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Tree Trimming and Removal, Inc.
We Trim Shrubs, Trees
Stump Grinding
Prepare your trees for winter now
Wayne Shelton
Licensed and Insured
941- 922-7518
5-27-09

Sarasota - Bradenton -
Venice Singles
and Social Activities

 

Don's Mower Shop Lawn Mower, Edger, Blower Generator, Chain Saw, Small Engine Repair 5318 Ashton Ct.  Sarasota 941-927-3700

Custom Landscape design
Custom Gardens

Phone: 941-342-4347
 info@BlueSkyLandscaping.com
www.bluedskylandscaping.com
5-07-09 Blue Sky Landscaping of Sarasota

Environmental Links:

Fall in Florida brings thoughts of upcoming fruit and vegetable harvests. New gardens are being planted and many fruits, especially citrus, will mature in November. Shortened daylight has triggered leaf color changes in deciduous plants such as bald cypress, beautyberry and frangipani. Last week’s cold front lowered temperatures and, seemingly overnight, the citrus are changing from green to orange and yellow.

The perfect fruit sold in gift baskets is not generally found in dooryard gardens. Instead, it’s common to see citrus fruit with blemishes on the rind. In the late summer and early fall it’s common to see fruit that is brown and sometimes even black with a hardened rind. There is no remedy for this because the damage was done at the onset of hot weather by citrus rust mites. You can however, prevent this discoloration next year by spraying the tree with horticultural soap or oil in June.

Other superficial blemishes observed are pock marks caused by the wind whipping branches and thorns and scraped-out areas caused by katydids. In these instances, as with the rust mites, the pulp is usually unaffected and good to eat. A common blemish on leaves is caused by leaf miners, larval insects that "mine" the interior of the leaf creating serpentine trails that are visible on both sides of the leaf surface. This too is primarily a cosmetic problem and there is no practical control.

Fruit splitting is primarily a problem at high temperatures during periods of high humidity and rainfall from August thorough the fall. A likely scenario is a dry period followed by a wet period when the fruit expands, bursting the peel in a crack across the bottom. The best defense is to provide adequate nutrition and moisture for fruit during its development.

• Plant colorful annuals and perennials for fall and winter color.
• Plant cool-season vegetables.
• Plant shrubs and groundcovers in lieu of grass.
• As temperatures drop, apply less irrigation to lawns and beds. Over irrigating can lead to fungal problems.
• Install micro-irrigation in shrub and groundcover beds. Apply ½ - 3/4 inch of water weekly for shrubs, but more often for seasonal annual plants.
• Now that the temperature has dropped below 85 degrees, herbicides can be used on lawns without damaging the grass.
• Don’t prune shrubs that bloom in the spring or you’ll lose their annual color display.
• You can prune year-round bloomers as long as you realize you will be without blooms for a longer period than if you wait to prune in the early spring.
• Replenish mulch cover to 3 inches.
• Give citrus trees their third fertilizing of the year if you didn’t do it in October. A mature tree needs 3 separate 8 pounds applications during the year.

• Master Gardener plant sale and educational programs on Butterfly gardening, Container gardening, Growing pond plants, Pond design and Protecting our waterways at Florida House Learning Center, November 5 from 9:00 am – 2:00 pm. Call 861-9807 for more information.
• "Butterfly Gardening" at Florida House Learning Center, November 8 at 2:00 pm. Call 316-1200.
• "Ants, Ants, Ants" at Twin Lakes Park, November 9 at 10:00 am. Call 861-9900.
• "Snakes of Florida at Shamrock Park, December 1 at 2:00 pm. Call 486-2706.

Vegetables & Herbs: Anise, basil, beets, Borage, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrot, cauliflower, celery, chervil, collards, coriander, dill, fennel, garlic, leek, lettuce, mustard, onions, parsley, peas, potato, radish, rutabaga, sage, spinach, strawberries, Swiss chard, thyme, tomato, and turnips.

Annuals: Ageratum, Alyssum, Begonia, Calendula, Celosia, Coleus, cosmos, dusty miller, foxglove, geranium, Impatiens, Lobelia, marigold, Melampodium, nasturtium, pansy, petunia, Salvia, snapdragon, and statice.

