Several Australian plant species evoke mixed feelings due to their varied impact. Florida is home to some imported species, such as the Melaleuca tree and Australian Pine trees, which are terribly invasive. In contrast, ornamental varieties like Lomandra ‘Breeze’, Australian violet (Viola hederacea), and Weeping Bottlebrush are highly valued for their aesthetic appeal and sustainability. The Weeping Bottlebrush is a gorgeous flowering tree easily recognizable for its vibrant, bottlebrush-like flowers that attract hummingbirds, and it performed well during the recent winter in Central Florida. Bottlebrushes may be grown as tall shrubs or multi-trunked weeping trees. As the plant matures, it develops dense foliage and requires maintenance under the canopy to achieve an umbrella-shaped appearance.
The Music of the Night
Florida Leopard Frog
As a child, during the Spring and Summer, I enjoyed listening to the frogs’ nightly chorus. Creating a natural habitat for frogs and toads is one of the most rewarding landscaping projects you can undertake. These curmudgeonly but helpful amphibians feed on many common garden pests, such as ants, beetles, flies, mosquitoes, slugs, and other small invertebrates. By encouraging frogs and toads to visit your yard, you'll help maintain a natural balance and reduce pests without using chemicals.
Florida native Fowler’s Toad, US Fish & Wildlife Services
Florida’s Native Frogs and Toads.
While butterflies enjoy “puddle stations, you can encourage frogs and toads to visit by building a “frog log” or a “toad abode” by creating shady nooks and moist crannies with rocks, sticks, logs, or upside-down broken pots with adequately sized openings, for shelter out of the sun and hiding places from predators. Let leaf litter from canopy trees fill in as mulch. Add native hydric or rain garden plants such as bog buttons, ferns, grasses, and mosses to complete your wetland habitat.
Including a low water feature in your toad habitat helps amphibians regulate their temperature, giving them a place to cool down. Garden saucers, salvage pottery, China plates, or bowls, placed level with the ground are all good choices. If the water depth exceeds six inches, be sure to add a stick, spoon, or ladder-like object so amphibians can easily climb out. Placing your water feature in an area that is irrigated will ensure that it has water in it frequently.
One of the most crucial recommendations for maintaining any wildlife habitat is to refrain from using pesticides and herbicides near the exterior of your residence. Applying pesticides can reduce available food sources for amphibians. Herbicide use will kill the plants that will shade and protect them.
Now, at night whenever I step outside after dark, I can hear their music, it’s serene and comforting, taking me back to my childhood. Welcome amphibians to your landscape to balance nature’s way, it’s one of the joys of Spring and Summer.
Check out these two DIY “toad abode” projects, courtesy of Pinterest and Homeandgarden.com.
Credit: Homeandgarden.com
Spring Flowers Have Sprung!
What to do In Your Backyard in April
April has our landscapes springing into action! Winter recovery is in full bloom with colorful azaleas this month. Tropicals are rebounding from the ground, and creativity and inspiration around every corner.
It’s time to put winter behind us. Cut back your winter-damaged plants or remove them. I was pleased to see the Giant Birds of Paradise regrowth, but their tall spears of leaves will not grow back. Most of the tropicals are growing back. I’m still concerned about avocados and mangos, some of the larger ones, I’m afraid are not going to recover.
Giant Bird of Paradises damaged by the Freeze of 2026. Just do it. Cut the stalks down.
Check out What to do In Your Backyard in April for tips on this month’s landscape chores. Planting vegetables, what to fertilize, and what pests to look out for. Be on the lookout for warnings from landscapers to dethatch lawns. It’s not always necessary and if you have a new lawn or a young lawn (less than 3 years old) it’s not likely that you will have thatch. Get a second opinion. Thatch is caused by excessive and years of overwatering and overfertilizing. It’s most commonly seen in older lawns. Another caution is that you are not watering enough. Depending on your city, county, or water management district, you are only allowed to water once or twice a week. This is fine for landscapes and turfgrass if they are established and healthy. Landscapes and turf that are not stressed out by high maintenance, only need 1.5” inches of rainfall or water. Watering more often or more than 2” of irrigation causes a short root system and short root systems will need more watering. Watering less often and only when needed actually encourages your landscape and turf root systems to grow deeper. Even with drought, landscapes do not need water more often, just consistent watering.
