What To Do In Your Backyard in April

Water Conservation Month

Average temperature        High 83     Low 60

Rainfall 2.42 inches

 Time to plant

 Vegetables: Calabaza, cantaloupe, cassava, chayote, cherry tomato, cucumber, dasheen, eggplant, Jerusalem artichoke, jicama, 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, crocosmia, 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

• Cold winter temperatures affected lawns but most survived and have begun growth.

• Patches of dead or recovering weeds are easily found and should be replaced with grass plugs or sod.

• Complete feeding of Bahiagrass, Bermuda, and St. Augustine lawns to encourage spring growth.

• Delay feeding Centipede and Zoysia lawns until they begin new growth.

• Do not use weed and feed. Use herbicides separately.

• Do not use herbicides in temperatures over 85 degrees.

• Identify your weeds and the herbicides that provide control; make applications as needed.

• Get a soil test before fertilizing lawns.

• Fertilized but yellow lawns can often be regreened with an iron-only application.

• Mow Zoysia lawns to the desired 2- to 3-inch height.

• Starter fertilizers can be used with new lawn installations to supply phosphorus for root growth.

• Check for chinch bugs before applying insecticide for St. Augustine lawns.

• Mole crickets are back in Bahia, Bermuda and Zoysia lawns; control as needed. 

• Spring is our dry season; water when lawns begin to show moisture stress as permitted.

• 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 for a total of 1” – 1.5” of irrigation.

• Change the oil and service air filters of gas-powered equipment.

• Sharpen mower blades every five mowings.

• Edge lawns growing along sidewalks.

• Lawns needing aeration are usually over-fertilized and overwatered.

• Don’t fight the shade; consider another ground cover for these problem spots.

 Landscape chores

• Don’t waste plant growth; do needed pruning before new shoots form.

• Many plants normally affected by cold are still green; prune these to keep them in bounds. 

• Prune the dead from declining plants several inches into healthy wood.

• Redirect the growth of out of bounds shoots and thin trees and shrubs as needed.

• 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 the gardens.

• Keep weeds under control; keep mulch at 3” – 4”.

• Only mulch till you can see the flare at the base of the tree and shrub.

• Plant a tree, shrub, or vine on National Arbor Day April 30.

• Remove declining cool season annuals and add warm season selections

• Make sure the root balls of all plants are moist at planting time.

• Build a ring at the edge of root balls of new trees and shrubs to direct water to the roots.

• Give all poinsettias a spring trimming; repot new ones. or add them to the landscape.

• Maintain 2- to 3-inch mulch layers with trees and shrubs; one inch in flower beds.

• Water annuals and perennials when the soil is dry and warm 2” -3” below soil.

• Use slow-release fertilizers that can feed landscape plants for months.

• Palms need special feedings; use 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 perennials before the hot weather arrives.

• Train vines to a trellis or arbor.

• Add a water feature to the landscape, or clean the one(s) you have.

• Transplant and feed water lilies and bog plants.

 Fruit & vegetable plantings

• Hurry to plant tomatoes, peppers and eggplants transplants in the garden. Time for seeds is over.

• Select larger transplants for this time of the year.

• Remove cool season crops completing their harvests and add the seeded crops.

• Many bananas were damaged by the cooler weather; remove declining portions. Trim tropicals unaffected by cold as needed to keep them in bounds.

• Control citrus psyllids at each flush of growth; use organic pyrethrin sprays or soil treatments as instructed.

• Apply minor nutrient sprays to citrus trees at each flush of growth.

• Finish granular spring feedings of all fruit trees.

• Start sweet potatoes to have transplants for May.

• Complete herb plantings before hot weather arrives; many grow best in containers.

• Feed vegetable plantings lightly with a balanced slow release fertilizer according to the label.

• Help maintain a moist soil with a 2- to 3-inch mulch layer.

• Add edible fruit bearing trees, shrubs and vines to the landscape.

• Blueberries need a very acid soil; have the soil pH checked before planting.

• Grow blueberries in pine bark fines or adjust the acidity with Espoma soil acidifier.

• Transplant papaya seedlings to the landscape, keep moist and feed monthly.

 Foliage & Indoor plants

• Groom to reshape and remove declining foliage.

• Trim overgrown stems of foliage plants to make cuttings.

• Repot foliage plants that have outgrown their containers.

• Trim 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 insecticidal soap or oil spray for control.

• Fungal gnats are a sign of overwatering. Use Mosquito Bits™ for fungal gnat control and only water when the soil is dry.  

• Move orchids & bromeliads outdoors to a shady location.

• Repot orchids & bromeliads when they begin spring growth as needed and begin feedings.

• Bromeliads that have bloomed will start to decline. Look for the new pups and cut the mother plant out.

• Most forced bulbs cannot be regrown in Florida; toss the plants and keep the containers.

• Consider using foliage ground covers for shady landscape sites instead of grass. 

What To Do In Your Backyard In March

Average temperature      High 79    Low 56

Rainfall 3.54 inches

Spring arrives: March 20th.

Move irrigation to 2x a week watering on Daylight Savings Time Day.

