As our temperatures begin to slowly cool, all our planting material will require much less watering. November is the beginning of our dry system. Plants may need irrigation if the weather stays warm and dry. Monitor for signs of stress, and water only as needed. Over watering will produce fungus, as well as excessive weeds in the grass & planted areas. Irrigation systems timers should be turned off and water should be used only as needed to conserve water and save money. Broward County is still under water restrictions were watering should only be done twice per week.
Landscaping Check List:
Planting…
Vegetables: Beans, Beets, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Carrots, Cauliflower, Celery, Chinese Cabbage, Collards, Cucumbers, Endive, Escarole, Kale, Kohlrabi, Leek, Lettuce, Onion Sets, Parsley, Peppers, Pumpkins, Rhubarb, Romaine, Rutabagas, Spinach, Squash, Strawberries, Sweet Corn, Swiss Chard, Tomatoes, Turnips and almost any other vegetable you desire.
Herbs: Anise, Basil, Borage, Chives, Chervil, Coriander, Fennel, Garlic, Lavender, Marjoram, Mint, Parsley, Rosemary, Sage, Sesame, Sweet Marjoram, Thyme and most other herbs.
Flowers: One of the most popular holiday plants to use this month is the poinsettia. It can be used indoors for the holidays and planted back to the garden to re-bloom next year. Amaryllis, Asters, Baby’s Breath, Balsam, Calendulas, Carnations, Daisies, Dianthus, Gladiolas, Lace Flowers, Lilies, Lobelias, Marigolds, Pansies, Salvias, Snapdragons, Strawflowers, Verbenas, and other cool season flowers.
Bulbs: Amaryllis is a popular plant for the holiday season. They can be forced to bloom now or planted outdoors for spring blooms.
Tending To…
Irrigation: Plants may need irrigation if the weather continues to be warm and dry. Monitor all lawn & plant areas for signs of stress and water only as needed.
Fungal disease: Inspect regularly for brown patch and large patch fungal disease in the turf areas through the month of May. Cultural practices are key to control.
Houseplants: Inspect regularly for pests on indoor plants. Keep in mind that temperature, light, and humidity are key to ensuring that indoor plants thrive.
Soil Test: If plants did not perform as good as desired this year or new plantings are being planned, a soil test may be a good idea.
Compost: Composting plant waste & organic household waste is environmentally friendly and can produce a beneficial soil amendment to flower beds or mulch. Plant debris provides the carbon ingredient needed for successful composting.
Pests: While cooler weather generally means fewer pests, some bug populations actually increase at this time of year. Continued monitoring and treat as needed.
Protect: When temperatures fall below 50 degrees, some of the more tender plants such as orchids, impatiens and most vegetables may require some form of protection from the cold air. Don’t forget to bring pets indoors!!!
If you need help regarding your landscaping, we at Garden Services are fully licensed & insured to handle all your irrigation, landscaping, lawn maintenance and tree service needs whether it’s a residential, commercial landscaping or homeowner association property. If you ever have any comments or questions, please don’t hesitate to call or email me and I’ll be happy to answer any questions that you might have. Special thanks to UF/IFAS extension for some helpful information provided in this post.
Until next month Happy Gardening!