One highlight of my week was discovering these charming gnomes, perfect for your garden, patio, flower arrangement, terrarium, or even your desk. Their vibrant hues and sweet hats are sure to brighten anyone’s day. Each 4” gnome is priced at $8. Artists Kerri and Shelli offer USPS shipping for an additional fee, and if you’re in Orlando, they’ll coordinate pickup or delivery. Crafted by Kerri and her sister, each gnome is hand-poured, sanded, patched with cement, painted, antiqued, sealed with UV spray, and finished with a Triple Thick Gloss Glaze. Part of the proceeds supports Kerri’s dedication to caring for foster kittens awaiting adoption via The Pixel Fund. These gnomes make fantastic Easter basket additions—imagine a garden filled with gnomes to find throughout the year! Visit Kerri’s Facebook page to send her a message or contact me and I will put you in touch with Kerri. Her inspiring support for the Pixel Fund is to be commended.
Speaking of small creatures in your garden, I would like to everyone to add more wildlife habitat to their landscapes. My Landscape Design Tip this month, a beneficial DIY project adds accommodations that won’t take up much room and will help you cut down on pesticide use. Who knows? You might find a Prince!
Lizzie has found a solution for her overheated Buttercrunch lettuce, that keeps Lizzie laughing at her turkeys. Check out the Bourbon Red!
I need help with my Landscape Malpractice this month. It’s perfect for April. See if you can figure it out.
My Plant of the Month is perfect for Spring. Very colorful and attracts butterflies and hummingbird and can even provide shade. It did well in the freeze too this winter. That’s a plus!
May your springtime bring fresh inspiration and happiness to your gardens and landscapes. Please share updates on how your garden is flourishing and help In Your Backyard thrive by sharing my newsletter with friends and family. I’m eager to hear about your gardening experiences—perhaps we could discuss them during one of my garden tours! I’d be delighted to have you join me.
Photo credit: Lizzie Steele
Growing your own produce is already a victory, but the real joy? Handing those homegrown treasures to the turkeys. You’d think they’d be grateful. Nope. Turkeys are surprisingly picky eaters. I enjoy being creative with how to feed them the produce. Like winding around their fencing the Buttercrunch lettuce that decided to bold & grow tall.
Honestly, feeding them might be the funniest part of gardening.
Updates through “Lizzie Said What” socials. Remember, life can be a joyful journey. Enjoying all moments is up to YOU!
Palm tree declining in Orlando.
Managing a client installation in November 2025, I was taken aback to see a distressed palm tree in a neighbor’s yard. I felt compelled to help, though I wondered if the homeowner would even be receptive. After a discreet closer inspection, I discovered the root cause, realizing sadly that there was no remedy for this palm tree. What was the problem? Did it happen during the January 2026 freeze? Who is at fault?
I will post the diagnosis on Better Lawns and Gardens Facebook page on April 2, 2026 Facebook
What to do in your Backyard in April
April Calendar 2026
Average temperature: High 83 Low 60
Rainfall average: 2.42 inches
April is the month to celebrate National Gardening Month! Gardening is a wonderful way to exercise, breathe in fresh air, and get some sun. Celebrate your landscape, garden, or raised bed by trying a new plant, adding flowers, or a memento or a piece of art.
What can you plant?
Vegetables: Calabaza, cantaloupe, cassava, chayote, cherry and Everglades tomato, cucumber, dasheen, eggplant, Jerusalem artichoke, jicama, Korean spinach, lima bean, Malabar spinach, malanga, New Zealand spinach, okra, pepper, roselle, Seminole pumpkin, snap beans, squash, Southern pea, sweet potato, tamarillo, yam and yard-long bean.
Flowers: African daisy, ageratum, aster, bacopa, balsam, begonia, black-eyed Susan, blue daze, browallia, bush daisy, cat's whiskers, celosia, cleome, coleus, coreopsis, cosmos, crossandra, Dahlberg daisy, diascia, gazania, gaillardia, gerbera, goldenrod, impatiens, Joseph's coat, lantana, licorice plant, lisianthus, marigold, melampodium, Mexican sunflower, million bells, moon flower, nicotiana, nierembergia, pentas, periwinkle, porterweed, portulaca, purslane, salvia, sunflower, torenia and zinnia.
Bulbs: Asiatic lilies, achimenes, African iris, agapanthus, amaryllis, Amazon lily, blackberry lily, blood lily, bulbine, caladium, canna, crinum, dahlia, eucharis lily, gingers, gladioli, gloriosa lily, society garlic, tuberous begonias, and rain lily.
Herbs: Anise, basil, bay laurel, borage, cardamom, chives, coriander, dill, borage, edible ginger, lemon balm, oregano, Mexican tarragon, mint, oregano, rosemary, sage, savory, sweet marjoram and thyme.
Lawn care
Although lawns experienced stress due to the extreme cold winter temperatures, most should be undergoing recovery.
Remove dead grass to reduce thatch accumulation.