Time to plant

Vegetables: Bean, calabaza, cantaloupe, cassava, chayote, corn,  cucumbers, dasheen, eggplant, Jerusalem artichoke, jicama, luffa, malanga, New Zealand spinach, okra, pepper, pumpkin, southern peas, squash, tamarillo, tomato, and watermelon. 

Flowers: African daisy, ageratum, aster, azalea, bacopa, balsam, begonia, black-eyed Susan, blue daze, bush-daisy, celosia, cleome, coleus, coreopsis, cosmos, dahlia, Dahlberg daisy, daylily, diascia, dusty miller, four o'clock, gaillardia, gardenia, gazania, goldenrod, hibiscus, Hollywood Hibiscus™, impatiens, ixora, Joseph's coat, King’s mantle, licorice plant, marigold, melampodium, Mexican heather, million bells, moon vine, morning glory, New Guinea impatiens, nierembergia, pentas, plumbago, roses, salvia, strawflower, tithonia, torenia, verbena, vinca, Whirling Butterflies, and zinnia. 

Herbs: Anise, basil, bay laurel, borage, cardamon, chervil, chives, coriander, costmary, dill, fennel, ginger, lemon balm, sweet marjoram, Mexican tarragon, mint, oregano, rosemary, sage, thyme and watercress. 

Bulbs: Achimenes, African iris, African-lily, amaryllis, blood lily, bulbine, caladium, canna, crinum, crocosmia, dahlia, daylily, eucharis lily, gingers, gladiolus, gloriosa lily, Louisiana iris, rain lily, tuberose and walking iris.

Lawn Care

• Winter weather has browned many lawns; they should regreen quickly this month.

• Brown leaf blades do not have to be removed but can be raked out if you wish.

• It’s seeding time for Bahia and Centipede lawns.

• Get a soil test before fertilizing each Spring. 

• UF AgriTech Soil Test Kit https://bit.ly/41N19B7

•  St. Augustine, Bahia and Bermuda lawns are ready for a spring fertilizer application.

• Delay feedings of centipede and zoysia lawns until they regreen in late March or April.

• Identify weeds before using general herbicide.

• Time for using pre-emergent herbicide products is over.

• Apply separate herbicide for weeds if necessary. No need for weed and feed products.

• Do not use glyphosate or other herbicides as an “edger.” Edge with garden edgers or spade.

• Many weed control products cannot be used near trees and shrubs, check label restrictions.

• Mow lawns at their normal height; there is no need to change blade height for spring. 

• Hurry to remove patches of brown weeds and resod the areas.

• Check for chinch bugs by using a hand-held vacuum cleaner. Apply insecticide if more than 20 chinch bugs are found.

• Control fire ants in lawns; treat the entire lawn following label instructions.

• Consider a substitute ground cover in areas smaller than 4’ wide, hard to mow, or problem areas where grass won’t grow.

• Have lawn care equipment serviced; change oil, check air filters and sharpen blades. 

In the Landscape

• Cold weather damaged many tender shrubs and perennials; do needed pruning this month. You can cut your shrub by ⅓ and not stress the plant too much. Water well before and after pruning.

• Clear perennial plantings of debris and add new selections.

• Control your landscape by trimming tree out of bounds shoots and limbs.

• Wait to prune spring flowering shrubs until the blossoms fade.

• No need to hack crape myrtles and commit ‘crape murder’. Remove only seed pods and twiggy portions smaller than little finger.

• Consider needed tree trimming; have the work performed now before hurricane season.

• Trim declining fronds and old flower stems from palms but leave any fronds that are green.

• Complete pruning of bush-type roses; prune climbers when the spring blooms fade.

• Trim and divide ornamental grasses before they begin spring growth.

• Cool & warm seasons meet in March; continue to plant most cool and warm season flowers.

• Add trees, palms, shrubs and vines to the landscape.

• Water new plantings frequently until they grow roots into the surrounding soils.

• Cool-season weeds are still growing; control before they become too plentiful.

• Reapply mulch layers to bring mulch up to 3”.

• Trim poinsettias to within 12” to 18” from ground and begin feedings.

• Apply fertilizer to palms, shrubs and perennials.

• Established shade and flowering trees normally do not need special feedings.

• Check plants for scale insects and control with natural sprays as needed.

• Water established plants only when they show signs of wilting or moisture stress

• Divide and replant perennials.

• Replant container gardens with spring flowers.

• Divide outdoor orchids and begin every other week feedings with a diluted fertilizer solution.

• Turn fallen leaves into compost or use as mulch.

• Feed container gardens with a slow-release  fertilizer following label instructions.

• Give power equipment a spring checkup.

• Clean bird houses, bird baths and fountains.

• Remove debris from water gardens and repot lilies. 

Vegetable and fruit care.

• Early March is tomato, pepper, and eggplant planting time; set new plants in the ground.

• Keep covers handy to protect cold sensitive crops until mid month.

• Remove winter vegetables as they decline and plant warm season crops.

• Select pest resistant varieties to avoid insect and disease problems.

• Plant short rows every few weeks of seeded crops to extend the harvest season.

• Use bush forming crops instead of vining types in crowded gardens.

• Herbs flourish during the warmish weather; almost all do well now.

• Garden pests including aphids, whiteflies and mites are active; use a natural control.