Perennials: African iris, aster, blue daze, bush daisy, Chrysanthemum, cigar plant, Coreopsis, Dianthus, Gaillardia, Gerbera daisy, Liatris, Mexican petunia, Pentas, Salvia, Scabiosa, Shasta daisy, society garlic, and Verbena.

Fruits in Season: Atemoya, avocado, banana, carambola, citrus (calamondin, grapefruit, key lime, lemon, lime, orange, tangelo and tangerine), kumquat, papaya, pecan, persimmon, pomegranate, sea grape, and sugar apple.

Blooming plants: Allamanda, bottlebrush, Bougainvillea, Cape honeysuckle, Cassia, Cordia, false dragonhead, firecracker plant, firespike, goldenrod, Liatris, lion’s ear, oleander, Philippine violet, red and yellow shrimp plants, Plumbago, rose, Salvia, thryallis, Turk’s cap, Thunbergia, and Tibouchina.

If you have questions concerning your landscape, please call or visit our new office at Twins Lakes Park on Clark Road east of I75. The Master Gardener Help Desk is open Monday-Friday from 9:00 am-Noon and 1:00-4:00 pm. (941-861-9807).

(Patricia Porchey is a horticulturist with Sarasota County Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Website: http://sarasota.extension.ufl.edu)

Fall in Florida brings the promise of cooler days and nights. After a seemingly long hot summer this will definitely be welcome to most. Of course, some seasonal insects will be noticeable too. Lovebugs will be here for a while longer. Goldenrain trees are blooming so the red and black Jadera bug will be seen hanging around waiting to feast on the seeds that will soon fall. This insect is considered a beneficial insect because if it wasn’t here, there would be even more seedlings to remove from your flowerbeds. Twigs are falling to the ground that look like they’ve been pruned off. The twig girdler is at work laying her eggs on the fallen branches. To prevent a recurrence next year, be sure and pick up the fallen branches and compost them - the heat should destroy them. Winged ants are mating. Close examination will reveal three segments on the body, which distinguishes the ant from a termite. These insect invasions are only temporary nuisances and require no treatment.

• Herbicides can be applied to lawns when the temperatures drop under 85 degrees.
• Fertilize lawn and landscape plants with a fertilizer such as 12-2-14 or 8-4-12 that contains at least 30 % slow-release nitrogen and potassium. Apply no more than one pound actual nitrogen per 1000 sq. ft.
• Check irrigation systems to make sure heads are spraying properly. Calibrate your irrigation system to apply ¾ inch of water once weekly to turf.
• Install a rain shutoff device if your system has none or it’s defective.
• Install micro-irrigation in shrub and groundcover beds.
• Mulch plants to retain moisture – apply 3 inches of organic mulch such as melaleuca, eucalyptus, pine or recycled mulch. The county has free recycled mulch available at the landfill and area parks. Call 861- for more information.
• Thin trees to lessen damage from high winds (do not top).
• Trim brown fronds from palms (do not hurricane cut).
• Prune shrubs, except spring-blooming ones, up to 1/3 off the top.
• Divide perennials if overcrowded.

• "Coastal Native Plants" at Shamrock Park, October 6 at 2:00 pm. Call 486-2706 to register.
• "Coastal Native Plants" at Twin Lakes Park, October 12 at 4:00 pm. Call 861-9900 to register.
• "Spiders of Florida" at Twin Lakes Park, October 12 at 10:00 am. Call 861-9900.
• "Mosquitoes" at Florida House Learning Center, October 25 at 2:00 pm. Call 316-1200 to register.
• "Pests in and around the Florida Home" at Twin Lakes Park, October 26 at 4:00 pm. Call 861-9900 to register.
• Master Gardener plant sale and educational programs on Butterfly gardening, Container gardening, Growing pond plants, Pond design and Protecting our waterways at Florida House Learning Center on October 22 from 9:00 am – 2:00 pm. Call 861-9807 for more information.