Patches of dead or recovering weeds are easily found and should be replaced with sod or plugs of grass.
Complete feeding of Bahia, Bermuda and St. Augustine lawns to encourage spring growth. Never apply fertilizer before a rain event.
Delay feeding centipede and zoysia lawns until they begin new growth.
Apply weed killer separately from fertilizer applications.
Weed killers should only be applied in temperatures lower than 85⁰.
Get a soil test before applying fertilizer to know what nutrients are needed.
Yellowing lawns can often be regreened with an iron-only application.
Check the soil acidity of all home lawns; adjust the pH if needed.
Mow zoysia lawns to the desired 2- to 3-inch height.
Starter fertilizers can be used with new lawns to supply phosphorus for root growth.
Chinch bug controls are often needed in the Spring for St. Augustine lawns.
To test for chinch bugs, use a hand vacuum to the outside of a dead area to check for insects. Count the chinch bugs, if less than 10 bugs, keep eye on area. If more than 10, apply pesticide to the green portions of lawn.
Mole crickets are back in Bahia, Bermuda and zoysia lawns; control as needed.
Spring is our normal dry season; water when lawns begin to show moisture stress as permitted. Never irrigate more than 2x a week.
Adjust sprinklers to avoid sidewalks and roadways and water only the turf.
Apply up to three-quarters of an inch of water at each irrigation.
Change the oil and service air filters of gas-powered equipment.
Sharpen mower blades when the cutting edges begin to dull.
Edge lawns growing along sidewalks.
Aerate older lawns and remove thatch if needed. Lawns less than 2 years old rarely need dethatching.
“Remember thatch is caused by overwatering and overfertilizing.”
Don’t fight the shade; consider another ground cover for these problem spots.
Landscape chores
Walk yards on a weekly basis to inspect shrubs and trees to catch problems early.
Prune shrubs this month before new shoots form.
Many plants that suffered damage in winter should be showing new growth by now.
Prune the dead from declining plants several inches above a node into healthy wood.
Remove branches that cross other limbs or are growing too close.
Prune spring flowering trees and shrubs after the blossoms fade.
Keep palms healthy; only remove the brown fronds plus fruiting stems as needed.
Rake and use leaves as mulch or compost them for later use in gardens.
Keep weeds under control by removing them weekly.
Plant a tree on National Arbor Day April 24th.
Remove declining cool season annuals and add spring warm weather selections.
Make sure the root balls of all plant are moist at planting time.
Create tree rings with berms at the edge of root balls of new trees and shrubs to direct water to the roots.
To encourage growth, give poinsettias a spring trimming; repot new ones or add them to the landscape.
Maintain 2- to 3-inch mulch layers with trees and shrubs.
Water annuals and perennials when the soil begins to dry or they show signs of wilting.
Use slow-release fertilizers that will feed landscape plants for months.
Palms need specific nutrients; use 8-2-12-4Mg (UF/IFAS) fertilizers made for palms every 3 to 4 months.
Inspect older trees and trim as needed before the hurricane season begins.
Be safe; have arborist do the pruning of larger and older trees.
Trim old flower stalks from amaryllis, amazon lilies and other spring flowering plants.
Water new plantings as needed to keep the soil moist.
Divide your perennials this month, ideally before the hottest weather sets in.
Train vines to a trellis or arbor.
Create a resource for wildlife and pollinators, add a water feature to the landscape, clean established ones.
Transplant and feed water lilies and bog plants.
Fruit & vegetable plantings
Hurry to plant tomatoes, peppers and eggplants transplants (not seeds) in the garden.
Select larger transplants for this time of the year.
Remove cool season crops completing their harvests and add the seeded crops.
Cut back tropical fruit trees damaged by winter freeze but still alive.
Many bananas were damaged by the cooler weather; remove declining portions.
Tropicals should be coming back from winter freezes, if not, throw away.
Citrus greening has become a devastating problem; remove severely affected trees.
Control citrus psyllids by spraying Neem85 at each flush of growth; use sprays or soil treatments according to label.
Apply Southern Ag minor nutrient spray to citrus trees at each flush of growth.
Finish granular spring feedings of all fruit trees.
Start sweet potatoes to have transplants for May.
Plant tropical vegetables that won’t mind the summer heat and humidity.
Complete herb plantings before hot weather arrives; many will grow easily in bright shade in summer.
Feed vegetable plantings lightly every 3 to 4 weeks or use a slow-release fertilizer as labeled.
Help maintain a moist soil with a 2- to 3-inch mulch layer with all but citrus.
Add edible fruit bearing trees, shrubs and vines to the landscape.
Blueberries need very acidic soil with 4.5 to 5.5 pH; check soil pH before planting.