• Spring growth is underway; complete all fruit tree pruning.

• Prune cold damaged tropical fruits to remove brown leaves and declining stems.

• Identify the type of grapes you are growing to obtain  proper pruning and care information.

• Pineapples start flowering this month; maintain a good care program.

• Feed all fruit bearing trees, shrubs and vines at this time.

• Add new fruiting trees, shrubs, and vines to the landscape.

• Select warm locations for new tropical fruits.

• Maintain citrus tree vigor with the first of the new year feedings.

• Apply a minor nutrient spray to citrus trees at each flush of new growth

• Control Asian psyllids; apply an insecticide labeled for citrus at each flush of growth.

• Add container herb and vegetable gardens to crowded landscapes.

• Construct raised beds for easy maintenance.

• Reapply mulch to fruit trees.

• Fertilize vegetables lightly every 2 to 3 weeks or use a slow-release fertilizer.

• Train vining vegetables to a trellis to save space.

• Sprout sweet potatoes to produce transplants.

• Install water conserving sprinklers in fruit and vegetable plantings. 

Foliage & indoor plants chores

• Some foliage plants have been affected by the cold; trim and add more soil if needed.

• Repot plants filling their containers with roots.

• Replace declining plants with low light tolerant varieties.

• Groom indoor plants to remove yellowing leaves and faded blooms.

• Trim Christmas and holiday cactus and begin more frequent waterings and feedings.

• Wash dust and pests from indoor plant foliage with a mild (not antibacterial) soapy solution.

• Move orchids outdoors or to a bright area and begin every other week feedings.

• Treat forced bulbs as temporary and add to compost pile when finished blooming.  

• Check for mealy bugs, mites, and other pests. Treat according to label.

• Visit your local independent nursery centers for new plant varieties.

“Love, exciting and new, come along, we welcome you.” Okay, so the theme song isn’t exactly about gardening, but if showcases my feeling. Welcome to all the new subscribers and listeners to my monthly newsletter, “In Your Backyard.” February is the time to gear up for gardening in Florida. It has definitely warmed up (thank you, La Niña), with new leaves pushing out and up, perennial flowers and shrubs available in the nurseries, and the urge to plant is in the air. Speaking of gardening and love, I want to send out love to all the garden clubs that I get to speak to. Talk about growing! Garden clubs are the place to be! Pictured above are one of the fun activities of holiday floral arrangements. The beautiful floral centerpieces were created by members of the New Smyrna Beach Garden Club for their February meeting. I mention garden clubs frequently in my talks and on my radio show, Better Lawns and Gardens, because garden clubs are so active, inside and outside, and welcoming. If you are new to Florida and interested in learning about gardening and learning about your landscape, join a local garden club! You can find a garden club near you on the Florida Federation of Garden Clubs website.

February is when showstopping pink Trumpet trees start to bloom. Appropriately named, the flowers of the Trumpet tree resemble the musical instruments. Fast-growing and relatively pest-free, Handroanthus impetiginosus, make a beautiful street tree. I think that a neighborhood of Trumpet trees would be a strong challenger of cherry blossom trees in Spring. Did you know that Trumpet trees, also called Ipê, Ironwood, and Brazilian walnut, is also one of the strongest and hardest woods on the globe. It is considered the best lumber to use for composite decking? Known for its fire, insect, and scratch resistance, Ipê decking is also cooler to bare feet. Ipê lumber sold in the United States is harvested legally and sustainably.

With the summer-like temperatures already upon us, you’ll love all the different flowers, herbs, trees, and vegetables you can plant in February. It’s also a short month to get those landscape chores done. Just a couple of quick tips: Don’t plant rye seed anymore – as the temperatures reach 80 degrees and above, it will quickly decline, and be leery of buying beautiful winter annuals blooming like delphiniums, foxgloves, and pansies. With the heat, if they last a month, you will be lucky. Read what you should do in February here.

Congratulations to Lizzie who has her hands full of love in this month’s adventure. You can read more to see her new bundles of joy.

My Plant of the Month is also one of my favorite tropical topics. It’s a low-maintenance, colorful plant that looks good in the ground, in the air, or as a thriller in your pool garden container. With over 2,700 species to choose from, it’s not hard to become addicted to collecting all the these beautiful varieties available in Florida.

Thinking of wearing white cottony outfits, summer trips to the beach, visiting coastal lighthouses, and promenade through beautiful gardens? Join me and other garden lovers as we tour the ‘Gilded Age’ vacation destination of the rich, Newport, Rhode Island. We will attend the premier Newport Flower Show at Rosecliff Mansion, stroll the coast on Narragansett Bay, take photos of yourself next to life-sized animal topiaries, and meander on the grounds of New England’s finest estate, Blithewold Mansion and Arboretum, where you can view Champion trees and Giant sequoias, relaxing with afternoon tea, and more. Only 6 more spots left. Dates are June 19th – June 23rd, 2025, 5 days, 4 nights. More Information.

Send me your garden questions and comments. Thank you for reading “In Your Backyard.” I love knowing you are out there!

February Calendar

Average temperature High 74 Low 51

Rainfall 2.35 inches

Central Florida’s average last frost date; February 15.

