This should be the last month of cold weather before we return to our typical South Florida temperatures. As we enter this transition period we need to visually assess our landscape plant material for the coming new year. We need to ask the following. How did the landscape plants respond to the cold weather? Growing in the shade? Growing in full sunlight? Did it get too much water? Not enough drainage? Too little water? Do i need to add sprinkler heads? Do I fertilize enough? What type of fertilizer do i use? As you can see there are many questions you must answer in order to have a healthy landscape. We will address the things to do this month in the landscape.
What to do this month:
- Fertilize complete lawn grass areas to improve color. A longer-lasting controlled time-released fertilizer provides excellent results. Choose a fertilizer with no or very little phosphorus unless soil requires it.
- Fertilize shrubs and palms by spreading evenly over soil surface & watering it in.
- Mulch fertilized areas to conserve moisture & to reduce weeds.
- Delay pruning any cold weather damage till new growth appears.
- Apply weed & feed preemergence weed killer to lawns late this month to prevent germination of warm-season weed seed.
- Disease-susceptible varieties of avocado & mango may require applications of copper fungicide.
- Fertilize citrus trees where frequency & amount of fertilizer will depend on the age of the tree.
Planting to do list:
- Excellent annual performers in South Florida’s mild winter include sun-patiens, dianthus, lobelia and verbena.
- Many different bulbs can be divided from clumps including Amazon lily, crinum and agapanthus. Adequate water for establishment will be required.
- Areas where grass doesn’t grow good, try planting drought-tolerant, low-maintenance ground covers.
- Winter vegetable gardening is in full swing. This is the last month to plant cucumbers, cantaloupe, egg plant, lettuce, peppers, spinach & tomatoes. Be sure to protect all newly planted plants from any late weather frost.
Until next month Happy Gardening!
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 again to UF/IFAS extension office for providing some information to this article. Until next month Happy Gardening!