Vegetables & Herbs: Basil, beans, beets, Borage, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrot, cauliflower, celery, chervil, collards, coriander, cucumber, cumin, garlic, leek, lettuce, mustard, onions, parsley, peas, radish, rutabaga, spinach, strawberries, thyme, tomato, and turnips.

Annuals: Ageratum, Alyssum, Begonia, calendula, Celosia, Coleus, dusty miller, geranium, Impatiens, Lobelia, marigold, Melampodium, nasturtium, pansy, petunia, Salvia, snapdragon, and Zinnia.

Perennials: Agapanthus, Amaryllis, blue daze, bush daisy, calla lily, Chrysanthemum, cigar plant, Coreopsis, Crinum lily, Dianthus, elephant ears, Gaillardia, Gerbera daisy, gloriosa lily, iris, Liatris, Mexican petunia, Pentas, Salvia, Shasta daisy, society garlic, Verbena, and whirling butterflies.

Fruits in season: Atemoya, avocado, banana, carambola, citrus (calamondin, lemon, and lime), fig, guava, hog plum, kumquat, muscadine grape, papaya, pecan, persimmon, pomegranate, sea grape, sugar apple, and tamarind.

Blooming plants: Allamanda, bird-of-paradise, bottlebrush, Bougainvillea, Cassia, Cordia, dwarf Poinciana, false dragonhead, firecracker plant, firespike, goldenrain tree, lion’s ear, Mexican heather, oleander, Philippine violet, red and yellow shrimp plants, rouge plant, Plumbago, rose, Salvia, thryallis, Turk’s cap, Thunbergia, and Tibouchina.

If you have questions concerning your landscape, please call or visit our new office at Twins Lakes Park on Clark Road east of I75. The Master Gardener Help Desk is open Monday-Friday from 9:00 am-Noon and 1:00-4:00 pm. (941-861-9807).

(Patricia Porchey is a horticulturist with Sarasota County Extension, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Website: http://sarasota.extension.ufl.edu)

Summer rains help reduce our insect populations by rinsing them off the plants; however, intermittent dry periods are more conducive to insect population explosions. Nevertheless, you can lessen your work by using nature’s biological controls to eliminate these pests. You first must know the difference between the "good guys" and the "bad guys."

For example, the seven-spotted lady beetle is easily recognized, but there’s also a twice-stabbed lady beetle that is black with two red spots on its wings. Most people don’t know that these beetles have a larval stage where they don’t look anything like their adult stage. Some are elongated, somewhat flattened, and covered with spines that are black with some yellowish spots or bands. Others resemble tiny white mops and are often mistaken for mealybugs when in reality they destroy mealybugs. So before grabbing that insecticide, know whether it’s really bad – you can save time and money and help keep our environment safer.

Visit the University of Florida Featured Creatures website for pictures and information on these and other beneficial insects. http://creatures.ifas.ufl.edu/

September is the time to go full throttle into planting your fall garden. Here’s what you can do to improve your harvest:

• Remove weeds to eliminate competition for water and nutrients.
• Add organic soil amendments such as compost, humus, composted manures, etc.
• Lay out a plan.
• Plant seeds or transplants.
• Monitor for pests and disease.
• Fertilize monthly with water-soluble or less often with slow-release fertilizer.

Tilling or turning the soil to a depth of 6-8 inches will remove weeds and improve aeration. This is the opportune time to incorporate soil amendments also. Woody plant materials such as roots and stems and perennial grass and weed pests are best raked from the garden instead of being turned over.

The "Florida Vegetable Garden Guide" will help you select those varieties that grow well in our area. It’s available in our office or on-line at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/

• Thin trees to lessen damage from high winds (do not top).
• Trim brown fronds from palms (do not hurricane cut).
• Mulch plants to retain moisture (pine needles are falling now and make excellent mulch).
• Apply chelated iron or iron sulfate to lawns to improve color (remove it from walks and drives or it will stain).
• Treat lawns for chinch bugs and mole crickets as needed.
• Prune Poinsettias for the last time this year.

Vegetables & Herbs: Basil, beans, Borage, broccoli, cabbage, celery, chervil, collards, coriander, corn, cucumber, cumin, eggplant, fennel, leek, lettuce, marjoram, mint, mustard, onions, peas, pepper, radish, rosemary, sage, squash (summer & winter), thyme, tomato, and watermelon.

