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on May 02, 2017

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Fall Gardening in Florida: Bounty of the Land!

Ahhh relief. The cool fall weather has finally set in in North Florida. Average temperatures are now a perfect 74 degrees with lows and the 50s. November is our driest month as well with only 2 inches of rain on average. There are a number of potential gardening projects you can still begin at this time of year. If you're up for a vegetable garden there's still time. This is one of the best times of year to give it a show. A cool-weather vegetable garden (or a container garden) with Lettuce, Kale, Broccoli, Spinach, Cauliflower, Celery, Onions, Carrots and Strawberries will do well during November. Transplant seedlings to get yields as soon as possible. You can try planting from seed but don't expect a yield for 60 days which puts us into winter with a chance of frost or freeze. Some of these plants such as Kale and Broccoli will survive a frost while others may not. If you're feeling adventurous try some less popular vegetables for Fall. Esoteric options include ...

Crepe Myrtles in Florida: how not to prune

Crepe Myrtles are ubiquitous throughout the South including Florida due to their drought tolerance and prolific summertime blooms. These misunderstood plants create uncertainty for homeowners and landscape services alike. Is it a tree? A shrub? Should I prune it? If so how? Maybe the misunderstandings come from the diversity of crepe myrtle species and their origin. Originally from China and Japan, crepe myrtles were introduced in the US around 150 years ago according to our friends at IFAS . Adding to the confusion an aggressive breeding program over the past few decades has yielded more bloom colors, ornamental bark, ornamental foliage and vigorous growth habits. With so many choices in type of crepe myrtles available homeowners and landscape providers are bound to choose a wrong plant for the wrong place. Typically you see tree sized crepe mryles planted too close to homes. This results in the dreaded "crepe murder" pruning "technique". Other times someone de...

Bluebirds in Florida: Help with their Housing Needs

The other day, I noticed two pairs of bluebirds squabbling over the house on the pink post in my backyard. Wanting to give them another option, I decided to add another bluebird house—this time on a blue post. I purchased an inexpensive bluebird house from Amazon and customized it by reinforcing the entry hole to deter predators. Squirrels had already started gnawing at the opening, and snakes are always a concern, as they prey on eggs and nestlings. If you’re looking to attract bluebirds to your yard, now is the perfect time—bluebird nesting season is just beginning in Florida and will soon be underway in more northern regions. Choosing the Right Bluebird House A proper bluebird house should have: A hole size of 1.5 inches in diameter (to prevent larger birds from taking over) No perch , as perches can attract unwanted predators Proper ventilation and drainage to keep the nest dry Easy access for seasonal cleaning Where to Place Your Bluebird House To increase the chances of att...

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2017