What to plant

Vegetables: Plant through mid-month; beets, broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, celery, collards, endive, kohlrabi, lettuce, mustard, peas, potatoes, radishes, Swiss chard and turnips. After mid-month plant; beans, cantaloupe, corn, cucumbers, eggplant, luffa, peppers, pumpkins, squash, tomatoes and watermelon.

Flowers: Alyssum, aster, baby's breath, bacopa, begonia, candytuft, carnation, calendula, coneflower, coreopsis, cosmos, dahlia, delphinium, dianthus, diascia, dichondra, dusty miller, false heather, four o'clock, gaillardia, gaura, gazania, geranium, gerbera, Johnny-jump-up, lobelia, million bells, nasturtium, pansy, petunia, rose, salvia, snapdragon, Stokes aster, sweet pea, and yarrow.

Herbs: Anise, basil, borage, chives, dill, fennel, lemon balm, mint, oregano, parsley, rosemary, sage, sweet marjoram, tarragon, and thyme.

Bulbs: African iris, amaryllis, Amazon lily, Asiatic lily, blackberry lily, blood lily, bulbine, caladium, canna, crinum, day lily, gladiolus, gloriosa lily, Louisiana iris, society garlic, spider lily, rain lily.

Lawn care

• Zoysia and Bahiagrass lawns turned brown due to cold; no special care is needed at this time.

• Mow zoysia lawn to recommended height of two inches and remove thick thatch.

• Those brown spots in lawns are likely weeds; remove and resod when grass is available.

• One way to control weeds is with regular mowing to reduce them to the height of the lawn.

• Cool season weeds can also be spot treated with herbicides as labeled for your lawn type.

• When previous brown patch disease has been noted, apply fungicide for lawns according to label instructions.

• Crabgrass preventers can be applied mid-month to stop annual warm seasonal weeds from germinating.

• Do not use crabgrass preventers if you plan to resod, seed or need runner growth.

• Seeding of ryegrass for a temporary lawn is over; most permanent lawns should recover soon.

• Tan to brown cold damaged blades can be left or raked from lawns as growth begins.

• Delay feedings of centipede and zoysia lawns until they regreen for spring in April.

• Inspect irrigation systems; check for clogged or broken sprinkler heads and adjust as needed.

• Check rain shut-off devices to ensure they are working correctly.

• Sod or plug new lawns; begin seeding after mid-month.

• Turf is hard to establish in shady sites; consider another ground cover.

• Take time to have a soil acidity test made and readjust the soil pH if needed.

• Aeration can help older and overfertilized lawns with compacted soils, nematodes or hard to wet soils.

• Service lawn care equipment before spring arrives.

Vegetable & Fruit Gardening

• Frosts and freezes have ended many warm season crops; remove declining plants.

• Prepare gardens by tilling in organic matter with sandy and previously planted sites.

• Hurry to plant the last of the cool season vegetables in early February.

• Start seeds of tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants now to have transplants by March.

• Prune cold damage from tropical tree and shrub type fruiting plants as needed.

• Bananas and papayas may have been frozen and need heavy pruning or replanting

• Pineapples may yellow their leaves and need major pruning but the plants should survive.

• Prune all deciduous fruit trees and vines as soon as possible.

• Learn how to thin peach & nectarine trees to obtain the best production.

• Plant container gardens to enjoy vegetables and herbs on porches and patios.

• Fertilize, groom and harvest herbs to keep them producing, dry and store extras.

• Warm season vegetables planted in late February are likely to need cold protection.

• Support vining crops by tying the vines to a stake or trellis.

• Plant additional fruiting trees, shrubs and vines.

• Purchase new seeds for the garden early to obtain the best selections

• Check with your University of Florida Extension office for new and better fruit varieties.

• Pine bark fines can be used to help adjust the soil acidity for blueberry plantings.

• Feed all fruit producing trees, shrubs and vines in late February.

• Use fallen leaves to form pathways, add a mulch to gardens or make compost.

• Sharpen, shovels, hoes and pruners to have them ready for spring planting and plant care.

In the landscape

• Take an inventory of cold damaged plants that may need to be replaced.

• Prune cold damage plants when you cannot stand seeing the brown leaves and branches.

• Plants may continue to decline due to cold so keep the pruners handy

• Perennials may be dead to the ground but should begin growth with warmer weather.

• Prune all but late winter and spring blooming trees and shrubs as needed.

• Reshape overgrown and out of bounds plantings including hedges.

• Only prune seed heads, small stems and suckers from crape myrtles.

• Prune ornamental grasses to within a foot or two of the ground before growth begins.

• Remove declining fronds and fruiting stalks from palms; leave the good green foliage.

• Give all but climbing roses a first of the year pruning around mid-month.

• Trim climbing roses after spring blooms to only remove dead or out of bounds shoots.

• Look for Florida bulbs to plant at garden centers to obtain the best selection.

• Move poinsettias to the landscape on warm days and apply a slow release fertilizer.

• Begin landscape tree, shrub and flower feedings if needed for growth and foliage color.

• Feed container gardens every other week or use a slow release fertilizer.

• Replant declining container gardens.

• Start seeds of warm season annuals and long-lasting perennials.

