[{"id":2776,"date":"2026-08-05T13:19:32","date_gmt":"2026-08-05T13:19:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/?p=2776"},"modified":"2026-08-05T13:19:34","modified_gmt":"2026-08-05T13:19:34","slug":"community-involvement","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/community-involvement\/","title":{"rendered":"Community Involvement:"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

84TH Annual Hampton County Watermelon Festival<\/h2>\n\n\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Once again, Clemson Extension \u2013 Hampton County hosted the 84th<\/sup> Annual Hampton County Watermelon Festival\u2019s Arts and Crafts Contest. We appreciate all that participated and the viewers that just dropped by to check out all the entries. We had some creative and unique entries. The main requirements to enter an item are that it must be \u201cwatermelon related\u201d and the work of the individual entering it. Everyone that took the time to enter is a winner in our eyes. We have some talented folks in our area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Adult – in County:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

1st: Sherri Brown – wall hanging (quilt)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2nd: George Brown – Charcuterie Board<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3rd: Miller Rainwater- Watermelon Plant<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Painting \u201cBeginning Stage of Watermelon\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Youth- In County<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

1st: Caroline Tripp – Watermelon Butterfly<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2nd: Lauren Smith – Gnome Gardner<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3rd:  Kennedi Stokes – Hat Watermelon slice firecracker<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Adult- Out of County<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

1st: Saundra Rhamey<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2nd: Kimberly Elliott<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Youth – Out of County<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

1st: Ezra Elliott<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2nd: Sylvie Elliott<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

HAMPTON COUNTY WATERMELON FESTIVAL \u2013 MELON JUDGING CONTEST<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Clemson Extension \u2013 Hampton County coordinated the Watermelon Judging Contest again this year at the 84th<\/sup> Annual Watermelon Festival.  We appreciate all the participants that entered melons this year. Congratulations to this year\u2019s winners in the HCWF Melon Judging contest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Winners this year consisted of: Jenny Parnell, who entered a Jubilee Melon that received three awards Heaviest Melon at 56.0 pounds, Best Jubilee and Grand Champion of the contest. Morgan Parnell had the Best Charleston Gray and Sarah Beth Thomas had the Best Crimson Sweet. The participants received ribbons and a monetary award.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Civil Rights Statement<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

