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When
is the best time to water
my lawn?
For Florida, the best
time to water your lawn is in the early morning
hours before
the heat of the sun. Never water during the hotest part of
the day. This will only
cause the water to
evaporate and could scorch
lawn and plants.
I have
dead spots in my St.
Augustine sod. What should I do?
First of all check for pest problems such as chinch bugs.
Once this has been
eliminated, check your maintenance schedule and make
sure you are fertilizing at
regular intervals, and watering properly.
When is
the best time to
fertilize my lawn?
Prime
times to fertilize in Florida is May and September. For best results
apply a
slow release fertilizer such as 16-1-18 or 21-3-3.
When
should I fertilize my
trees and shrubs?
Woody
ornamentals should not be fertilized after July. They need time to
harden new growth before winter. One should fertilize annuals and
vegetables
throughout their growing season. Make sure plants are moist
before applying
liquid fertilizer. Applications to dry soil could burn
the plant.
What is
the best
preventative for lawn and garden pest?
Pest
attack weak plants! Make sure you obtain a proper maintenance schedule
for
water, and fertilizer. In addition, plant flowers, trees, etc. in
proper locations for
sun and shade requirements.
The
Ornamental grass still
has a lot of brown in it from last year.
What should I do?
Ornamental grass should be cut back (6-12") in late fall or early
winter. If new
growth is combined with brown stems, it may be
beneficial to wait until fall to
cut back. Ornamental grasses should be
divided every 3-4 years.
My
azaleas appear to be
bleached out. What should I do?
Check for pest infestation.Lacebugs
are becoming a common problem for azaleas.
This pest can be controlled with labeled sprays in late spring and/or
late July.
How can I
improve my annual
flowers this year?
The three main factors in contributing to healthy flowers are good
soil, nutrients,
and proper watering. Try mixing a high phosphorus
fertilizer such as 5-10-5
(phosphorus being the middle number) into
your flower bed. Then follow up
with bloom buster such as Peters
20-20-20. Make sure to keep beds watered...
early morning is the best
time to water.
How can I
protect tender
annuals from frost?
Fortunately,
here in Florida heavy freezes do not occur often. When temperatures
fall below 30 degrees it is beneficial to cover flowers with a bed
sheet or a similar
fabric. Covering plants will not protect flowers in
extreme cold weather.
If possible, bring the plants inside or under a
sheltered area out of the wind.
Remember, always water plants/flowers
at least 24 hours before freezing
temperatures arrive. This will help
protect them from the cold.
How often
should I water
newly planted trees and shrubs?
In
order for the plants/trees to establish properly, one should water
every day for
the first seven days, and 3-4 times a week after the
first week. Depending on rainfall,
one may increase or decrease the
water applications.
When
should I prune my
azaleas and flowering shrubs?
Prune shrubs 30 days after they have finished blooming. This allows
them to
form new buds for next years blooms.
What is a
good length to set
my mower when cutting my lawn?
Your
lawn needs to be cut at 3-1/2 to 4 inches. Keep in mind: The longer the
blade the deeper the roots, and always keep your blade sharp.
For other questions or tips
please contact us @ weav023@hotmail.com
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