Annuals: Ageratum, Alyssum, Begonia, calendula, Celosia, Coleus, Cosmos, dusty miller, marigold, Melampodium, periwinkle, Portulaca, Salvia, and Zinnia.

Perennials: African iris, Amaryllis, beach buttercup, blue daze, bush daisy, calla lily, cigar plant, Coreopsis, elephant ears, Gaillardia, Gerbera daisy, gloriosa lily, goldenrod, iris, Kalanchoe, Liatris, Mexican petunia, milkweed, Pentas, Salvia, society garlic, Verbena, whirling butterflies.

Fruits in Season: Atemoya, avocado, banana, carambola, citrus (calamondin, lemon, and lime), fig, guava, kumquat, monstera, muscadine grape, papaya, pomegranate, sea grape, and sugar apple.

Blooming plants: Allamanda, bird-of-paradise, bottlebrush, Bougainvillea, Cassia, Cordia, crape myrtle, dwarf Poinciana, false dragonhead, firecracker plant, firespike, golden raintree, Hibiscus, Ixora, Lantana, marlberry, oleander, red and yellow shrimp plants, rouge plant, Plumbago, rose, Salvia, thryallis and Tibouchina.

If you have questions concerning your landscape, please call or visit our new office at Twins Lakes Park on Clark Road east of I75. The Master Gardener Help Desk is open Monday-Friday from 9:00 am-Noon and 1:00-4:00 pm. (941-861-9807).

(Patricia Porchey is a horticulturist with Sarasota County Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Website: http://sarasota.extension.ufl.edu)

By: Patricia Porchey

Summer heat may mean staying indoors by a window or under the cover of a lanai or shade of an oak tree. From these vantage points one can forget the heat by being entertained by birds if one has the right landscape to attract them. Here you can listen to the colorful cardinal’s clear whistled chorus or our state bird, the mockingbird, mimics another’s tune. And what fun to watch a mockingbird fearlessly chasing and pecking at other birds much larger than himself in his territory or be enraptured by our tiniest bird, the ruby-throated hummingbird, fluttering his wings so rapidly that they appear as a blur while he darts in and out of flowers sipping nectar.

Provide the following to attract birds:
 Nesting areas and materials – cover plants, bird houses, 15 foot snags.
 Water – birdbath or mist.
 Safe environment –free of roaming cats or dogs.
 Reduce pesticide - protect beneficial insects and insects eaten by birds.
 Food sources - shrubs and trees with seeds, fruits, flowers that attract insects, feeders.
Native plants with berries and fruits: beautyberry, bird pepper, female hollies, palms stoppers, viburnums, wax myrtle.
Nectar-rich native plants that attract hummingbirds: Coral bean, coral honeysuckle, crossvine, firebush, necklace pod, scarlet sage, trumpet vine.

Summer rains considerations
 Turn off irrigation systems when weekly rains occur as excess moisture increases disease problems in plants.
 Monitor lawns for disease problems - Bahia for dollar spot and St. Augustine for brown patch and gray leaf spot.
 Stake young trees if needed.
 Note low areas and plant water-tolerant plants.
 Many insects will be emerging from the soggy soil and their predators can more easily attack them.
 Fire ants will be relocating to higher ground.
 Fall vegetable seeds can be planted at the end of the month.

Planting guide
Annuals: Begonia, Celosia, Coleus, Cosmos, Dahlia, dusty miller, marigold, Portulaca, periwinkle, Salvia, and Zinnia.
Perennials: African iris, beach buttercup, blackberry lily, bush daisy, Caladium, Coreopsis, firespike, Gaillardia, goldenrod, Iris, Jacobinia, Kalanchoe, Mexican petunia, milkweed, Pentas, sages, society garlic, Verbena, whirling butterflies.
Vegetables: Broccoli, celery, collards, corn, eggplant, okra, onions, pole beans, pumpkin, southern peas, summer squash, and watermelon.
Blooming plants: Allamanda, bird-of-paradise, Bougainvillea, Cordia, crape myrtle, golden raintree, goldenrod, Hibiscus, Ixora, Lantana, Magnolia, Oleander, orange jasmine, yellow Poinciana, red and yellow shrimp plants, rouge plant, Plumbago, roses, thryallis, and Tibouchina.
Fruits in Season: Avocado, banana, Barbados cherry, blueberry, carambola, citrus (calamondin, lemon, and lime), cocoplum, fig, guava, kumquat, longan, mango, monstera, muscadine grape, papaya, pineapple, sea grape, and sugar apple.