84TH Annual Hampton County Watermelon Festival Once again, Clemson Extension \u2013 Hampton County hosted the 84th Annual Hampton County Watermelon Festival\u2019s Arts and Crafts Contest. We appreciate all that participated and the viewers that just dropped by to check out all the entries. We had some creative and unique entries. The main requirements to enter […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3978,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4930,71749],"tags":[],"coauthors":[114926],"class_list":["post-2776","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-agribusiness","category-hampton"],"fimg_url":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2776","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3978"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2776"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2776\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2780,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2776\/revisions\/2780"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2776"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2776"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2776"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=2776"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":2772,"date":"2026-08-03T13:08:54","date_gmt":"2026-08-03T13:08:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/?p=2772"},"modified":"2026-08-03T13:08:55","modified_gmt":"2026-08-03T13:08:55","slug":"welcome-garrett-ulmer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/welcome-garrett-ulmer\/","title":{"rendered":"Welcome Garrett Ulmer"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Area Livestock and Forages Agent serving Allendale, Bamberg, Barnwell, Beaufort, Colleton, Hampton, and Jasper Counties<\/h2>\n\n\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Garrett earned his Bachelor of Science in Animal and Veterinary Science from Clemson University and his Master of Science in Animal Science from the University of Tennessee. Originally from Lodge, South Carolina, he grew up on his family’s farm, where he gained hands-on experience working with beef cattle and market hogs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Garrett is excited to join the Clemson Extension team and looks forward to serving livestock and forage producers throughout the region. His office is in Hampton, and he is ready to assist with livestock and forage production needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Please join us in welcoming Garrett to Clemson Extension! He can be reached at jgulmer@clemson.edu<\/a> or (843) 599-7163.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Civil Rights Statement<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Area Livestock and Forages Agent serving Allendale, Bamberg, Barnwell, Beaufort, Colleton, Hampton, and Jasper Counties Garrett earned his Bachelor of Science in Animal and Veterinary Science from Clemson University and his Master of Science in Animal Science from the University of Tennessee. Originally from Lodge, South Carolina, he grew up on his family’s farm, where […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3978,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[70041,70314,70898,71463,71749,72047,52346],"tags":[72614],"coauthors":[114926],"class_list":["post-2772","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-allendale","category-bamberg","category-beaufort","category-colleton","category-hampton","category-jasper","category-livestock-forages","tag-berkeley"],"fimg_url":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2772","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3978"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2772"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2772\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2775,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2772\/revisions\/2775"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2772"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2772"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2772"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=2772"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":2762,"date":"2026-07-28T14:40:42","date_gmt":"2026-07-28T14:40:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/?p=2762"},"modified":"2026-07-28T14:40:43","modified_gmt":"2026-07-28T14:40:43","slug":"the-clover-connection-summer-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/the-clover-connection-summer-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"The Clover Connection, Summer 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Dawn Stuckey, Senior Agent, Hampton County 4-H Youth Development Agent<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Hampton County 4-H Programs:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hampton County 4-H Jr. Leadership program is accepting applications for the 2026-2027 cohort. The Jr. Leadership program is designed to expose high school sophomores and juniors to potential careers in Hampton County. Through site visits and meetings with professionals, students have the opportunity to learn the skills needed to develop a plan for life after high school graduation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To learn more about the program, please contact Dawn Stuckey at dstucke@clemson.edu<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Hampton County 4-H Club News<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hampton County 4-H club fulfilled its mission to \u201cHands to Larger Service\u201d by packing First Night Bags for the Hampton County Department of Social Services. Members packed bags containing toiletries, clothes, and comfort items to provide a displaced child with something of their own while they are being placed in foster care. The club would like to challenge other groups in the county to participate in this project. The club packed and delivered 5 bags to the DSS office.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Clemson Extension and Hampton County 4-H Provide activities for the 2026 Hampton County Watermelon Festival.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tractor Driving<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Saturday, June 20, 2026, marked the annual Hampton County 4-H Tractor Driving Contest for the 84th<\/sup> Hampton County Watermelon Festival. Youth from around the area had the opportunity to test their knowledge and skills for awards and prizes. This year\u2019s winners were: 1st Place \u2013 CJ Ulmer, 2nd Place \u2013 Everett Ulmer, 3rd Place \u2013 Miles Stanley, and 4th Place – Jake Runkle. Participants completed a safety course and knowledge test, then a walk-through safety test and drove the obstacle courses.  The contest focuses on knowledge, skill, and precision, and the participant with the highest cumulative score in each category earns the top prize.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This year\u2019s sponsors for the contest were Hampton United Methodist Church, Bank of the Lowcountry, Murdaugh Kuboda, Green Acres Turf Farm, Brunson Ace Hardware, and J. R. Wilson.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

C.J. Ulmer wins 1st<\/sup> place at the 84th<\/sup> Annual Watermelon Festival Tractor Driving Contest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Everett Ulmer won 2nd<\/sup> place at the 84th<\/sup> Annual Watermelon Festival Tractor Driving Contest.
 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Miles Stanley won 3rd<\/sup> Place at the 84th<\/sup> Annual Watermelon Festival Tractor Driving Contest.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Jake Runkle won 4th<\/sup> Place at the 84th<\/sup> Annual Watermelon Festival Tractor Driving Contest.
 