• Maintain a mulch around trees starting a foot from the trunks; six inches from shrubs.

• Prepare new flower beds; add organic matter to sandy soil.

• Plant bare root and container grown trees, shrubs and vines.

• Begin every other week feeding of orchids by month’s end or apply a slow release fertilizer.

• Start compost piles from leaves and yard debris plus thin layers of soil and a little fertilizer.

• Divide and transplant perennials.

• Clean lily ponds to prepare for spring growth.

Foliage and house plant care

• Many outdoor foliage plants show signs of decline: remove affected portions as needed.

• Replace severely cold damaged foliage plants when the weather warms.

• Check previous indoor plant additions for mites and insects.

• Most holiday plants can be grown outdoors when the weather warms.

• Give Christmas and holiday cactus a bright spot in the home; water when they start to dry.

• Remove faded flowers and stalks from forced amaryllis bulbs; add the bulbs to the garden.

• When indoor orchid flowers fade, move the plants outside to a warm shady site.

• Groom indoor foliage to remove old leaves, faded flowers and declining portions.

• Trim indoor topiaries and tree like plants to control size and shape.

• Feed all container plantings.

What To Do In Your Backyard in January

Average temperatures High 72 Low 50

Rainfall 2.43 inches

Florida Arbor Day: January 17th - Plant a tree!

What to plant:

Flowers: Alyssum, baby’s breath, calendula, California poppy, cleome, candytuft, carnation, delphinium, dianthus, dusty miller, foxglove, gaillardia, geranium, godetia, hollyhock, Iceland poppy, lobelia, nasturtium, ornamental cabbage & kale, pansy, petunia, Shasta daisy, statice, stock and sweet pea.

Vegetables: Asparagus, beets, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, collards, endive, horseradish, kale, kohlrabi, lettuce, mustard, onion sets, peas, potatoes, radicchio, radishes, roquette, rutabagas, spinach, Swiss chard and turnips.

Herbs: Anise, bay laurel, cardamom, chives, coriander, fennel, garlic, ginger, lavender, mint, oregano, parsley, rosemary, sage, sweet marjoram, thyme and watercress.

Bulbs: African iris, Asiatic lilies, amaryllis, blood lilies, bulbine, crinum, day lilies, Louisiana iris, society garlic, spider lilies, rain lilies, refrigerated Dutch iris, tulips, daffodils and hyacinths for forcing.

Lawn Care

• Great time to wean overwatered turf by irrigating only once a week. If your lawn is declining, resist the urge to overirrigate with the La Nina winter warm temperatures.

• Make two New Year’s goals to check weather weekly for rainfall so you don’t need to add supplemental irrigation and check water bill for outdoor water usage monthly.

• Once a week watering is the rule and normally adequate at this time of the year.

• Wait till five days of warm temperatures to apply pre-emergent herbicides to lawn.

• If your area is receiving cold temperatures, one benefit of the cold is declining weeds; remove and fill bare spots with sod.

• Continue to mow growing turf to keep a uniform look and control weeds.

• Feeding time is over until late winter for lawns.

• Try regreening yellow lawns with an iron or minor nutrient application if needed.

• Large tan circular spots in lawns are likely due to the brown patch, a fungus.

• Brown patch affected lawns should recover; apply a fungicide to prevent further damage.

• Insect activity is minimal, and insecticides are not normally needed until spring.

• Spot kill patches of persistent winter weeds with a selective herbicide for your lawn type.

• Fill in bare spots with sod or plugs; delay seeding of permanent grass until spring.

• Ryegrass can be seeded to temporarily regreen brown turf or fill bare areas.

• Have a lot of weeds in your turf? Reduce turf and create garden beds.

• Make sure when you reduce turf to retrofit irrigation zones to water turf and beds separately.

• Turn sprinklers off prior to freezing weather.

• Perform annual maintenance on lawn care equipment.

Landscape Chores:

• Use frost cloth on tropical plants to lessen damage. Do not use plastic. If necessary, you can use cloth and sheets, but prop up with sticks to precent touching leaves. Remove sheets and boxes every day. and replace at nightfall.

• If there is frost, resist the urge to prune away damaged or dead foliage. Pruning freeze-damaged shrubs and trees may encourage new growth that is not winter-hardy and increase likelihood to be damaged if winter ever arrives.

• Replant declining flower beds and planters with hardy cool season selections.

• Container gardens are a good way to enjoy plants in the landscape.

• Add hanging baskets of color where they can be easily seen.

• Feed container gardens weekly if needed for growth, in ground annual plantings monthly.

• Annuals and perennials need watering one or more times a week.

• Check mulch layers and top-dress as needed to conserve water.

• Winter is a good time to add hardy trees, shrubs, and vines to the landscape.

• Make sure root balls are moist at planting time: add a berm to direct water through root balls.

• Make New Year’s goal to check mature plant size space needed before purchasing and planting shrubs and trees in landscape.

• New trees, shrubs and vines need frequent hand watering to keep their root balls moist.

• Leave browned ornamental grass dried flowers for wildlife till the end of month or February.

• Leaves are falling from trees and shrubs; use as mulch or add to the compost pile.

