171 - Mastering Perennials in Southern Heat and Humidity - Kata Wallace

Do you often find it a challenging to grow perennials in the heat and humidity of the south?In this episode wetalk with Kata Kress Wallace about the best ways to overcome those challenges.It’s no secret thatperennials love the full sun, but what about those dry shady gardens? She’llshed some light on that.Kata shares somesimple low maintenance techniques that will be well worth your efforts and shealso throws in a deer reptant fun fact.Living in Durham NorthCarolina Kata has the opportunity to interact with thousands of gardeners asthe southeastern product manager for Walters Gardens.She has been closelytied to the nursery industry all throughout her life. Her father owns a nurseryin Austria named Sarastro Stauden that specializes in unique and rare plants. Kata came to theUnited States interning at Plant Delights Nursery with Tony Avent after earninga master’s degree in Geography and Spanish.She also ledinternational crews at HoffmanNursery asGarden Coordinator and production Supervisor responsible for producing millionsof grass liners. In 2019 she receivedthe Young Professional Award from the Perennial Plant Association and was namedto the GreenhouseProduct News 40 Under 40 Class of 2020.Time Line00:00 Introduction to The Garden Question Podcast00:41 Overcoming Challenges of Growing Perennials in the South01:15 Meet Kata Kress Wallace: A Gardening Expert02:29 The Popularity and Genetics of Perennials03:19 Tips for Successful Perennial Gardening04:45 Challenges and Solutions for Southern Gardeners13:34 The Process of Introducing New Plants to the Market20:40 Breeding and Trialing New Perennial Varieties26:18 Deer Resistance and Dry Shade Gardening29:41 Choosing the Right Perennials for Your Garden30:46 Top Pollinator Plants to Consider32:30 Heucheras: Tips and Tricks34:48 Maintenance Practices for Perennials38:34 Dividing and Replanting Perennials40:07 Designing a Low-Irrigation Landscape43:10 Personal Gardening Stories and Lessons45:15 Insights on Horticulture and Gardening52:13 Walter's Gardens and Final Thoughts