 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hampton County Watermelon Festival\u2019s Children\u2019s Day at the Park<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nearly 600 children and adults attended this year\u2019s Children\u2019s Day event at Lake Warren State Park. This event attracts a crowd of all ages and is anticipated annually by both patrons and vendors. Hampton County 4-H and Extension is always among the crowd. This year, 4-H and Extension Agents Dawn Stuckey (4-H), Rogan Gibson (Row Crops), Anna Sarah Hill (Horticulture), and Molly Jones (Water Resources) shared with attendees the benefits of pollinators and allowed them to plant a small watermelon greenhouse to take home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Civil Rights Statement<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Dawn Stuckey, Senior Agent, Hampton County 4-H Youth Development Agent Hampton County 4-H Programs: Hampton County 4-H Jr. Leadership program is accepting applications for the 2026-2027 cohort. The Jr. Leadership program is designed to expose high school sophomores and juniors to potential careers in Hampton County. Through site visits and meetings with professionals, students have […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3978,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[13303,71749],"tags":[],"coauthors":[114926],"class_list":["post-2762","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-4-h","category-hampton"],"fimg_url":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2762","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3978"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2762"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2762\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2771,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2762\/revisions\/2771"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2762"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2762"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2762"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=2762"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":2755,"date":"2026-07-20T18:39:55","date_gmt":"2026-07-20T18:39:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/?p=2755"},"modified":"2026-07-20T19:06:30","modified_gmt":"2026-07-20T19:06:30","slug":"sunny-summer-weather","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/sunny-summer-weather\/","title":{"rendered":"Sunny Summer Weather"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Glen Payne, Beaufort County Urban Horticulture Agent and Master Gardener Coordinator<\/h2>\n\n\n
\n
\"\"
Glen Payne, \u00a9 2025, Clemson Extension
\u00a0<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

     Sunny summer weather is something that makes every day a little brighter than the one before. So, we take the rainy days with the sunshine, stillness with the pleasant breezes, dryness with lots of humidity that can help us with our skin complexion during the humid summer months along the coast of South Carolina. Plants are subject to the same outside conditions, and they thrive with the three things that plants need\u2026sunlight, water, & air. Different species of plants need different amounts of sunlight while other plants prefer shade. One thing that is constant is that all plants do require sunlight to survive.  Sunlight drives photosynthesis by converting light energy, water, & carbon dioxide into chemical energy for plant growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

     Long day plants such as cacti, vegetables and fruits require 12 \u2013 16 hours of sunlight in order to flower and perform best doing the sunny days of summer. Certain plants even have direct sunlight requirements to perform their best, for example 6 hrs. of direct sunlight is required for tomatoes, peppers https:\/\/hgic.clemson.edu\/factsheet\/pepper\/<\/a> , basil, & zinnias  https:\/\/hgic.clemson.edu\/factsheet\/how-to-grow-zinnias-the-best-varieties-care-tips\/<\/a>. Keep in mind that the uninterrupted dark period (less than 10 hrs.) is critical and when plants period of darkness is interrupted will affect their flower production if light is introduced only for a few minutes. Plants like the sunflower and black- eyed Susans, fruits like peaches   https:\/\/hgic.clemson.edu\/peaches-the-story-of-south-carolinas-non-native-state-fruit\/<\/a>, blueberries, & blackberries may not yield as much fruit if their long period of light requirements are not met.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"
Glen Payne, \u00a9 2025, Clemson Extension<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

  Short day plants require much less uninterrupted periods of sunlight and will perform at their peak with 8- 12 hours of bright sunlight. They do require periods of much longer uninterrupted darkness and typically in coastal South Carolina plants are the poinsettia https:\/\/www.poinsettclub.org\/Club_Heritage\/Joel_Poinsett<\/a> , chrysanthemums, and Christmas cactus that are short day plants. Keep in mind that interrupted darkness with the introduction of a flashlight, small room light, or too long of sunlight exposure can interrupt the chemical signals for plant flowering. And with all that said sunlight is still required by plants in the winter months to perform at peak flower production.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