• January is a good time to begin yearly pruning of dormant trees and shrubs.

• Trim dead or declining portions from trees and shrubs.

• Crape myrtle grooming can begin this month; remove seed heads, twigs smaller than your pinkie, and any crossing branches. Make sure there is plenty of room for branches to grow without touching other branches.

• Remove crapemyrtle suckers growing from ground. Keep 3 -5 trunks if room for good air circulation.

• Remove dead fronds and old seed heads from palms but keep all green leaves.

• Groom landscapes by edging beds and walkways.

• Divide and replant perennials.

• Learn what plants need winter protection, many benefits from the cold.

• Only protect cold sensitive plants from frosts and freezes with frost blankets or large boxes.

• Thick fabric covers secured to the ground but not touching plants are the best cold protection.

• Turn off automatic irrigation systems during freezing weather.

• Install micro-sprinklers to conserve water and water only where needed.

• Catch and store rainwater to use with container and landscape plantings.

• Reduce landscape maintenance by planting fewer annuals and more perennials.

• Groom hanging baskets and planters by removing old flowers and lanky stems.

• Protect orchids and tropical foliage plants from temperatures below 45 degrees.

• Test soil acidity in azalea, philodendron and ixora plantings and adjust if needed.

• Turn Christmas trees into wildlife feeders or mulch for the landscape.

• Dig and move trees and shrubs from one area of the landscape to another.

• Repair gardening equipment.

• Place bird houses, feeders and baths in the landscape.

• Add art including statuary, a gazing ball or a sundial to the landscape.

• Repair wooden benches and chairs.

• End of month: Prune ornamental grasses down to 5” – 6”. Remove surrounding debris.

Vegetable and Fruit Gardening

• Make sure you have latest seed catalogs for flowers and vegetable spring planting. Order early.

• Make New Year’s goal to journal your gardening experiences.

• Continue to plant winter vegetables for another month.

• Cloth covers, loose hay, and boxes may be needed for protection from frost or freezes.

• Feed winter vegetables and herbs every 3 to 4 weeks or use a slow-release fertilizer.

• Lightly mulch gardens to keep the soil moist, control weeds and keep edibles dirt free.

• Wait to start seeds of tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants till late January for March transplants.

• Prepare spring planting sites by adding lots of organic matter to sandy soils.

• Encourage pollinators to visit by planting clusters of flowers among vegetables.

• Save shipping charges; locate seeds, bulbs, and transplants locally.

• Store saved seeds in the refrigerator in a sealed container until planting time.

• Add bird netting to strawberry plantings.

• Caterpillars are common cool season pests, control by handpicking or natural sprays.

• Harvest herbs and start new plants to have a continual supply.

• Prune time has arrived for apple, grape, peach, pear and fig plantings.

• Plant hardy fruit trees, shrubs and vines.

• An acid soil is needed for blueberry production; have your soil tested before planting.

Indoor & Foliage Plant Care

• Live plants make the indoors attractive and help purify the air.

• Make New Year’s goal of adding fresh soil to all your plants and fertilize with diluted fertilizer throughout the year.

• Cactus and succulents only need watered once a month or less with winter temperatures.

• Orchids will have reduced growing once cold temperatures arrive, water and feed less till spring.

• Check orchids weekly for insects.

• Make sure Cymbidium orchids have high humidity. They thrive with cooler (not cold) temperatures this time of year.

• Dendrobium orchids need less water to go into dormant state before Springtime. Do not let temperatures for Dendrobiums to drop below 65°.

• Phalaenopsis orchids blooming period begins. Provide good air circulation. Do not get flowers wet – water only roots and soil medium.

• Vanda orchids with bright locations begin their blooming period. Water 2x -3x a week.

• Check out new lighting systems that make it easier to grow plants indoors.

• Enjoy holiday plants if they remain attractive as they decline move them outdoors

• Keep existing plants a lot longer by giving them at least weekly care.

• Check foliage plants brought indoors from the landscape for pests.

• Use a mild soapy solution to wash indoor foliage to remove dust and control pests.

• Trim off yellow leaves and declining flower stalks.

• Move declining plants into the higher light levels.

• Water foliage plants when the soil dries to the touch.

• Check mature, taller indoor plants have plenty of fresh soil. Change out soil every 1 – 2 years.

• If houseplants are outgrowing pots and you do not want to put in larger planter, take plant out of pot, cut 1/3rd of roots off, add fresh soil, and repot plant.

a. Rosemary – woody ornamental that you can harvest year round.

b. Parsley - Garden parsley is a bright green, biennial plant in temperate climates, or an annual herb in subtropical and tropical areas, but if harvested frequently, can be grown year round.

c. Lemongrass - Its fragrant leaves are traditionally used in cooking, particularly for lechon (a pork dish) and roasted chicken. The dried leaves can also be brewed into a tea, either alone or as a flavoring in other teas, imparting a flavor reminiscent of lemon juice but with a mild sweetness without significant sourness or tartness

d. .Oregano - Oregano is a woody perennial plant, in the mint family. It is sometimes called wild marjoram, while its close relative O. majorana is known as sweet marjoram. It has an earthy, warm, and slightly bitter taste, which can vary in intensity and is a staple of Mediterranean dishes.

e. Mint - Mints are aromatic, almost exclusively perennial herbs. Due to their tendency to spread unchecked, some mints are considered invasive, this has been proven in Lizzie’s yard. Different types of mint include spearmint, peppermint, apple and pineapple mint, orange mint, strawberry mint, and my favorite Chocolate mint. Girl Scout cookie.

