‘Tis the season! The end of the year is drawing near, and the holidays are just around the corner. Weekends are filled with shopping for gifts, getting the house ready for guests, and relaxing by the fire with some hot cocoa. But don’t forget about the landscape; it’s one of the focal points for creating festive cheer. The following are a few ideas for putting your landscape in the holiday spirit for the month of December.

Reds and Whites

In the month of December, some red and white annuals will add a beautiful, festive tone to your property. Plant annuals in pots at your entrance, or plant them along a patio. Splashes of merry colors outside of the home give properties a ‘wow’ look! Good annual options for winter that bring festive tones include:

-Dianthus

-Poinsettias

-Pansies

-Dusty Miller

String the Lights

Add to your holiday spirit by hanging lights around your property like a professional! Measure each area you plan to string lights so you know the proper strand length that you’ll need. Locate your power sources and measure how many feet of power cord will be required to extend from the power source to the desired area. Whether hanging holiday lights from gutters, shingles, or the roofline, you can find clips to keep your lights in place. These tactics will help give your lighting a professional and elegant look!

Hang the Wreath

There’s nothing quite like opening the front door for a guest and having the scent of fir enter the house. There are many different kinds of wreaths; Douglas Fir, Balsam, and Holly Berry are just a few of the varieties to look for, and each one can be decorated with pine cones, fruits, holly berries or just about anything that looks festive and offers fresh scents. A wreath not only adds to the home aesthetically, but it also symbolizes many things and is a historic icon dating back thousands of years. For example, a wreath’s evergreen materials symbolize strength, due to an evergreen’s ability to live through even the coldest of winters.

As Saturday and Sunday afternoons at the pool continue to be replaced with watching football on the couch, the cooler temperatures are gradually settling in. Winter is coming, and preparing the landscape is vital for having a quick and healthy recovery in the spring. It’s also a good time to freshen things up in preparation for dormant months and potential frost/freeze damage. Below are some tips on making sure your property is not only ready for the cold, but is looking good throughout the upcoming season.

 Preparing for Winter with Turf Fertilizer

When fertilizing the turf to prepare for winter, the best fertilizer to use is one that is high in potassium.  This is the last number listed on the fertilizer label (Nitrogen-Phosphorous-Potassium).  Potassium strengthens the turf roots to prepare the lawn for winter.  The longer the roots are, the healthier the turf and the less time it will take for it to recover from the winter.  It is also always best to use a low to phosphorous-free fertilizer, which has less of an environmental impact on Florida’s waterways and is not needed due its natural occurrence in the soil.  At Fleming Island Plantation, phosphorous-free fertilizer is used throughout the common areas and is applied in line with Best Management Practices.

Replenish Mulch  

There’s nothing like a fresh application of mulch! Now is a good time to replenish the mulch because it acts as a barrier to help lock in moisture and keep the soil temperature warmer.   It’s also a good time to replenish the mulch because it adds a clean look to the winter landscape.  Don’t forget to apply the mulch no more than 2-3 inches deep.

Add Some Color

During the winter months, many types of grasses turn brown and go dormant, small trees like Crape Myrtles lose their vibrant colors, and perennials like lantana die back. It’s time to add some color! Winter annuals like pansies, dusty miller and dianthus are all good choices for giving your landscape a lift this winter. If you don’t have an annual bed, try making one. Some good locations for annuals are at the entrance of a home and surrounding a back patio.

 Besides these steps, mow as-needed, check irrigation regularly, and continuously monitor your turf for pests and fungus to ensure a healthy, thriving landscape.

September may mean the beginning of fall weather for many, but in Florida, the summer heat is still going strong. At this point, you’re tired of the heat, you’re ready to mow less often and worrying about the weeds is replaced with worrying about your kid’s new teacher. Hold strong; you’re at the last stretch of the summer and relief will come soon!  In order to get past the last month of high temperatures and prepare your property for the cooler weather ahead, follow these simple steps.

Apply Pre-Emergent Herbicides to Avoid Winter Weeds
Prepare your turf for the winter by applying pre-emergent herbicides. Pre-emergent herbicides should be applied now before winter weeds even begin to develop. In fact, applying the herbicide once weeds have rooted does not have a controlling effect since herbicides actually prevent weed seeds from germinating. Improperly timing your pre-emergent herbicides also results in polluting our local ground water, rivers, lakes and ocean.