     So, know that even if the rain is coming down this summer, behind the clouds the sun still comes out and is shining bright and soon, we will be able to see it, feel it, grow wonderful plants in it, and enjoy the bountiful harvest that has been created thanks to it. The sunny side of summer is needed by people & plants and is here now to enjoy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Civil Rights Statement<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Glen Payne, Beaufort County Urban Horticulture Agent and Master Gardener Coordinator      Sunny summer weather is something that makes every day a little brighter than the one before. So, we take the rainy days with the sunshine, stillness with the pleasant breezes, dryness with lots of humidity that can help us with our skin complexion […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3978,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[70898,905,72613],"tags":[],"coauthors":[114926],"class_list":["post-2755","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-beaufort","category-horticulture","category-master-gardener"],"fimg_url":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2755","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3978"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2755"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2755\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2761,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2755\/revisions\/2761"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2755"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2755"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2755"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=2755"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":2750,"date":"2026-07-20T16:46:09","date_gmt":"2026-07-20T16:46:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/?p=2750"},"modified":"2026-07-20T16:46:09","modified_gmt":"2026-07-20T16:46:09","slug":"planting-along-lowcountry-saltwater-shorelines","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/planting-along-lowcountry-saltwater-shorelines\/","title":{"rendered":"Planting Along Lowcountry Saltwater Shorelines"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Ellen Sturup Comeau, Water Resources Agent, Beaufort County<\/h2>\n\n\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Lowcountry Coastal South Carolina is constantly changing. Rain patterns are shifting, flooding is becoming more frequent, and people are moving from all over to live here. With this comes questions like, \u201cI just got some property, what can I plant by the shoreline to make it look better?\u201d  \u201cMy tree is dying, what can I plant to replace it?\u201d and \u201cI\u2019ve noticed that my shoreline is eroding, what can I do?\u201d are becoming more frequent. Planting along the shoreline can seem daunting, but it is a worthwhile experience that can enhance the aesthetics of your home and potentially improve the health of the salt marsh.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first thing you need to know about planting along saltwater shorelines is the site conditions. If a plant is to thrive near the salt marsh, it needs to be of a species that can withstand sandy, slightly acidic soils, is salt-tolerant, and grows well with the amount of sunlight your shoreline normally receives. Shorelines without tree cover typically receive 6+ hours of light (full-sun conditions) while shorelines with tree cover may receive 3-6 hours of light (part-sun conditions) or less than 2 hours of light (full-shade conditions). Not all plants can withstand these conditions, and even those that can may not tolerate those conditions equally well. For example, both Sand Cordgrass (Spartina bakeri<\/em>) and Black Needlerush (Juncus roemerianus<\/em>) are considered salt-tolerant. However, while both plants can tolerate the salty spray and air that comes from the marsh, only Black Needlerush can be inundated with saltwater during King Tides and survive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This concept of matching plants to existing site conditions is known by gardeners as the \u201cright plant, right place\u201d rule. By following this rule, you can better ensure that the time, money, and effort you spend beautifying your yard is well spent. An easy way to follow this rule is to consider using native plants. Native plants are species that have grown for centuries along our marshes and come in many attractive, colorful forms. They can also support wildlife and pollinators, and typically do not require supplemental irrigation, fertilizers, or pesticides. You can find a searchable database of native plants on the South Carolina Native Plant Society\u2019s (SCNPS) website at https:\/\/scnps.org\/plants\/<\/a>.  SCNPS also has a native plant nursery list at https:\/\/scnps.org\/sc-native-plant-nurseries\/<\/a>, where you can find local vendors who sell native plants.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Planting native plants along shorelines also benefits the salt marsh. Their thick, fibrous roots can help reduce shoreline erosion, thereby reducing excess sediment and the murky water and potential pollutants it could bring into the water. Should the plantings be deeper than 2ft, these plants can also slow down stormwater runoff, helping other pollutants like bacteria from pet waste, excess nutrients from fertilizers, and harmful pesticides from entering the waterways and harming the wildlife, the view, and the overall health of the marsh. However, it should be noted that state laws and local ordinances govern activities (including planting and pruning) in areas next to the salt marsh.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The South Carolina Department of Environmental Services Bureau of Coastal Management (SC DES BCM) is responsible for maintaining the health of our salt marshes, which are considered critical habitat. One way they do this is by designating the boundary of this critical habitat, known as the Critical Line. It is unlawful to do anything beyond the line. You can find the critical line on your property by looking at the survey plats, but a quick rule of thumb is that the Critical Line is where the water rises to during a King Tide. You always want to plant above the Critical Line, also known as the upland zone. You will also want to check with your local government\u2019s planning, codes, or stormwater department to see if there are any other ordinances regarding this area (commonly referred to as a buffer zone) that you should be aware of before planting. For more information, check out HGIC Factsheet: Life Along the Salt Marsh: Protecting Tidal Creeks with Vegetative Buffers<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Civil Rights Statement<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Ellen Sturup Comeau, Water Resources Agent, Beaufort County Lowcountry Coastal South Carolina is constantly changing. Rain patterns are shifting, flooding is becoming more frequent, and people are moving from all over to live here. With this comes questions like, \u201cI just got some property, what can I plant by the shoreline to make it look […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3978,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[70041,70314,70572,70898,71463,71749,72047],"tags":[72614,15606,72616,13275],"coauthors":[114926],"class_list":["post-2750","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-allendale","category-bamberg","category-barnwell","category-beaufort","category-colleton","category-hampton","category-jasper","tag-berkeley","tag-charleston","tag-dorchester","tag-water-resources"],"fimg_url":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2750","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3978"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2750"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2750\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2754,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2750\/revisions\/2754"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2750"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2750"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2750"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=2750"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":2748,"date":"2026-07-16T18:14:46","date_gmt":"2026-07-16T18:14:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/?p=2748"},"modified":"2026-07-16T18:14:46","modified_gmt":"2026-07-16T18:14:46","slug":"beat-the-heat-5-nutrition-tips-for-a-cooler-summer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/beat-the-heat-5-nutrition-tips-for-a-cooler-summer\/","title":{"rendered":"Beat the Heat: 5 Nutrition Tips for a Cooler Summer!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Akendra Garrett, Berkeley and Charleston EFNEP Nutrition Educator and
Berkeley County Coordinator<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