Grow blueberries in pine bark fines in planting holes or in containers.
Transplant papaya seedlings to the landscape, keep moist and feed monthly.
Foliage & Indoor plants
Provide indoor foliage plants with a filtered sun location outdoors to encourage new growth.
Groom to reshape and remove declining portions.
Trim overgrown stems of foliage plants to make cuttings.
Rootbound foliage plants that have been in their containers for years will benefit from taking them out of their pots, cutting a third of the roots off, add new soil and replant in same container.
Trim Christmas and holiday cactus if needed to keep compact; root the cuttings.
Give foliage plants a spring feeding with a slow-release fertilizer.
Add a saucer to plants on patios to capture and conserve water for use.
Transplant amaryllis that flowered during the winter to the garden or grow in containers.
Wash away dust and insects from leaves and stems.
Insects like scale, mealy bugs & thrips may need an insecticidal soap or oil spray for control.
Your orchid blooms can easily be propagated after blooming to produce new plants. Fabulous Instagram video show how easily it can be done.
Move orchids & bromeliads outdoors to a shady location.
Repot orchids & bromeliads when they begin spring growth as needed and begin feedings.
Visit independent garden centers to see Spring 2026 new varieties to purchase.
Most forced bulbs cannot be regrown in Florida; toss the plants and keep the containers.
Consider using foliage plants for shady landscape sites instead of turf.
Photo credit: www.Heirloomroses.com, Pinterest, www.floribundance.com, Teresa Watkins
Rosa chinensis ‘Viridiflora’
A China rose with green sepals instead of petals. This rose attains a height of 3 to 5 feet and has a shrubby growth habit, making it suitable for border plantings or as an ornamental feature. Zoned 5 through 10, as well as its tolerance of shade,
Green Tea: Pale Green Hybrid Tea
Hybrid tea rose grown in South America showcases a pale green, nearly white, double blossoms with a traditional rose form. Grows to a height of 3–4 feet.
Green Romantica®
The Hybrid Tea variety, bred for its distinct green hues, is noted for its subtle fragrance and gentle green coloration. Available on Heirloom Roses dot com.
Lemonade: Chartreuse Cabbage Rose
This rose features large, chartreuse-green, ruffled blooms and sturdy heads, ideal for centerpieces. It grows 3–4 feet tall with a bushy form.
St. Patrick, Hybrid Tea Rose
I have grown this lovely yellow rose, indeed tinged with green, displays striking chartreuse buds and large 5-inch flowers with more than 35 petals. Its bushy form blooms continuously, and the grey-green leaves provide a perfect contrast to the blossoms.
www.heirloomroses.com and specialty growers.
Pink Tabebuia heterophylla in Winter Park.
Welcome to In Your Backyard! Traditionally, March comes in like a lion but this year, it came in like a lamb and before we know it, it will start to roar! The winter freeze was very traumatic to Floridians, especially new residents who have never experienced winter in Florida. Yes, Virginia, Florida does have a winter season. And it doesn’t last long – three to four days – and then the warm sunshine returns with 80-degree temperatures. The benefits of living in Florida is that we do have flowers blooming all year long and seasonal color, including Autumn. Record-setting heat this month is expected across the country, with Florida experiencing warmer-than-usual temperatures in the 70s and 80s this month—something typically not seen until April. Even after a once in a century winter freezes, Florida’s Tabebuia trees do not let us down. Gorgeous pink and yellow flowering trees can be seen all over Central and South Florida in March.
I love seeing the explosion of color in March in our landscapes from flowers like amaryllis and orchids to camellias and gardenias. Do you have color in your yard year-round? I love seeing the explosion of color in March in our landscapes from flowers like amaryllis and orchids to camellias and gardenias. Do you have color in your yard year-round? Maybe this year while you are replacing all the plants in the yard that succumbed to the freeze, try adding Zone 8 - 10 evergreen plants that will not get winter-shock and will flower most of the year.
Check out what to do in your landscape to help spur recovery with “What to Do In Your Landscape in March” post. I provide bulbs, edibles, and perennials to add to your yard right now plus everything to ensure your turf has a good start in Spring. Better Lawns and Gardens producer Lizzie Steele enjoys her landscape’s beauty and shares photos of her flowers. Check out Lizzie’s Garden Adventures! Lizzie and I would love to know what’s blooming in your yard.
Mangos are a tasty and widely enjoyed tropical fruit that thrive in Central and South Florida. There's a large, beautifully shaped mango tree on my street, that on January 7th had literally thousands of blooms on it. On January 29th, I felt relieved it still looked healthy two days after the freeze. Unfortunately, my relief was short-lived—the tree is now in poor condition and won't bear fruit this year, but I'm hoping it will still pull through to keep its lovely structure. I will update you with a photo of the tree in June. Stay tuned!