Sod Installation/Replacement
In Florida, there are two prime seasons for replacing sod; in the spring and at the end of the summer while we still have afternoon showers. Though planting sod can be done at other times of the season, September is a great time to replace sod because of the warm weather, long days and afternoon showers.  If you wait until the cooler months to replace sod, the turf has a more difficult time establishing and can even go into dormancy, giving it a bad start to healthy growing habits.

Make Sure to Have all Pruning Completed
Make sure to have all pruning completed by the end of September. If you haven’t pruned yet, you may even be in luck – late summer pruning can stimulate an additional flush of shoot growth on certain species such as Hibiscus, Oleander and Bougainvillea. But beware, pruning at the beginning of fall or shortly before a first freeze could stunt growth and damage plants. In most cases, it’s best to prune far in advance of the first freeze.

The end of the summer is drawing near. Vacations are coming to an end, back-to-school shopping has started, and everyone is gearing up for the final stretch of the year. The landscape only has to endure this heat for a month and a half more until the cooler, fall weather arrives. To get your landscape through the last part of summer, follow these simple steps.

Apply Supplemental Turf Fertilizer If Needed
A supplemental turf fertilizer application might be needed between regularly scheduled fertilizations in May and September. It will be evident that your turf needs additional nutrients when its vibrant green color starts to fade. This supplemental application should be liquid, which differs from the granular, slow-release nitrogen fertilizer used for the regularly scheduled fertilizations. The supplemental fertilizer should also be high in iron to help green up the turf.

Look Out for Oleander Caterpillars
Oleander Caterpillars, if left untreated, can cause significant damage to plants. While mostly found on Oleanders, this pest can also affect Desert Rose, Bougainvillea, Mandevilla and Natal Plum. This is the only pest of concern found for Oleander.

An infested plant begins to turn brown as the caterpillars chew the leaf tissue, which causes stress to the plant. To treat, a cultural control is recommended to try first, especially if the problem has been detected early. This entails removing larvae-infested foliage. Once removed, put the sealed bag of foliage into the freezer for 24 hours. This will kill the caterpillars. Also, it is important to wash your hands immediately after handling the Oleander’s cut foliage since it is poisonous. A pesticide treatment, preferably by a professional, should be used if the cultural method is unsuccessful or if the plant is overly infested with caterpillars. Multiple treatments might be needed since Oleander Caterpillars can have up to seven generations.

Mulch
If you have areas in your plant beds with bare soil, make sure to cover it with mulch. This helps keep the soil cooler and increases moisture retention. It also provides a fresh, clean look to the landscape as well as reduces weed growth. Make sure to install the mulch at a depth of 2 to 3 inches. Also, keep the mulch away from the plant stems and tree trunks to prevent root rot.

Besides these steps, continue with weekly mowings, regular irrigation checks, and continuously monitoring your turf for pests and fungus to ensure a healthy, thriving landscape.

This month is all about beating the heat and hoping for rain.  Summer is a tough time when it comes to the landscape because both growth and pests are abundant at this time.  The following steps should be taken to ensure the landscape is healthy all summer long.  These steps can also be useful when maintaining your home’s landscape.

Fertilize Turf
Now is the time to fertilize your turf with one that is high in potassium, which is the third number listed on the fertilizer label (nitrogen-phosphate-potassium).  This element helps make the roots of the turf stronger, enhancing the ability to resist drought, wear and tear, diseases/pests and extreme temperatures.  When applying fertilizer, make sure to read and follow the guidelines set forth on the label.

Check for Pests & Disease in Turf
The warmer temperatures can bring about turf damage caused by chinch bugs or fungus.  The damage of these pests can be seen as brown patches in the turf that get larger if left untreated.  Chinch bugs like to feed on water-stressed, dry turf.  Fungus takes over, depending on the type, when the turf is suffering from heat, drought and high humidity or during the heat of the summer when temperatures remain high even throughout the night.  Both chinch bugs and fungus can cause harm and ultimately kill the turf.

To determine if you have insect damage or fungus damage, first check the overall appearance of the area.  Insect damage is typically less uniform and spottier than fungus damage.  Another way to determine if your turf issues are due to pesky critters or a frustrating fungus is to look for chinch bugs since they can been seen with the naked eye.  Adult chinch bugs are black with white patches on the wings.  Look at the soil surface and base of the grass blade.  Also, pull out a few blades of grass, take off the bottom leaves and see if there are any chinch bugs.  Try this in a few spots within the damaged area.   If chinch bugs are not present, then your turf damage is likely due to a fungus.  While proper cultural measures are important to avoid such damage, these issues can be treated by an insecticide or fungicide.  Make sure to treat only the affected areas.