Have you ever heard of turkeys laying eggs in water? No? Well, Geraldean started laying eggs but only if she has a fresh pan of water to stand in. No babies yet. She is only 5 months old & her eggs shells are rubber.

Now, I am focusing on garden bed prep for January, I want to plant by seed and transplanting turkey-friendly plants, like blackberries, chokeberries, clover, elderberries, Chickasaw and flatwoods plum, greens, mulberries, honeysuckles, white proso millet, oats, and sumac.  I have seeds for the groundcovers.

Staying prepared for hurricanes Helena and Milton made it a lot easier to digest and not stress. Afterwards, I am realizing how lucky we are by making it through them.

Updates through “Lizzie Said What” socials.  Remember, life can be a joyful journey. Enjoying all moments is up to YOU!  

Winged Sumac, Rhus copallinum

Are you looking for a shrub or tree that adds beauty and year-round interest to your garden. Check out my Plant of the Month Winged Sumac. Winged Sumac is easy to grow, pest-free, and doesn’t need a lot of water. It is excellent for Florida native gardens. Use as either a privacy plant, backdrop shrub, or as a small tree, Winged Sumacs provides four-season appeal with its’ ethereal foliage that turns brilliant red in the Fall. It does spread easily, making stands of winged sumac, and is well suited for filling in scrub habitat. Beneficial for gopher tortoises, wildlife, attracting butterflies, native bees and other pollinators; Important food source for migratory birds,

You can get Winged Sumac at Quality Green Specialists in Deland.

Photo credit: Teresa Watkins

What to Do in Your Garden

October 2024

 Two hurricanes within two weeks at the beginning of the month is more than anyone should have to deal with in their lives. For most it means that instead of doing routine schedule of yard maintenance, there will be clean-up and recovery.  Additional items to check are in each garden section.

 Average temperatures High 85 Low 65

Average Rainfall 2.73 inches - This month will see over 10 - 15 inches in parts of Florida.

October plantings

 Vegetables: Beet, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrot, cauliflower, celery, collards, kohlrabi, lettuce, mustard, onion, peas, potato, radicchio, radish, rhubarb, roquette, rutabaga, spinach, strawberry, Swiss chard and turnip

 Flowers: African daisy, alyssum, angelonia, ageratum, begonia, black-eyed Susan, blue daze, calendula, candytuft, celosia, chrysanthemums, cleome, coleus, cornflower, cosmos, dianthus, dusty miller, gaillardia, gazania, geraniums, gerbera, heliotrope, hollyhock, impatiens, larkspur, lobelia, nicotiana, pentas, petunia, salvia, snapdragon, sunflower, sweet pea, verbena and zinnia.

 Herbs: Anise, basil, bay laurel, borage, cardamom, chervil, chives, coriander, dill, fennel, garlic, lavender, lemon balm, lovage, mint, nasturtium, oregano, rosemary, sage, sweet marjoram, tarragon, thyme and water cress.

 Bulbs: African lily, agapanthus, amaryllis, anemone, bulbine, calla, crinum, day lily, gingers, gladiolus, pineapple lily, rain lily, society garlic, spider lilies, walking iris, watsonia. Refrigerate crocus, daffodils, hyacinth, narcissus, and tulips for forcing.

 Grasses: Lomandra Breeze, Miscanthus ‘Adagio’, Muhly Grass, Dwarf Fakahatchee, White Fountain Grass, Lemon Grass.

Lawn care

•  Get help with any debris or branches near power/communication lines.

• Watch for lifting roots that may interact with underground utilities or irrigation.

• Check for leaning trees and hanging limbs, contact a professional arborist to assess.

• Trees with trunks less than 4 inches in caliper can be easily stood and staked

• Irrigation is key to success, treat these trees as if just planted and water accordingly

• Wait until water levels percolate before fertilizing. It will be okay to wait until November for most fall chores.

• Apply fungicide if your lawn gets fungus easily.

• Get a soil test from your Extension office before fertilizing your lawn.

• Do not use weed and feed products on your lawn at the same time.

• Identify weeds and use a separate herbicide and separate fertilizer according to label.

• October through spring is a good time to install sod.

• Fill bare spots in lawns left from summer pests with sod or plugs.

• Seeding time for bahiagrass is over; delay rye seedings until temperature highs are in the low to mid-70’s.

• Chinch bugs and sod webworms can linger into Fall; control as needed

• With the excessive rain, check to see if your turf needs watered at all.

• Water turf only when it shows signs of moisture stress.

• Use soil aeration in older, compacted, and poorly-drained soils to encourage better root growth.

• Continue mowing to maintain proper turf height; keep mowing height the same year-round.

• Sharpen & balance mower blades to give a smooth cut to leaf blades.

• Change the oil and air filters of gas-powered equipment for Fall.

