Gardening is a year-round exercise right here in north Florida. January and February could also be slower months, however there may be nonetheless work to be finished.
One of many first issues in your thoughts proper now could also be what to do with tender vegetation that have been broken by the latest late December arduous freezes.
The recommendation of Terry DelValle, a fellow Extension Agent who labored in Jacksonville, is most succinct: The query of the day is, “Can I do away with these ugly brown vegetation in my panorama? This reply will not be one you need to hear, nevertheless it’s higher to attend to prune brown vegetation broken by the chilly when the brand new progress seems within the spring. Then, be selective as you make pruning cuts; prune simply above the brand new bud and attempt to keep away from leaving a stub.”
“The exception to this rule is with vegetation which have a robust underground root system that reliably come again every year, like gingers and firespike (Odontonema strictum). Different vegetation like hibiscus and firebush (Hamelia patens) must be pruned when new progress is clear. Pruning too early would expose vegetation to extra injury within the occasion of one other freeze.”
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Plant bushes
Slightly than focus an excessive amount of on the injury from the latest freezes, keep in mind that proper now, in the course of our winter, is a good time for planting bushes and woody shrubs. It’s a a lot better time than planting within the hotter months whereas the vegetation are actively rising and water wants are increased.
You’ll need to water newly planted vegetation now, even now throughout the winter, however you can find that the basis balls don’t dry out as shortly now. The roots will proceed rising even now within the winter and assist to determine the vegetation earlier than scorching climate arrives. So benefit from the cooler climate and the additional gardening time you’ve got now, particularly on your giant panorama tasks.
In late winter Japanese magnolias, Taiwan cherries, Okame cherries, redbuds, and crimson maples are among the many bushes you will notice blooming round Tallahassee. Now is a superb time so as to add a few of these to your yard. Or maybe final summer time you have been considering that you just want some shade bushes.
It’s additionally time to plant spring bloomers equivalent to dogwoods and even summer-flowering bushes equivalent to crape myrtles and chaste bushes. All these will probably be nice even when we’ve extra freezes.
Hardy camellias
You’ll have observed that camellia flowers, and even buds displaying shade, have been broken within the arduous freezes we had. However you additionally could have observed that because the climate returned to regular different camellia buds opened into colourful flowers. Camellias are very hardy in our space and add a number of panorama shade at a time of the 12 months when shade is scarce. This is a superb time to buy the nurseries for brand spanking new camellias so as to add some winter shade to your panorama.
Hedges and landscaping
Maybe you’ve got been fascinated with planting a privateness hedge? Quick-growing shrubs equivalent to candy viburnum and Ocala anise can do the job and now’s the time to plant. Or possibly you’ve got overgrown shrubs in entrance of the home that actually should be changed with decrease rising shrubs or groundcovers equivalent to lomandra or big liriope?
There’s no want to attend till spring. In the event you’re doing the work your self, delicate winter days are far more nice than the recent days of late spring. And should you’re contemplating hiring a nursery or panorama firm, they are going to be backed up with work for months come spring. In the event you’re contemplating a whole redesign for a panorama space, undoubtedly act now, because the panorama designers’ and installers’ schedules shortly again up as we transfer into spring.
Pruning
January to February can also be the time to do most of your regular pruning earlier than spring progress begins. The exception to this could be with spring-blooming vegetation equivalent to azaleas, loropetalums, and spiraea. Delay pruning them till after they flower within the spring. However evergreen shrubs, deciduous fruit bushes and vines, crape myrtles, and roses are amongst vegetation to prune earlier than spring progress begins.
When pruning crape myrtles, simply take away crossing, rubbing, or poorly positioned branches. Typically, should you don’t reduce the tops or the ends of branches you’ll find yourself with a prettier plant that’s a lot simpler to handle sooner or later.
Let the crape myrtles simply develop in pure tree kind. Solely prune to take away poorly spaced branches. If the crape myrtle is simply too giant for the positioning, think about simply changing it with a spread that gained’t develop so giant relatively than regularly attempting to chop it right down to measurement. There are crape myrtle forms of all sizes.
Refresh mulch
If the mulch is thinning round your bushes and shrubs, take time to replenish it now. This job is far more nice within the cooler climate and can assist sluggish emergence of weeds within the spring. There is no such thing as a must take away the previous mulch. Simply add to it.
One of the vital available and easy- to-work-with mulches is pine straw. You probably have falling leaves or pine needles in your garden, you possibly can even collect them right into a pile utilizing your garden mower and use them as mulch. Cowl with somewhat contemporary pine straw to enhance the looks and to maintain the leaves from blowing.
Seasonal shade
You’ll be able to add seasonal shade to your yard now with annuals equivalent to pansies, violas, snapdragons, diascia, nemesia, and petunias. Go to your native nursery to make alternatives of those and different cool-season flowers. Don’t neglect to fertilize them evenly each 4 to 6 weeks to maintain them rising effectively.
Greens and fruit bushes
Cool-season meals vegetation equivalent to arugula, beets, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, bunching onions, carrots, cabbage, cauliflower, Chinese language cabbage, collards, kale, lettuce, mustard, radish, spinach, Swiss chard, celery, potatoes, and English peas can be planted in areas that obtain sufficient solar. Plant deciduous fruit bushes and vines equivalent to pears, peaches, plums, nectarines, persimmons, figs, blueberries, blackberries, grapes, pecans, chestnuts, mayhaws, and pawpaws.
Use our usually delicate north Florida winter to have your panorama and backyard prepared for spring. Plant, prune, mulch, and plan, and benefit from the winter flowers and the harvest from cool season greens and herbs.
David W. Marshall is a panorama advisor with Tallahassee Nurseries and an Extension Agent Emeritus with UF/IFAS Extension Leon County, an Equal Alternative Establishment. For gardening questions, e mail the extension workplace at AskAMasterGardener@ifas.ufl.edu.