After what seemed like one of the longest and coldest winters we have had in a long time, it is finally spring in Horry County! Tourists are returning, the weather has warmed up, crops are being planted, flowers are blooming, and baby animals are arriving daily. While we typically think of spring, especially April, being full of rain showers to help our crops grow and summer blooms come in, this spring has been dry. In fact, most of Horry County is in a drought this spring. As of April 22, 2025, the far Northwestern corner of the county is abnormally dry, and the rest of the county is either experiencing a moderate or severe drought.
Drought can be difficult to define, but it is a deficiency in precipitation over an extended period of time that results in a water shortage. In 2024, Horry County saw approximately 50.52″ of precipitation, below our average of 52″ per year. So far in 2025, the 29526 Conway zip code area has received 8.67″ of precipitation as of April 25, 2025. The yearly average is 13.34″. These dry conditions are why your lawns and pastures may be struggling to grow, burn bans are in place, and crops need to be provided water through irrigation or hand watering. If you are interested in drought, you can tune into a free lunch and learn webinar with the Southeast Climate Hub on May 27, 2025 at Noon. Register for Zoom information at https://bit.ly/SCHdrought. For more information on farm risk management, please contact our Agribusiness Agent, Charley Maxwell.
Our farmers across the county are busy planting crops, please remember to share the road with them! As you are driving through the county this spring, you will see corn starting to come up and a large variety of vegetables starting to grow- cucumbers, peppers, squashes, tomatoes and more. This hard work in the spring means a bountiful selection of local produce this summer! We will talk about sourcing local produce and planting your own in the FAQs below.
As spring brings warmer temperatures and longer days, conditions become ideal for aquatic weeds to start growing—most begin to emerge once water temperatures exceed 60°F. The first and most important step in aquatic weed management is proper identification. Knowing exactly what you’re dealing with guides the most effective and responsible treatment options.
Avoid jumping straight to chemical solutions! A well-rounded approach includes physical, biological, and, when needed, chemical methods—all depending on the species and how widespread the growth is. For example, light to moderate filamentous algae can often be raked off the surface, but this method can worsen infestations of aquatic weeds like alligator weed and watermilfoil. For biological control, triploid grass carp are effective for controlling several aquatic weeds controlling hydrilla, pondweed, spikerush, and naiads, however, do not stock for control of algae as it is not their preferred food. Lastly, if you’re considering herbicides, plant ID is critical—not just for effectiveness, but to avoid unnecessary expense and environmental harm. Reach out to your local water resources agent, Catherine Watts (cwatts4@clemson.edu), for help with aquatic plant ID and treatment advice.
It’s also important to remember that aquatic weed prevention is key. In order to prevent aquatic weeds, it is important to determine the cause. The increased temperature and sunlight of springtime in combination with excessive nutrient availability, is the perfect environment for rapid aquatic weed growth. Algae in particular, is caused by too many nutrients in the water. These nutrients often come from lawn fertilizer runoff or waste from pets or wildlife like Canada geese. Other weeds, like duckweed or alligator weed, can be introduced by boats, fishing gear, mowing equipment, or flooding. While nutrients don’t cause these weeds to appear, they do help them thrive—so managing nutrient input is just as important as managing the weeds themselves.
Our local youth involved in the 4-H Youth Development program have also been busy this spring!Horry County 4-H youth competed in the South Carolina 4-H State Team Cooking Challenge on Saturday, April 12th, in Florence, SC. The team consisted of Ivy Prince, Brayden Lorey, Connor Frappaolo, and Heinz Driggers. They earned 2nd place—and we’re thrilled to share that they qualify for Nationals! Even more exciting, they’re in discussions with the 1st and 3rd place teams about attending Nationals together as a united group. Their teamwork, dedication, and creativity were truly outstanding.
4-H Healthy Lifestyles programs do more than just teach good habits — they empower young people to take charge of their well-being. Through hands-on activities and meaningful connections, youth build essential life skills, grow their confidence, and learn how to make smart, healthy choices every day. These programs help them strengthen their decision-making, build lasting friendships, and feel a true sense of belonging. Most importantly, they inspire a lifelong commitment to staying active, balanced, and resilient — both inside and out.
For more information about 4-H Healthy Lifestyles programming in Horry County, contact Miracle Rabon at 843-333-0460 or llewis2@clemson.edu.
Let’s tackle some frequently asked questions during this time of year!
What do I need to know about my lawn and garden this Spring?
This Month in Your Garden – April 2025 by Brad Fowler
- Warmer weather may bring about the temptation to start watering and fertilizing the lawn but hold off until at least May.
- Portions of the lawn may be greening up while other areas remain dormant. Don’t panic. It will take some time and warmer temperatures before the grass is growing at its full potential.
- Consider planting a few annuals like impatiens, verbena, or portulaca in containers. Make sure to research the shade/sun requirements of each plant and be conscious of late cold snaps that could cause damage.
- Plant summer flowering bulbs like dahlia, gladioli, and lilies after the threat of frost has passed.
- If winter injury is suspected, wait until trees and shrubs have start putting on new growth to ensure that only damaged or dead portions are removed.
- Scout the landscape diligently to detect insects and disease problems early.
- Spring flowering shrubs like azaleas and forsythia can be pruned as soon as they are finished blooming.
- Warm season vegetables like cucumber, squash, and peppers can be planted in the ground after the final frost.
Why is my fruit tree producing small (or no) fruit?
Christiana Huss, Area Commercial Horticulture Agent, shared some common reasons:
- Pruning/thinning. Fruit trees should be pruned yearly. The exact method depends on species, but the goal is to remove diseased or unproductive branches, open up the tree for airflow and sunlight, and encourage fruit production on reachable, sturdy branches. Thinning is necessary when the tree produces more fruit than it can support. If skipped, you may get many small fruits that never reach maturity. For example, peach fruit should be thinned to 6in apart to allow them to grow to size.
- Weed control. Fruit trees typically don’t like grassy competition. Adding mulch is the best way to minimize weed competition, retain soil moisture, and add nutrients. First, lay cardboard on the ground as a barrier to existing weeds. Then, layer several inches of composted woodchips, bark, or straw and water in. Do not mound the mulch against the trunk.
- Pollination. Some fruit trees need to be cross-pollinated with another variety. You may need a second tree.
- Fertilization and irrigation. Fruit trees typically need to be fertilized 1-2 times a year and get irrigation during droughts. Take a soil test to see if your pH needs to be corrected because our soil is often too acidic for non-native plants.
Where can I buy local produce?
The Waccamaw Market Cooperative markets opened this month! You can find the market closest to you by visiting their website Waccamaw Market Cooperative – Farmers Markets in Conway, Surfside, and North Myrtle Beach.
Strawberry U-Pick is a favorite spring activity in the county. Please always check directly with the farm before visiting to see if they are offering u-pick, or have their products available in an off site retail setting. Local farms who offer local strawberries include:
You will also see several roadside markets throughout the county. The SC Department of Agriculture maintains a list of certified roadside markets that can be viewed on their website at Certified Roadside Markets – horry – South Carolina Department of Agriculture.
For more information, or to ask questions, you can stop by the Clemson Cooperative Extension Horry County Office. We are open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM at 1949 Industrial Park Rd Conway, SC 29526. Your GPS should bring you straight to us, but if not you can give us a call at 843-365-6715.