5 \u2013 Drink Up!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Water is your best friend. Aim to drink water throughout the day\u2014even before you feel thirsty. Add lemon, cucumber, berries, or mint for a refreshing twist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4 \u2013 Fill Up on Water-Rich Foods<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Snack on fruits and vegetables with high water content like watermelon, cucumbers, strawberries, oranges, tomatoes, and celery to help keep you hydrated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3 \u2013 Keep Meals Light<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Choose lighter meals such as salads, grilled lean proteins, wraps, and fresh vegetables instead of heavy, greasy foods that can make you feel sluggish in the heat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2 \u2013 Choose Smart Frozen Treats<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cool off with frozen grapes, homemade fruit popsicles, yogurt parfaits, or fruit smoothies instead of sugary frozen desserts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1 \u2013 Refuel After the Fun<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After spending time outside, replenish your body with water and a healthy snack that includes protein and carbohydrates, like apple slices with peanut butter, yogurt with fruit, or whole-grain crackers with cheese.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Remember:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stay hydrated. Eat colorful foods. Beat the heat\u2014one healthy choice at a time!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service offers its programs to people of all ages, regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, disability, political beliefs, sex, marital or family status and is an equal opportunity employer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Akendra Garrett, Berkeley and Charleston EFNEP Nutrition Educator andBerkeley County Coordinator 5 \u2013 Drink Up! Water is your best friend. Aim to drink water throughout the day\u2014even before you feel thirsty. Add lemon, cucumber, berries, or mint for a refreshing twist. 4 \u2013 Fill Up on Water-Rich Foods Snack on fruits and vegetables with high […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4162,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[70041,70314,70572,70898,71463,69613,71749,72047],"tags":[72614,15606,72616],"coauthors":[114923],"class_list":["post-2748","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-allendale","category-bamberg","category-barnwell","category-beaufort","category-colleton","category-efnep","category-hampton","category-jasper","tag-berkeley","tag-charleston","tag-dorchester"],"fimg_url":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2748","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4162"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2748"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2748\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2749,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2748\/revisions\/2749"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2748"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2748"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2748"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=2748"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":2735,"date":"2026-07-15T14:07:52","date_gmt":"2026-07-15T14:07:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/?p=2735"},"modified":"2026-07-15T14:07:52","modified_gmt":"2026-07-15T14:07:52","slug":"4-h-tower-building-activity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/4-h-tower-building-activity\/","title":{"rendered":"4-H Tower Building Activity"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Felicia C. Cunningham, 4-H Youth Development Agent, Jasper County<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This activity was conducted at the Agape Family Life Center in Hardeeville, SC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Each team was tasked with building a tower using only the materials provided to them.  All teams received the same materials (spaghetti, gumdrops, and tape).  The tower had to be free-standing, and no team may add any additional material to it.  The team with the tallest tower wins.  Each team had 10 minutes to build the tower, and whoever had the tallest tower won. The main purpose of this activity is to work well together as a team to accomplish a task.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

