Landscape recovery is on the mind of
most gardeners. After a severe cold winter many residents are wondering
when to prune and care for their plants. Well, the rule is – when you
cannot stand the brown it is time to do the pruning. I do not believe
leaving brown portions on plants is of much value. And right now plants
are starting to produce growth -- so why let the brown get in their way?
My thought is to get the brown off the plants as soon as possible. Cut the
plants back into healthy wood. For some this may be to the ground but most
should recover. Yes, it may take them some time but in a few months new
buds will likely come back from even below ground level.
This is also a good time to reshape all but the spring flowering shrubs.
And if these are damaged you might as well prune them too. Let’s face it –
many plants have been growing out of bounds and Mother Nature just did
what we have been putting off possibly for years.
After the pruning there is no use to apply fertilizer until the plants
begin new growth. For many this could be immediately and you can give them
a good feeding. The University of Florida is recommending an 8-2-12 or
similar product with slow release properties. This and similar products
are starting to show up at local garden centers.
So, now is the time to revive your landscape. Enjoy the good weather ahead
and work in a few of Tom’s Other Gotta Do’s too.
Tom's Gotta-do's
for March, 2010
Give lawns normal care to help them
recover from the cold damage.
Fill in bare or declining spots with
sod, plugs or seed.
Rake out brown blades or allow the
grass to out grow winter damage.
Mow lawns at normal height and allow
clipping to remain in place.
Apply a lawn fertilizer with zero
phosphorus, the middle number in the analysis.
Water turf separately from trees,
shrubs and other plantings
Crabgrass has
begun germination; use of a preemergence for this weed may be of
little value.
Consider a substitute ground cover in
hard to mow or problem areas where grass won’t grow.
Continue pruning to remove winter
damage.
Many plants are dead to the ground
but should grow back if given time.
Remove dead fronds from palms but
leave the base and apply a copper fungicide.
Apply a spring feeding to palms,
shrubs and perennials.
Establish shade and flowering trees
normally do not need a special feeding.
Even though it has been cold don’t
expect insects to take a break; check regularly for pests.
Make saving water a priority; a
majority of landscape plantings are drought tolerant.
Water only when the plants show signs
of wilting or moisture stress
Prune spring flowering shrubs when
the blossoms fade.
Divide and replant perennials.
Trim poinsettias to within 12- to
18-inches of the ground and begin feedings.
Add holiday plants to the landscape
or foliage plant collection.
Check azalea planting sites for the
proper acidity and adjust the pH if needed.
Feed container gardens weekly with a
liquid fertilizer if needed for growth.
Clean water gardens and repot lilies.
Replenish decomposing mulch layers.
Early March is tomato, pepper and
eggplant planting time; set new plants in the ground.
Prune back cold damaged tropical
fruits into green wood and wait for them to recover.
Renew banana & papaya plantings by
removing brown leaves and severely damaged trunks.
Install water conserving sprinklers
in fruit and vegetable plantings.
Give citrus trees their first feeding
of the new year with a citrus fertilizer.
Feed other fruit bearing trees,
shrubs and vines at this time too.
Add new fruiting trees, shrubs and
vines to the landscape.
Complete the pruning of grape
plantings before they flower.
Plant avocado, bananas, carambola and
similar tropical fruits in warm locations.
Add container herb and vegetable
gardens to crowded landscapes.
Add a mulch to all but citrus
plantings.
Fertilize vegetables every 3 to 4
weeks.
Train vining vegetables to a trellis
to save space.
Sprout sweet potatoes for
transplants.
Check houseplants that have been
chilled by the cold and remove affected foliage.
Groom indoor plants to remove
yellowing leaves and faded blooms.
Trim the ends of holiday cactus and
begin more frequent waterings and feedings.
Wash dust and pests from house plant
foliage with a mild soapy solution.
Move orchids outdoors or to a bright
area and begin feeding every other week.
Disinfect and wash used containers.
Treat forced bulbs as bouquets but
keep the pots
Check indoor plants for mealy bugs,
mites and other pests.
Trim and move lanky indoor plants
into higher light.
