Gardening In Florida
Gardening Calendar
February - North and Central Florida - Prune Crate Myrtle, and Gardenias back. ("Crepe Murder" is the amusing expression used to describe the wide spread, late winter mutilation of Crepe Myrtle trees commonly committed by well-intentioned gardeners each spring. Many gardeners and landscapers wait too long to prune. When vigorous growth results in heavy, yet weak (and broken) branches, they start to lop off the tree's limbs in an effort to control growth and fix its appearance. This practice of overzealous pruning almost always results in a proliferation of knobby stumps and crowds of sprouting suckers that over time, work to completely diminish the lovely flowing appearance of the tree. A regular regime of light pruning in various places will prevent this, while invigorating the tree and improving its overall strength. And while pruning isn't required for the health of your tree, a complete lack of pruning usually results in a weak spindly tree with fewer flowers. It's best to pick a variety that will grow to your desired height, and then prune it lightly to maintain its size. If necessary, remove limbs from inside the tree's canopy that cross or hang too low, by removing the entire branch so that it's flush with the tree's trunk. Remember that any stubs you leave while pruning will encourage new shoots. Start Spring garden inside from seed using lights.
March - North and Central Florida - Frost is still
Possible - Now is a good time to plant the first spring bloomers
such as tulip magnoia,
lady banks rose, white spirea, redbud, azaleas, loropetalum and
fruit trees. Cool weather annuals such as pansies, petunias, diathus
and snapdragons
will
bloom well into May if watered properly.
September - Prune, and while the ladder is out, might as
well clean gutters. Leave large trees to the professionals - once
a year now. Smaller shrubs, to avoid taking too much of the plant,
prune, every two to three months.
October - Mulch - at least 3 to 4 inches deep will last
4-6 months
This will prevent weeds while keeping the soil moist, as well as adding
nutrients to your garden soil. Plant winter gardens - Flowering Annuals. Plant Onions to bloom in the spring, Cilantro, and Chives.
November - Fertalize at the end of Oct. or first thing November.
Plant autumn flowers through February. Petunias, Pansies, Violas,
ageratum, Dianthus. Dill, Parsley and Rosemary. Fertalize every 6 weeks with 6-6-6. Plant winter
Rye grass, if that is your plan for the lawn. Brocolli and Cabbage.
December- Pull any autumn blooms at the end of the month, they are done.
Links
University of Florida on Lawns |
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