We discussed the skills needed to build a good team. During the activity, the youth had completely forgotten the skills that were discussed to accomplish the task.  They were arguing, blaming each other for the group\u2019s failure, and some team members decided to work alone.  Working effectively in a team requires a mix of soft skills and behavioral traits:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Communication \u2013 Sharing thoughts, ideas and key information vividly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Responsibility \u2013 Each person is responsible for completing the task on time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Honesty \u2013 Working through a disagreement and explaining why they could not complete the task.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Active listening \u2013 Focusing on other people as they share their ideas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Adaptability \u2013 Changing project needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Conflict resolution \u2013 Working through conflicts or disagreements.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

After the activity, the youth revisited the skills above, discussed the challenges each group faced, and resolved the issues that arose.  Ms. Cunningham informed them that working well with others can help you complete tasks efficiently while creating an enjoyable environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Civil Rights Statement<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Felicia C. Cunningham, 4-H Youth Development Agent, Jasper County This activity was conducted at the Agape Family Life Center in Hardeeville, SC. Each team was tasked with building a tower using only the materials provided to them.  All teams received the same materials (spaghetti, gumdrops, and tape).  The tower had to be free-standing, and no […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3978,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[13303,72047],"tags":[],"coauthors":[114926],"class_list":["post-2735","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-4-h","category-jasper"],"fimg_url":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2735","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3978"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2735"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2735\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2746,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2735\/revisions\/2746"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2735"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2735"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2735"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=2735"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":2729,"date":"2026-07-14T19:52:19","date_gmt":"2026-07-14T19:52:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/?p=2729"},"modified":"2026-07-14T19:52:19","modified_gmt":"2026-07-14T19:52:19","slug":"apple-grape-jelly-workshop","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/apple-grape-jelly-workshop\/","title":{"rendered":"Apple\/Grape Jelly Workshop"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Felicia C. Cunningham, 4-H Youth Development Agent, Jasper County<\/h2>\n\n\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Beaufort County Family Community Leaders (FCL) participated in a workshop on June 12, 2026, focused on making Apple and Grape jelly.  Jellies <\/strong>are usually made by cooking fruit juice with sugar. Jelly should be clear or translucent and firm enough to hold its shape when turned out of the container.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The half-pint jars were placed in a stock pot filled with water and boiled for 7 minutes to sterilize. The four ingredients were then placed in a jelly maker and cooked for 25 minutes.\u00a0 We quickly poured the hot jelly into hot jars, leaving \u00bc headspace. Wipe rims. Center lid on jar.\u00a0 Screw the band down until resistance is met, then tighten to fingertip-tight.\u00a0 Finally, the jars are placed in a water bath canner, completely covered with water and processed for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, we waited another 5 minutes, then removed the jars, cooled them, and stored them.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Preventing Spoilage of Jellies<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even though sugar helps preserve jellies and jams, molds can grow on the surface of these products. Research now indicates that the mold people usually scrape off the surface of jellies may not be as harmless as it seems. Mycotoxins have been found in some jars of jelly having surface mold growth. Mycotoxins are known to cause cancer in animals; their effects on humans are still being researched. Because of possible mold contamination, paraffin or wax seals are no longer recommended for any sweet spread, including jellies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Civil Rights Statement<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Felicia C. Cunningham, 4-H Youth Development Agent, Jasper County Beaufort County Family Community Leaders (FCL) participated in a workshop on June 12, 2026, focused on making Apple and Grape jelly.  Jellies are usually made by cooking fruit juice with sugar. Jelly should be clear or translucent and firm enough to hold its shape when turned out […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3978,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[13303,70898,72047],"tags":[],"coauthors":[114926],"class_list":["post-2729","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-4-h","category-beaufort","category-jasper"],"fimg_url":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2729","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3978"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2729"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2729\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2734,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2729\/revisions\/2734"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2729"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2729"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2729"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=2729"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":2714,"date":"2026-07-13T17:16:42","date_gmt":"2026-07-13T17:16:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/?p=2714"},"modified":"2026-07-13T17:16:42","modified_gmt":"2026-07-13T17:16:42","slug":"whats-blooming-in-july","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/whats-blooming-in-july\/","title":{"rendered":"What\u2019s Blooming in July?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Christiana Huss, Urban Horticulture Agent and Master Gardener Coordinator<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

