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The last frost has retreated, and the lushness of spring is unfolding across South Louisiana. Buds, early blooms, and hardworking bees are returning to the sunlight, beckoning us outdoors as well. Laying the groundwork for a strong growing season isn’t always simple, but it’s a process Louisiana Nursery embraces and is happy to guide fellow plant lovers through across the Baton Rouge community.
“There’s nothing better than a garden center job in the spring,” said Beau Mutrie, Digital Media Manager at Louisiana Nursery. “We’re all done with freezing cold temperatures. Now we get to see color.”
According to Mutrie, some of the first flowers to make an appearance on the tables at Louisiana Nursery and in neighbors’ garden beds are bougainvillea, gerbera daisies, geraniums, marigolds, and petunias. These selections are a great way to jump-start spring color and quickly refresh beds and containers. Pentas, lantanas, and salvia are additional warm-season favorites that can carry vibrant color toward the start of summer heat.
For longer-term landscaping, flowering evergreen shrubs such as azaleas, gardenias, and sasanqua camellias are excellent choices for the local climate. While some varieties bloom just once a year, newer introductions — such as Encore® azaleas — bloom multiple times, typically in spring and again in fall. With proper care, flowering shrubs are a lasting investment that will herald the arrival of spring each year with their lively blooms.
Tropicals truly shine in Louisiana’s intense heat and humidity. Planting them early in the season can transform any suburban yard into a lively paradise that lasts until autumn. Hibiscus, mandevilla, dipladenia, and tibouchina are among the colorful varieties that tend to thrive in the humid, subtropical climate of South Louisiana.
Recent advances in plant breeding have introduced improved varieties of classic favorites. Petunias, for example, remain a quintessential spring bloom, and newer Supertunia® types are known for their vigorous growth and heat tolerance. Angelonias are another longtime staple that now come in expanded color and shape selections, allowing gardeners to mix and match for a fresh look. Blue Daze (Evolvulus) is another eye-catching option; considered a tender perennial, it may survive mild South Louisiana winters with protection and fares well in heat.
In terms of planting style, this season may reflect the growing popularity of “meadow-core” — a relaxed, naturalistic design aesthetic that favors organic shapes over defined rows and borders. Wildflower-inspired options such as cosmos and alyssum, along with trailing plants like creeping thyme, fit naturally within this theme. Even traditional bedding plants can be reimagined with looser groupings and layered textures to capture the look.
Though flowers and foliage often steal the spotlight, every successful garden begins with the soil. Ensuring plants have the nutrients they need to transition from dormancy into active growth is essential to starting the season strong. Revitalizing beds with fresh organic matter, balanced fertilizers, root stimulators and mulch helps plants establish healthy root systems and regulate soil moisture as weather conditions fluctuate. Using pre-emergent herbicides can also help control weeds before they surge in warmer weather.
“We are here for the flower enthusiasts. We’re here for the landscapers. We’re here for edible gardeners, too,” said Mutrie. “And we have an excellent team of experienced professionals who are here to help you throughout your gardening journey.”
For more information, visit louisiananursery.com.
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