If you have questions concerning your landscape, please call or visit our new office at Twins Lakes Park, on Clark Road east of I75. The Master Gardener Help Desk is open Monday-Friday from 9:00 am-Noon and 1:00-4:00 pm., 941-861-9807.

(Patricia Porchey is a horticulturist with Sarasota County Extension Service, partner with the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Website: http://sarasota.extension.ufl.edu)
 

By: Patricia Porchey

For many this month means sizzling temperatures and daunting humidity. Enthusiasm to work outdoors wanes and the comfort of air-conditioning provides a perfect venue to plan some landscape additions. One source for new ideas are the Florida Plants of the Year chosen by a committee of growers, horticulturists, retailers, landscape professionals and University of Florida faculty. The plants for 2005 are Nun’s orchid, Phaius tankervilliae, an orchid groundcover for partial shade; East Indian holly fern, Arachniodes simplicor variegata, a fern groundcover for shade or partial shade; Yellow elder, Tecoma stans, a large flowering shrub or small tree; Princess flower, Tibouchina urvilleana, a flowering shrub for full sun; Weeping yaupon holly, Ilex vomitoria ‘Pendula’, a single or multi-trunked small tree; ‘Gold Mound’ golden dewdrop, Duranta erecta ‘Gold Mound”, a globular-shaped small shrub for full sun; ‘Mona Lavender’ Plectranthus, Plectranthus ‘Mona Lavender’, a perennial with lavender flowers and purple-backed leaves; and ‘Sarah’ Anthurium, Anthurium ‘Sarah’, a pink-flowering plant for shade or filtered light.

Princess flower’s dazzling purple flowers contrast well with its silver-green foliage and it blooms year-round in mild winters. ‘Gold Mound’s striking foliage sets it apart from the more familiar golden dewdrops with green or variegated green and white foliage. Unlike the oftentimes-used native ‘Schellings’ yaupon holly, the weeping yaupon holly has an abundance of red berries in fall and winter. It would also be advantageous to include other natives in your plant palette. However, they have some relatives that are invasive so it’s important to know the scientific names of your selections. For example, native groundcover wild petunia is Ruellia caroliniensis whereas the non-native, Ruellia brittoniana reseeds profusely. The salt-tolerant native marlberry, Ardisia escallonioides, has fragrant flowers that attract butterflies and berries that attract birds, but is not invasive like Ardisia crenata which reseeds profusely.

Vegetable gardening is very limited in the summer; however, it is a great time to solarize your planting bed. First, remove all existing vegetation and till the soil to activate the nematode population. Rake the bed so it is slightly elevated in the middle, then water the bed well to make it moist down to about 8-12 inches. Cover the whole bed with 4-6 mil of clear plastic (NOT black plastic) and anchor it tightly on the edges. July and August are the best months for this treatment because the goal is to reach temperatures above 130 degrees for six weeks. Nematodes and other soil pests such as wilt fungi, insects, and weeds are killed by prolonged exposure to these high temperatures.

Gardening activities
 Monitor bahia grass for mole crickets and St. Augustine for chinch bugs and spot treat if necessary.
 Weeds in lawns this time of the year are more difficult to control because most herbicides are not recommended when the temperature rises above 85 degrees. Be sure to thoroughly read the label before applying any chemicals.
 Fertilize annuals, perennials, shrubs and new trees as the summer rains will quickly leach nutrients through the soil.

 To “green up” the lawn without promoting growth or contributing to polluted runoff, apply chelated iron or ferrous sulfate instead of lawn fertilizer.
 Remember to use sunscreen and protective clothing and avoid gardening in the middle of the day.

