With the cooler weather approaching comes a new planting season! If this past rainy season has washed away the vibrancy of your mulch, now is the time to thin out your faded mulch and replace it with a 1" layer of new mulch. Also, the Nitrogen Fertilizer Ban has been lifted, so October is a great time to fertilize your garden. Remember to use at least 50 percent slow-release nitrogen fertilizer. 

Have you been thinking about starting a vegetable garden? Mid-October is the time! Easy crops include broccoli, carrots, green onions, peppers, and tomatoes. You can also begin replacing your Summer annuals with Fall annuals, such as Sunpatiens, Geraniums, Mums, and Begonias. 

"There is no season when such pleasant and sunny spots may be lighted on, and produce so pleasant an effect on the feelings, as now in October."

 ~ Nathaniel Hawthorne

Spring has sprung!

Butterflies and other pollinators are looking for tasty, early spring nectar. Planting flowers like Salvia, Coreopsis, and Milkweed, will help attract those hungry pollinators. Planting these kinds of flowers in groups will attract more pollinators rather than single plants scattered along your landscape.

Avoid using insecticides on these plants. Insecticides have the potential to poison or kill your pollinators.

Other pollinator attracting plants:

-Passion Flower -Pentas - Gaillardia - Walter's Viburnum-

Florida was once at the bottom of an ocean. Our "Florida Native" plants came here by way of wind, birds, and other natural means. Plants that were here in the mid 1500's when Spanish settlers arrived are considered Florida native plants. "Exotics" are plants that have been introduced to our landscapes since then - brought in by nature or by man.

“Native Plants of Florida.” Guide to Florida Landscape Plants for the Southern Half of the Sunshine State, www.south-florida-plant-guide.com/native-plants-of-florida.html.

What to Plant in April

Now is the best time to start replacing winter annuals with heat-tolerant plants such as caladiums, marigolds, vincas, salvias, cupheas, and salvia.

Larger perennials such as allamanda, brazilian red cloak, canna lilies, irises, begonias, fire bush, heliconia can also be planted this month.

floridagardener.com | https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ 

The summer heat in July can be damaging to some plants, but Mariposa Nursery carries several options that can withstand the intensity of the heat and humidity and the large amounts of rain.

The two annuals that we recommend are pentas and lantana. Lantana is especially well-suited to this time of year because it thrives in high heat and with large amounts of water. It will also add a nice pop of color to your garden. The perennials that we recommend would be blue daze and purslane. Both of these plants thrive in the high temperatures of Florida summers and will help to keep your garden looking bright, lively, and healthy.

Although you can plant palms year round in Florida, the warm, rainy months of summer are the perfect time to plant any palms you had in mind. This allows for enough time for the roots to develop, take hold, and nourish the tree before temperatures begin to drop again in late fall and early winter. Two key components to young palms health are rising soil and air temperatures. 

While it may be native to southeast Asia, northern Australia, and other parts of Oceania, crape myrtle is perfect for the warm climate in Florida. This month we are running a special on our seven gallon crape myrtle bushes, which are currently in bloom. These plants bloom from the spring to early fall, so this gorgeous addition to your garden won't be short lived.

Come and visit us to learn more about our summer suggestions!

floridagardener.com | https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ | "Best Time to Plant Palm Trees in Florida." Sarasota Landscape Design, 24 Aug. 2017.

"There is no season when such pleasant and sunny spots may be lighted on, and produce so pleasant an effect on the feelings, as now in October."

 ~ Nathaniel Hawthorne

The cooler temperatures that come with the month of January may call for your plants being covered! If the temperature dips below 45 degrees, cover your garden with tarp or sheets to trap in warmer air.

Be sure to water your plants! Due to limited rainfall during Florida winters, your plants should be watered regularly, and you may want to invest in a sprinkler system if you haven't already. Watering earlier in the day is key to allowing your plant enough daylight to soak in nutrients!

Here are some ideas for your winter garden:

Flowers: Petunias, Winter Jasmine, Snapdragons, Alyssum

Herbs & Vegetables

Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba) is one of the oldest living tree species, it dates back to about 250 million years ago!

The cooler temperatures and dry air that come along with the month of November help to lessen the insect populations. Insects will always be present here in Florida, but fleas, chinch bugs, and mosquitoes will be less noticeable. Aphids, beetles, cutworms, and leaf miners will still be around and can be harmful to your plants if you're not careful.

Also, do not forget to water your plants. Even though it is not as hot and your plants' water demands are not as great, sensible watering must still be done to ensure the health of your plants.

Here are some ideas for your fall garden:

Flowers: Allysum, Dianthus, Geraniums, Impatiens, Mums, Petunias, and Zinnia

Herbs & Vegetables

Pest control is a top priority in August. Look out for ants around your home, scale feeding on your plants, and aphids around your citrus trees. Making sure these pests get treated with the appropriate insecticides ensure that your plants and trees continue growing healthy.

You also want to be sure you continue fertilization because the sandy soils in Florida do not hold nutrients well and your plants and palms may begin to show signs of nutritional deficiencies. Check older palm fronds for yellowing as this may indicate a magnesium or potassium deficiency.

Remove spent blooms, cut back, and fertilize flowering annuals and perennials to extend the bloom season into the fall months.

floridagardener.com | https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/

"Say goodbye to your inner critic, and take this pledge to be kinder to yourself and others."

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~Oprah

If your palm trees were damaged by the cold weather in January, we have the solution!

Ingredients:

- 1 cup of Manganese Sulfate - 4 teaspoons of Liquid Copper - 1 gallon of water

Directions:

1) Mix together the Manganese and the Liquid Copper. 2) Add this mixture to the water. 3) Pour mixture to the "heart" (new growth) on top of the palm. 4) Repeat in 30 days. 5) Only apply the mixture at dusk.

We recommend waiting to trim back any damaged plants or trees until Spring (3rd week of March)

After trimming back your plants, we recommend feeding them with Fertrell. Fertrell is an organic fertilizer that is gentle on plants and works great!