Greenville gardeners look ahead to fall after summer heat takes toll

GREENVILLE, N.C. (WITN) – After weeks of hot, dry weather, gardeners are starting to look ahead to the fall growing season as summer heat continues to take a toll on Greenville lawns and gardens.

While recent rainfall has provided some temporary relief, plant nurseries say many homeowners are still dealing with the lingering effects of the summer scorch, prompting them to replace struggling plants and start mapping out their autumn gardens.

Rows of flowers, shrubs, and vegetable plants continue to fill the tables as customers begin prepping for the transition.

“They’re starting to come in looking for fall vegetables and perennials and that kind of thing, getting ready for fall,” said Kenneth Stillwell, owner of Carolina Seasons Nursery.

Stillwell noted that while people are still buying plants during the summer peak, keeping them adequately watered is critical until cooler weather arrives.

Customer Gerald Riggs experienced the harsh weather firsthand with his own summer crop.

“Well, we had to water it every day, and the tomatoes out in the heat—they just, they just wilted,” Riggs said.

Due to damage to his summer garden, Riggs was out searching for replacements, specifically looking for blueberry bushes to replace older plants.

The extreme weather has affected more than just the plants; it has also shifted customer habits. Stillwell explained that the extreme temperatures directly impact foot traffic at the nursery.

“If the weather’s really nice and it’s not hot and it’s not raining, we have more traffic,” Stillwell said. “If it’s really hot and once it goes above 95, it’s the hardcore customers that come in.”

Despite the heat, nursery experts say that as temperatures begin to cool over the next several weeks, fall will present one of the best times of the year to introduce new plants to a garden.

For those waiting to replace plants that didn’t survive the summer heat, Stillwell recommends waiting until mid-September to start planting for the best chance of success.