Planting guide
Annuals: Celosia, coleus, cosmos, crossandra, Dahlberg daisy, gomphrena, marigold, melampodium, nicotiana, periwinkle, portulaca, salvia, torenia, wax begonia and zinnia.
Perennials: Beach buttercup, beach sunflower, blue daze, coreopsis, daylily, gaillardia, Mexican heather, Mexican petunia, pentas, rudbeckia, salvia, shrimp plant, society garlic, verbena, and whirling butterflies.
Blooming plants: Allamanda, beautyberry, bird of paradise, blackberry lily, canna, crape myrtle, crinum lily, crossvine, dwarf Poinciana, fiddlewood, firespike, frangipani, gloriosa lily, golden dewdrop, horsemint, Jacquemontia, lion’s ear, magnolia, mimosa, natal plum, perennial peanut, plumbago, rain lily, rose, royal Poinciana, vitex, and yellow Poinciana.
Fruits in season: Avocado, banana, citrus (calamondin, key lime, lemon and lime), fig, guava, kumquat, longan, lychee, macadamia, mango, papaya, passion vine, pineapple, pomegranate, sapodilla, and seagrape.

If you have questions concerning your landscape, please call or visit our new office at Twins Lakes Park, on Clark Road east of I75. The Master Gardener Help Desk is open Monday-Friday from 9:00 am-Noon and 1:00-4:00 pm., 941-861-9807.

(Patricia Porchey is a horticulturist with Sarasota County Extension Service, partner with the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Website: http://sarasota.extension.ufl.edu)

 

After last year’s horrific hurricane season, more attention is being paid to storm preparedness this year. Lessons learned from damage last year – which trees and growth habits made them more susceptible to wind damage. As a result, there are many things a homeowner can do to prepare your landscape to be more resilient to strong winds should they occur. It begins with plant selection and location.

Preventative measures:

• Select trees to plant with good limb structure – spacing up and around main stem.
• Avoid trees with co-dominant leaders and included bark.
• Avoid planting trees in restricted spaces – know the tree’s mature size.
• Avoid planting too close to structures – a large tree should be at least 25 feet from the foundation.
• Trees within 20 feet of construction activities are more apt to blow over.
• Shallow-rooted trees are best planted in groups.
• Avoid species prone to damage.
• Avoid planting many trees of one species only.
• Select a species that can survive flooding in low areas.
• Prune young trees to encourage good limb structure.
• Remove dead, broken, diseased, and crossing branches.
• Thin the canopy to allow air movement, but do not top trees as this makes the trees more susceptible to damage from insects, disease and wind.
• Only remove brown fronds from palms, and never "hurricane cut" as this actually weakens the bud and exposes it to wind damage.
• Healthier plants withstand stress better than unhealthy ones, so fertilize landscape plants with a fertilizer such as 12-2-14 that contains at least 30% of both the nitrogen and potassium in a slow-release form. Palms may need a supplemental application of manganese sulfate to prevent frizzle top.

For more information on why trees fail and what homeowners can do to prevent or reduce the damage caused by trees during hurricanes, Annemarie Post is conducting a class "Hurricanes vs. Trees" at Extension’s Florida House Learning Center on June 29, at 2:00 pm. The FHLC is located on the NW corner of Beneva & Proctor Roads (on the Sarasota County Technical Institute property). These programs are free, but you must register in advance due to limited seating. Call the FHLC at 316-1200 to register.

Gardening activities

• Check for mole cricket damage in bahia and Bermuda lawns. The Larra bicolor wasp is a natural predator. The extension service is distributing southern Larraflowers which are the nectar plants for this beneficial wasp.
• Check for chinch bug damage in St. Augustine lawns. Treat just the problem area plus an additional five foot radius instead of the whole yard.
• If rust mite damage was a problem on your citrus last year, spray a less toxic solution such as horticultural soap now or in July.
• Amend beds with organic matter before planting summer annuals.
• As summer rains begin, get in the habit of only watering as needed. Check your rain shutoff device to see that it is working properly.