• Use mulch or ornamental ground covers in areas where turf won’t grow.

 Vegetable and fruit tree care

•  Apply fungicides preventively.

• Check to make sure all vegetable plants are back in soil and not uprooted from winds.

• Check trellises for broken attachments, straightening.

• Harvest pumpkins this month. Look for dying leaves and vines, deep color, and hardened stem and rind.   

• Use large transplants of tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants to get a Fall crop.

• Stake or trellis tall or vining crops to keep the edible portions off the ground.

• Feed gardens every 3 to 4 weeks with a traditional fertilizer or use a slow-release product.

• Tomatoes begin setting and holding their fruits early to mid-month.

• Add flowers to vegetable gardens to attract pollinators.

• Prevent spray damage to pollinators; apply sprays when they are not active.

• Caterpillars are feeding on cucumbers, melons and tomatoes, control with a natural spray.

• Begin plantings of cool season vegetables around mid-month.

• Gardeners cramped for space can grow vegetables in containers.

• Start seeds for transplants of broccoli, cauliflower, and similar vegetables in containers.

• Add 3” to 4” mulch to the surface of the soil to conserve moisture and keep vegetables dirt free.

• If you have mulch on landscape beds, apply only enough mulch to bring the depth to 3” – 4”.

• Groom summer weary herb plantings and start new ones that prefer the cooler weather.

• Most vegetables & herbs need moist soil; water when the surface begins to dry to the touch.

• Fruit splitting on citrus trees is normal and may continue into the Fall.

• Help prevent citrus fruit drop and splitting, water once or twice a week during dry weather.

• Give citrus the final feeding of the year during early October.

• Till new garden sites and enrich sandy soils with garden soil, organic matter and manure.

• Remove offshoots from pineapple plants to start new beds.

• Start papaya seedlings for late winter transplants.

• Add strawberry plants to a garden or build a pyramid for planting.

• Delay pruning all fruit plantings until mid to late winter.

• Speed up the composting process by turning the piles monthly.

• Harvest maturing chayote, cocoyam, dasheen, and gourds.

• Dig in the soil to check sweet potato plantings; most have roots ready to harvest.

Landscape chores

•  Straighten, upright, and stake if necessary any leaning small trees and shrubs.

• If a large tree’s roots are more than halfway out of the ground, get a certified arborist assessment before keeping.

• There is a difference between cutting off damaged and dangerous limbs correctly and pruning. Have a certified arborist cut back any damaged tree limbs.

• Avoid pruning right after the storm. The plants need a chance to put on new growth and recover. When you see new growth, you can prune away any branches that remain dead or undesirable.

• Check irrigation heads and lighting wires for damage.

• Recycle small dead shrubs and branches in your Halloween landscape.

• Major pruning time is over for azaleas, bougainvillea, camellias, gardenias, and poinsettias.

• Pick up and dispose as much of the Spanish moss left in yard by hurricane winds

• Shield poinsettias and holiday cactuses from nighttime light starting mid-month.

• Most ornamental and shade trees do not need a special feeding

• Palm diseases are prevalent; clean and sterilize pruners between palms.

• Be smart and only remove the brown fronds and flower stems from palms.

• Give hedges a final trimming.

• Remove suckers and low limbs from trees.

• Weeds are plentiful in ornamental plantings; hand pull or spot kill to prevent seeding.

• Whiteflies and mealy bugs are major pest; systemic insecticides offer good control.

• Drier weather lies ahead; water when the surface soil begins to dry.

• Most established trees and shrubs can go a week or more between waterings.

• Walk through yard to check for irrigation obstruction. Trim away limbs and weeds affecting the operation of sprinkler systems.

• Check container plantings for plugged drainage holes; repotting may be needed.

• Maintain mulch under trees and shrubs; make sure you can see the flare at the base of the plant and tree.

• Determine tree needs and plant smaller growing wind resistant species.

• Check tree and palm supports to make sure they are secure but not damaging the plants.

• Add Fall plants to hanging baskets and container gardens.

• Edge sidewalks and plant beds.

• Replace soil in problem flower beds and planters.

• Replant flower beds with cool season annuals and perennials; delay pansies until November.

• Start Pansy and other winter annual seeds now for planting in November and December.

• Divide perennial and bulb plantings.

• Give water lilies and bog plants a monthly feeding.

 House & foliage plant care

•  Order gift amaryllis to be delivered in December for Xmas.

• Plants reduce pollutants and create a pleasing atmosphere when added to homes and offices.

• Foliage plants are often a good buy at garden centers during Fall; replace declining plants.

• Many foliage plants have grown too large for their containers; repot as needed.

• Groom outdoor foliage plants and begin moving them to a warm location.

• Most foliage plants need a bright light location but out of the direct sun.

• Feed plants in bright light monthly; less often in low light.

• Control insects on plants before moving them indoors.

• Water holiday cactuses only when the surface soil dries

• Begin forcing amaryllis and paper white narcissus for indoor displays and discontinue feedings.

• Make sure indoor poinsettias, holiday cactuses and kalanchoes receive no nighttime light.

• Plants too close to house

• Alternating plants with only two species

• Not spacing for mature size

• Not taking house style into consideration

• Wrong color combinations.