July is the season of heat advisories and high humidity. It can be difficult to find the motivation to venture outside and garden. But insects have different ideas of a good time. Bees, butterflies, beetles, and flies are busy taking advantage of summer blooms. Here, I\u2019ll share some flowers that are blooming in July feeding the active insects in the pollinator garden.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>
\n

Passionflower<\/a>, my favorite multi-purpose native!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Passionflowers, also called maypop, bloom on a perennial vine. These vines are the only host plant for the Gulf Fritillary caterpillar. In the fall, this plant grows passion fruits, which can be enjoyed by humans and wildlife alike. Passionflower is a hardy plant. It can tolerate drought, shade, sun, cold winters, and deer. Be aware that it is so easy to grow that it can get out of control. Only plant a passionflower if you really love them!<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n

Blanket flower<\/a>, a low country garden staple.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Blanket flowers are perfectly adapted for coastal gardens. I often see them growing in empty lots or along beach dunes. They can tolerate salt and drought and love our sandy, well-drained soil. Blanket flowers are short-lived but reseed readily.<\/p>\n<\/div>

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>
\n

Scarlet rose mallow<\/a>, a true garden showstopper.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Photos of scarlet rose mallow don\u2019t do it justice. This hibiscus is bright and huge! Their hot pink color attracts both hummingbirds and nectar-feeding insects. Solitary bees will use the hollow stems for nesting. This flower prefers wetter soil than the previously described blooms, making it a great choice for boggy areas or rain gardens.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n

Coneflower<\/a>, a pollinator restaurant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Purple or yellow coneflowers are garden favorites for pollinators. A hairstreak butterfly and a bee are shown here. In the fall, the seeds of the coneflower are a popular food for songbirds. Coneflowers are easy to care for once they are established. Although they prefer full sun, they will grow well in partial shade and can tolerate some drought. There are many species of coneflower native to South Carolina so find one that is adapted to your specific area. Removing dead flowers can encourage the plant to put out new blooms. But don\u2019t forget to leave a few at the end of the season for the winter songbirds to enjoy!<\/p>\n<\/div>

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service offers its programs to people of all ages, regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, disability, political beliefs, sex, marital or family status and is an equal opportunity employer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Christiana Huss, Urban Horticulture Agent and Master Gardener Coordinator July is the season of heat advisories and high humidity. It can be difficult to find the motivation to venture outside and garden. But insects have different ideas of a good time. Bees, butterflies, beetles, and flies are busy taking advantage of summer blooms. Here, I\u2019ll […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4162,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[70041,70314,70572,70898,71463,71749,905,72047],"tags":[72614,15606,72616],"coauthors":[114923],"class_list":["post-2714","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-allendale","category-bamberg","category-barnwell","category-beaufort","category-colleton","category-hampton","category-horticulture","category-jasper","tag-berkeley","tag-charleston","tag-dorchester"],"fimg_url":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2714","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4162"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2714"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2714\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2728,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2714\/revisions\/2728"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2714"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2714"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2714"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=2714"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":2707,"date":"2026-07-13T15:02:41","date_gmt":"2026-07-13T15:02:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/?p=2707"},"modified":"2026-07-13T15:02:41","modified_gmt":"2026-07-13T15:02:41","slug":"its-time-to-make-fall-gardening-plans","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/its-time-to-make-fall-gardening-plans\/","title":{"rendered":"It’s Time to Make Fall Gardening Plans"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Marion Barnes, Senior County Extension Agent – Clemson University<\/h2>\n\n\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

With temperatures in the mid to high 90\u2019s and the high humidity levels that is so common of the summer months in the low country, planning a fall garden may not be the minds of many home gardeners. As spring planted vegetables mature and production begins to wane, it time to get started with your gardening plans if you want fresh vegetables for the fall and winter months. A little work and planning ahead in the summer will improve and extend your harvest season in the fall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before tilling up those summer vegetables that are past their prime, make a few notes about which varieties performed well, what pests were a problem, the sites of any herbicides used in case of<\/p>\n\n\n\n