Planting guide

• Annuals: Celosia, coleus, crossandra, gomphrena, marigold, melampodium, nicotiana, periwinkle, portulaca, salvia, torenia, wax begonia and zinnia.
• Perennials: Blue daze, gaillardia, gazania, coreopsis, daylily, pentas, ruellia, salvia, Shasta daisy, society garlic, Stokes aster and verbena.
• Herbs and Vegetables (plant herbs from transplants and vegetables from seeds or transplants): Basil, borage, catnip, collard and mustard greens, eggplant, lemon balm, marjoram, mint, okra, oregano, rosemary, southern peas, summer savory, sweet potatoes, thyme and turnip.
• Fruits in season: Banana, blueberry, carambola, cattley guava, citrus (calamondin, key lime, lemon and lime), Jackfruit, fig, kumquat, lychee, macadamia, mango, papaya and pineapple.
• Blooming plants: African tulip tree, allamanda, beautyberry, bird of paradise, canna, crape myrtle, gardenia, gerbera, hibiscus, ixora, Jerusalem thorn, magnolia, Mexican flame vine, ponytail plumbago, roses, royal Poinciana, society garlic and thryallis.

If you have questions concerning your landscape, please call or visit our new office at Twins Lakes Park, on Clark Road east of I75. The Master Gardener Help Desk is open Monday-Friday from 9:00 am-Noon and 1:00-4:00 pm. A new satellite service at Selby Library, open from 9:30-noon Fridays, is available to answer walk-in questions. Satellite service has resumed at North Port Library on Tuesdays from 1:30-3:30 pm.

(Patricia Porchey is a horticulturist with Sarasota County Extension Service, partner with the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Website: http://sarasota.extension.ufl.edu)

May Gardening Guide
By: Patricia Porchey


Coral honeysuckle and spiderwort are two native plants sparkling with color at this time of the year. Both attract butterflies and coral honeysuckle also attracts our ruby-throated hummingbird. In addition, as the dry season continues, they are both drought-tolerant plants that sustain the environment when other water-thirsty plants cannot.

Florida’s premier annual event for sustainable living, Efest 2005, is being held on May 27 & 28 at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall. It is dedicated to demonstrating ideas and technologies that promote earth stewardship by focusing on a vibrant economy, healthy people and environmental preservation. Saturday’s venue feature lots of musical entertainment, over 70 exhibitors and speakers, food vendors and many hands-on children’s activities.

One important component of sustainability is IPM, integrated pest management. These are tools that homeowners can use to improve their quality of life by reducing pesticide use and preventing problems in the landscape.
IPM criteria
 Start by inspecting structures and surrounding areas to determine the types of pests that may be a problem.
 Understand that less than 1% of all insects are considered pests so learn to distinguish between beneficial insects and pests. Understand the benefits of a “pest” such as a mole and perhaps rethink the term “pest. “
 Know the threshold of a pest insect and when treatment is warranted.
 Apply a pesticide only when monitoring indicates it’s needed and then use the least toxic method available
 Follow label directions when applying a pesticide or fertilizer.
 Eliminate potential insect invasions by installing the right plant in the right place and providing it with the necessary space to grow properly.
 Save our cypress forests by using alternative organic mulches such as recycled landfill mulch (it’s free), eucalyptus, pine, or melalecuca.
 Check your irrigation system to see that it is operating properly and not overspraying onto the driveway or sidewalk.
 Avoid over watering which can lead to nonpoint pollution and runoff into our bays by calibrating sprinklers so an adequate amount only is applied.
 Sarasota County still observes the once per week irrigation schedule for lawns. Three quarters of an inch of water is allowed on Sundays if your address ends in an odd number or a letter N- Z. If your address ends in an even number or the letter A-M, you can water on Tuesdays. Only reclaimed water users and micro-irrigation beds are exempt from the regulations.
 Water early in the morning before 10:00 am rather than after 4:00 pm. There will be less water lost to evaporation and wind drift.
 Install a rain gauge and check to see if it’s operating properly.
Planting guide
 Annuals: Ageratum, begonia, celosia, cleome, coleus, cosmos, crossandra, dusty miller, four o’clock, gazania, marigold, morning glory, nicotiana, periwinkle, portulaca, salvia, sunflower, torenia, verbena and zinnia.
 Perennials: Blue daze, caladium, coreopsis, Dahlberg daisy, daylily, gaillardia, gaura, gerbera daisy, kalanchoe, Mexican heather, pentas, rudbeckia, salvias, shell ginger, shrimp plants, tithonia and verbena.
 Vegetables and herbs: Anise, green beans, black-eyed peas, borage, catnip, chervil, cilantro/coriander, comfrey, corn, cumin, dasheen, eggplant, lima beans, horehound, marjoram, mint, okra, oregano, peas, summer savory, sweet potatoes, tarragon and watermelon.
 Fruits in Season: Banana, blackberry, blueberry, carambola, citrus, (calamondin, grapefruit, key lime, lemon, and lime,), guava, kumquat, loquat, macadamia, papaya, pineapple, Surinam cherry, and tamarind.
 Blooming Plants: Amaryllis, Australian flame tree, beach buttercup, beach sunflower, birds of paradise, bottlebrush, bougainvillea, crape jasmine, daylily, devil’s backbone, duranta, gardenia, dwarf Indian hawthorn, Jacaranda tree, Jerusalem thorn, ligustrum, magnolia, mandevilla, Mexican flame vine, natal plum, necklace pod, pipevine, silk oak tree, society garlic, silver trumpet tree, Simpson’s stopper, star jasmine, Texas sage, wild coffee, yaupon holly and yucca.