Literally thousands of mango blossoms.
All burnt from the freeze and will drop all it’s leaves and flowers. Sad.
Is your lawn still brown? Have you wondered if your lawn is going to recover? I had Mark Kann, President of the Florida Turfgrass Association to get his insight as to determining if your lawn is dead or just dormant. You can hear Mark’s interview with his tips on fertilizing your turf this Spring here on Better Lawns and Gardens’ podcast.
One ofThe Villages Golf course in dormancy after the freeze. The hole was painted green.
Have you been to the Florida Wildflower Festival in Deland? It’s a wonderful opportunity to learn about wildflowers, buy native flowers, wildflowers, garden art, and Florida-friendly plants. The free festival will be held this year on March 28th, with lots of plany vendors, speakers, and a chance to experience the quaint town of Deland. I will be teaching a class on Florida’s wild pollinators; some you may not know about! It’s always a beautiful day and a fun city to experience. The garden art and crafts are beautiful and the plants, some hard-to-find, are reasonably priced. And it’s FREE to attend! Don’t miss it.
Wildflower, Queen Anne’s Lace, Daucus carota.
Update on our exciting Art in Bloom Garden Tours: The Revolutionary Garden Tour in April and The Best of English Gardens and the Chelsea Flower Show is sold out! Our tours still have availability for a few more on our Newport Flower Show and Martha’s Vineyard in June (Great time to go on a garden adventure!), my favorite Garden Walk Buffalo and Niagara Falls, Canada tour, the Artiste Gardens of France in August, the Grand Gardens of Brandywine in September (great time to visit these palatial gardens), and the fun Ethereal Gardens of New Orleans in October. Check them all out at www.artinbloomgardentours.com
The Nemour’s Estate on the Grand Gardens of the Brandywine Valley garden tour.
People often ask me if I can recommend a landscaping company. I am always pleased to share Otis Outdoors of Central Florida. For over eight years, owner Mickey Howell and his team have been responsible for installing my client’s landscapes. They are dedicated professionals who not only assist with installation but also offer monthly maintenance services for your landscape. If you need something done in your landscape, give Mickey a call.
Check out more of my landscape ideas with Teresa’s Design Tips, my Plant of the Month, and the popular Landscape Malpractice – or How to Know When To Fire Your Landscape Tip #44.
Please share my newsletter with friends and family. Follow me on Facebook and Instagram. I would love to connect with you.
No need to be befuddled. There is lots to do in the garden and landscapes this month, but the weather will be beautiful and it looks like we will have some rain. Enjoy the early Spring!
I am truly impressed by the resilience of the flowers, which have maintained their beauty despite experiencing unusually cold temperatures. Considering the occurrence of freezes—albeit infrequent in the state of Florida—it is remarkable that such growth and aesthetic appeal continue to thrive.
Updates through “Lizzie Said What” socials. Remember, life can be a joyful journey. Enjoying all moments is up to YOU!
A listener from Better Lawns and Gardens wrote in about a year-old tree that hasn't grown and appears unhealthy. While planting a tree might seem as simple as digging a hole, proper planting involves more steps to ensure healthy growth for years to come.
You’ll notice that this winged elm tree is quite slender, and its roots appear to be girdling. Fortunately, the homeowner reached out just in time! Let's ensure this native Florida tree is planted properly.
First, it needs to have a mulched area around the base. The grass is competing with the elm tree's roots for water and nutrients. So, mulching around the tree will be the last step. First, dig the tree up and look at the root ball. If you do not see any new roots, wash all the dirt away and gently open up the root system and untangle, if it needs it. It does appear that this tree’s above ground roots are girdling. Washing the roots won't hurt when it's this young but again be gentle. If roots have grown together or too entangled, select a few roots that can be cut diagonally that will allow you to spread the roots freely.
Place the tree in a hole that is twice as wide as its root ball and ensure it sits about two inches above ground level. The base flare of the tree should remain visible above the soil by approximately two inches. Cover the roots with soil, keeping the flare exposed. (See graphic). Fill the hole with soil and water deeply, eliminating any air pockets.
Next, form a six-foot circle around the tree and apply three inches of organic mulch, taking care not to cover the root flare. Add slow-release fertilizer on top of the root ball (not inside the hole). Provide 1 to 3 inches of water each week through hand watering until the rainy season begins. New trees require consistent watering for at least three to five years, or longer during droughts. Fruit trees generally need more frequent watering.
Thank you to S. for the use of their photos.