plant-back restrictions and carry-over, and location of various summer crops to aid in rotation practices for next year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Remove summer vegetable plants and discard or till them under to add organic matter to the soil.  Avoid using plants that have disease in a compost pile. Keep warm season weeds from going to seed, so you don\u2019t have to fight even more weeds next summer. Insect species often overwinter on some weed species. Keep pest out of the garden by keeping weeds out.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fall vegetable crops are categorized as long-term and short-term crops, their growing period depending on their cold tolerance and the date of the first killing frost. Some long-term crops include broccoli, cabbage, collards, kale, lettuce, mustard, onions and turnips to name just a few. The following crops, although considered warm season crops can be planted in late summer and harvested prior to frost and are referred to as short-term crops for fall gardens. They include snap beans, butter or lima beans, southern peas, squash, tomatoes, and peppers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Generally, fall crops tend to do better when started from transplants rather than seed. Always use transplants when growing tomatoes and peppers. Purchase the largest transplants available. Larger transplants cost more; however, their root systems will spread faster and the plants will produce more fruit sooner. If you plan to start with seed, left over seed from spring planting may be used in fall gardens if stored in a cool, dry location or in a freezer or refrigerator. Check maturity dates listed on seed packets to see if your crops will have enough time to mature before frost. Check for the estimated annual frost date for your area and count back on the calendar the number of days it will take for your plants to mature. Many vegetable planting guides list estimated maturity dates for vegetable crops and recommended planting dates for both spring and fall. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

South Carolina summers are hot and dry. Some soil types can form a crust that will inhibit germination of small, seeded crops. Cool season vegetables such as lettuce will not germinate at temperatures above 85 degrees F. Be sure to keep the soil moist until seedlings have emerged and provide adequate irrigation to prevent young seedlings from drying out. Newly transplanted seedlings will also benefit from regular light waterings until they have had a chance to develop adequate root systems.  Avoid over watering to prevent problems like \u201cdamping off\u201d.    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fertilizing fall planted crops can be challenging. Its common to rotate crops by replacing one crop with a different type of crop to help suppress soil-borne insects and diseases. If a heavy feeder crop like sweet corn is followed in the fall by a light feeder crop like southern peas there very well may be some residual soil fertility to reduce the fertilizer needed by the fall crop. On the other hand, if a heavy feeder crop follows a light feeding crop you will need to supply a complete fertilizer before planting. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s not uncommon for insects to be more abundant during the fall since they have all spring and summer to build up populations. Keep a sharp eye out for pests like stinkbugs, squash and pickle worms, fall armyworms and other foliage feeding caterpillars by scouting vegetables on a regular basis. If you find it necessary to control insect infestations with a pesticide, first make sure you have properly identified the pest. Many pest control failures are the result of improper pest identification and the application of the wrong pesticide. Next select the appropriate pesticide material for the pest in question and the crop intended for treatment. Read and follow all directions on the pesticide label including application timing and rates, reentry intervals, preharvest intervals, required personal protection equipment (such as gloves, long sleeved shirts and long pants, etc.) and proper disposal of empty pesticide containers. Pesticide labels contain a wealth of information intended  for the safe application of pest control products. Remember the label is the law! Insects pose an even greater challenge to organic production and gardeners who choose not to use pesticides have fewer control options.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

South Carolinas long growing season and usually mild winters that afford gardeners the opportunity to grow fresh vegetables throughout the entire year. So, if you have some freezer space or just want fresh vegetables for the table during the winter months consider starting a fall garden. Be sure to check out the Clemson Extension Home Garden Information Center and download a copy of the factsheet, Planning for Fall Garden Success\u2026.Now. <\/em>For more information on growing vegetables in the home garden contact the Clemson Extension Office. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Civil Rights Statement<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Marion Barnes, Senior County Extension Agent – Clemson University With temperatures in the mid to high 90\u2019s and the high humidity levels that is so common of the summer months in the low country, planning a fall garden may not be the minds of many home gardeners. As spring planted vegetables mature and production begins […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3978,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4930,70041,70314,70572,70898,71463,71749,905,72047,72613],"tags":[72614,15606,72616],"coauthors":[114926],"class_list":["post-2707","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-agribusiness","category-allendale","category-bamberg","category-barnwell","category-beaufort","category-colleton","category-hampton","category-horticulture","category-jasper","category-master-gardener","tag-berkeley","tag-charleston","tag-dorchester"],"fimg_url":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2707","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3978"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2707"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2707\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2711,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2707\/revisions\/2711"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2707"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2707"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2707"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=2707"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}]