basket coming out of a local greenhouse has been taken care of for months, starting with rooting the cuttings that go into baskets as early as January,” Robson said.
“There’s huge benefits to shopping locally and supporting your local Farm Bureau members that have small, independent garden centers because they have plant expertise and can expertly guide you to the perfect pick for mom.”
Those hanging baskets are already watered, fertilized and ready to be hung up. All you must do is water it when the soil is dry to the touch.
“If you know it's going to rain, pop that basket off the house and put it out on your driveway or out on your sidewalk, because nobody waters better than Mother Nature,” Robson said.
The same idea applies for cooler weather, with Robson recommending bringing hanging baskets inside a garage or other warmer space if temperatures dip to below 40 degrees for multiple nights in a row.
And if you’re a last-minute shopper, don’t fret. Robson said most locally owned greenhouses are open seven days a week and devote a major portion of their hanging basket production to be sold during Mother’s Day weekend.
If you’re unsure which plant might be best for mom, Robson said you can turn to the experts at your local greenhouse for their advice on the best picks, taking into account how much sunlight a plant or hanging basket will receive where it’s placed.
Finally, Robson recommends visiting your local greenhouse with an open mind.
“There are all sorts of options available to you, including patio planters and rail planters for a deck,” he said.
“You could buy her a patio tomato that she can put on her back deck where she can water with a pitcher out of the house and enjoy some BLTs all summer long — right off the plant!”
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