Check for Pests on Ornamental Plants
Now is the time when pests, such as lace bugs, can be found causing damage to azaleas and other ornamental plants.  If lace bugs are the culprit, then the evidence is small white dots on the leaves of the plant (pictured).  Heavy infestations of lace bugs can reduce growth or even kill the plant.  To help control this pest, spray the plant forcefully with water.

Besides these steps, it’s also important to continue to mow turf weekly, regularly check your irrigation, and prepare the landscape for hurricane season, as discussed in previous articles.   If you take these simple steps, then your landscape will be the envy of all your neighbors!

It’s summertime, which brings road trips, pool-time fun and family picnics.  This season also brings warmer temperatures and a growing landscape.  Here are some steps you should take this month to help make your home’s landscape look its best for your summertime outdoor festivities.

Continue with Weekly Mowings
Make sure to continue to mow your lawn weekly.  Now that the temperatures are very hot, the turf is rapidly growing. Weekly mowings ensure that no more than 1/3^rd of the leaf blade is being cut off at one time.  When too much of the blade is cut off, then it can cause stress to the turf.

Prune Palms
Now is the best time to prune your palms.  When pruning, remove the seed pods.  Also, remove only the fronds that are more than 75 percent brown.  Do not “hurricane cut” your palms for the season.  A hurricane cut is when too many fronds are pruned from the palm.  Such a cut compromises the strength and health of the palm.  It also weakens the palm, which negatively affects the palm in high winds.

Perform Regular Irrigation Checks
With the extremely warm temperatures and current water restrictions, it’s important to ensure that your irrigation is working properly.  Watch your irrigation while it is running and check to see if there are areas of your lawn that aren’t getting the proper amount of water.  Adjust the irrigation heads accordingly and/or clean your irrigation heads.  It’s important to be sure your turf doesn’t become too dry.  This can create an environment for Chinch Bugs and other pests.

Prepare the Landscape for Hurricane Season
While many of us prepare our homes for the hurricane season by securing gallons of water, generators, non-perishable food items, batteries, flashlights and radios, it is also important to prepare the landscape for hurricane season. Now that hurricane season has arrived, make sure to regularly prune decaying branches that could possibly become flying debris during a hurricane.  Also, by shaping a plant properly through pruning, it can help the tree or plant become more wind resistant during the storm.

By taking these simple steps, your landscape will be summertime ready!

Proper Locations of Trees in the Landscape
When planting trees in the landscape, it is important to plant larger trees away from buildings, homes, power lines and other structures to avoid damage by trees and branches.  A solution would be to plant smaller trees or shrubs around such areas.  Small tree options can include Crape Myrtles and Holly.  Shrub options can include Knockout Roses, Lantana and Viburnum.

Regular Pruning & Maintenance
While regular pruning is important to ensure the health of a plant, it is also important to eliminate any items that can possibly become flying debris during a hurricane, such as decaying branches.  Also, by shaping a plant properly through pruning, it can help the tree or plant become more wind resistant.

Use of Wind Resistant Plants & Trees
Based on extensive hurricane research throughout Florida, a list of wind-resistant trees was compiled.  Trees that fall into this list include Magnolias (pictured), Hollies and Oaks.

Planting in Groups or Masses
Finally, when possible, plant trees within groups to increase wind resistance.  The trees act as a buffer to each other.  The tree grouping also helps protect other nearby plants found in the landscape.

The next time you plan to update your home’s landscape, keep these tips in mind for a proactive approach to a hurricane-ready landscape.  Hopefully, the 2011 hurricane season is quiet, eliminating the immediate need to worry about the potential of a hurricane.

Warmer temperatures are here with summer on the near horizon.  These warm temperatures bring immense growth to the landscape.  This month, it’s important to follow these simple steps to ensure a healthy landscape – watch for chinch bugs, finalize all shrub pruning and mow your lawn weekly.

Be on the Lookout for Chinch Bugs

March through November in North Florida is active chinch bug season.  During this time, it is important to be on the lookout for chinch bug damage in your lawn.  If you think you have chinch bugs in your lawn, then the first step is proper identification since the damage caused by these critters can easily be confused for other insects or turf problems. 

You can spot the chinch bugs since they are visible with the naked eye.  Adult chinch bugs are black with white patches on the wings.  Check the soil surface and base of the grass blade.  Also, pull out a few blades of grass, take off the bottom leaves and see if there are any chinch bugs.  Try this in a few spots within the damaged area.   Another option is to use the vacuum method.  Use a dust buster or hand-held vacuum cleaner, and pick a spot within the damaged area to suck up the dirt.  Vacuum the dirt in this area for two minutes.  Then, look at the contents within the vacuum to see if there are any chinch bugs.  A third option is the can method.  Cut out the top and bottom of a can and insert it into the dirt.  Fill the can with water up to the top of the grass.  Wait a few minutes and see if chinch bugs float up to the surface of the water.

Chinch bug damage typically occurs in open, sunny areas near sidewalks and driveways as well as in the middle of lawns.  The damaged area usually starts small, but when left untreated, the patch will get larger as the chinch bugs move to continue feeding on healthy turf.  The speed of the chinch bug damage depends on the density of the bugs and the turf’s overall health.

To avoid a chinch bug invasion, now is a good time to use a preventative treatment on your turf.  Also, proper maintenance practices can help eliminate the environment for chinch bugs.  First, make sure you mow your St. Augustine grass at a height of 3-4 inches to create healthy turf and eliminate undue stress.  Also, water appropriately to avoid dry spots in the lawn.

Finish Pruning Shrubs

It’s important that all shrubs are pruned before the end of the month because the excessive heat in the summer months plus pruning can cause an overly amount of excessive stress on the plant.  Also, prune blooming shrubs now to promote abundant flowering during the blooming season.  By pruning at this time, blooms will not be jeopardized.  Make sure to use sharp equipment and create clean, smooth cuts to encourage rapid healing of wounds.  Do not create stubs since this is usually where die back occurs. Also, avoid tearing the bark when removing large branches.

Continue with Weekly Mowings

Finally, if you haven’t already started, make sure to mow your lawn weekly.  Now that the temperatures are heating up, the turf is rapidly growing. Weekly mowings ensure that no more than 1/3^rd of the leaf blade is being cut off at one time.  When too much of the blade is cut off, then it can cause stress to the turf.

These simple steps will help get your landscape into summer-ready shape!

Source:  University of Florida IFAS Extension – http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/lh036

According to groundhog Punxsutawney Phil, we will have an early spring this year!  That’s great news for those who are looking forward to a green and colorful landscape once again.  In the meantime, there are a few things you can do now to prepare your landscape for spring, which includes transplanting shrubs and trees, pruning roses, and applying pre-emergent herbicides.

Transplant Shrubs & Trees

Now is a good time to transplant shrubs and trees that have outgrown the current location or will serve a better purpose elsewhere within the landscape.  Transplanting now will help ensure viability as temperatures rise and the plants begin to consume more water.  Here are the steps to transplant a shrub or tree.

Step 1: Prepare the new location for the plant.  Pick where you want the plant to be moved and dig the hole, which should be at least three times as wide but about the same depth as the root ball.

Step 2:  Dig up the shrub or tree.  Try to keep as much of the root ball as possible, but you will have to cut some roots.  Make sure to use a sharp shovel.  If you are cutting roots that are larger than the diameter of your thumb, then make the root ball bigger by digging a larger hole.

Step 3:  Move the shrub or tree carefully to the new location.  Make sure to carry the plant material by the root ball, not by the trunk or stems.  An easy way to help move large shrubs or trees is to put it on plastic and slide it to the new location or use a wheelbarrow.

Step 4:  Plant the shrub or tree in the new location.  Make sure to water regularly to ensure the plant’s success in its new location.

Prune Roses

Pruning roses now is the best way to ensure a healthy and vigorous plant that will produce more blooms throughout the season.  When pruning, make sure to use tools with sharp blades.  Here are the steps to prune roses.

Step 1:  Cut any deadwood found throughout the rose bush.

Step 2:  Cut any thin branches that are smaller than a pencil.

Step 3:  Cut branches that cross or touch each other.

Apply Pre-emergent Herbicides

Now, before the weather warms up and the weeds start growing, is the best time to apply pre-emergent herbicide.   It limits weed germination by creating a barrier and seal around the seed.  The use of pre-emergent herbicide promotes less post-emergent herbicide use in the growing season.  If applied after weeds are present, then it will not have an effect.

By following these simple steps this month, your landscape will produce beautiful results in the growing season.