If you have questions concerning your landscape, please call or visit our new office at Twins Lakes Park, on Clark Road east of I75. The Master Gardener Help Desk is open Monday-Friday from 9:00 am-Noon and 1:00-4:00 pm. A new satellite service at Selby Library, open from 9:30-noon Fridays, is available to answer walk-in questions. Satellite service has resumed at North Port Library on Tuesdays from 1:30-3:30 pm.

(Patricia Porchey is a horticulturist with Sarasota County Extension Service, partner with the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Website: http://sarasota.extension.ufl.edu)



 

March Gardening Guide
By: Patricia Porchey



 
By: Patricia Porchey


As you get ready to replenish your landscape for spring, this is a good time to inventory your existing plant palette for invasive exotics. In the 1970s, nurseries and extension agents’ list of recommended trees to plant still included Brazilian pepper, Carrotwood, and melaleuca. As a result of their widespread planting and reseeding capabilities, these species are now displacing our native Florida vegetation. In 1997 Sarasota County passed an ordinance banning the importation, sale, propagation and planting of these trees, as well as, Australian pine, Chinese tallow and beach naupaka.

Melaleuca Tree

Help protect our natural areas from these non-native invasive plants. The county presently has no removal assistance for homeowners unless the trees are in the right-of-way, but does encourage their removal. This is a good opportunity to remove these offending trees and make room for fruit trees to provide you with a more self-sustaining lifestyle.

Can you smell spring? Just lift your head and even without a breeze, the aroma of citrus fills the air. Fragrant blooms also beckon from Chickasaw plum and loquat before their fruit is set. Add too, sweet alyssum, jasmines, Walter’s viburnum, and of course, roses. Remember to selectively prune spring-blooming shrubs after they’ve bloomed instead of shearing them. Your plants will retain their natural shape and will be less stressed.

One horticulture education program is being offered on March 22, at 1:00 pm at Extension’s Florida House Learning Center. Annemarie Post will discuss “Palms – Care & Maintenance.” A workshop introducing the public to Horticultural Therapy will be held on March 23, at 10:00 am at FHLC. Attendees will make nature-printed sachets and fill them with potpourri. The FHLC is located on the NW corner of Beneva & Proctor Roads (on the Sarasota County Technical Institute property). Both programs are free, but call the FHLC at 316-1200 to register.

If you have questions concerning your landscape, please call or visit our new office at Twins Lakes Park. The Master Gardener Help Desk is open Monday-Friday from 9:00 am-Noon and 1:00-4:00 pm. A new satellite service at Selby Library every Friday morning from 9:30-Noon is available to answer walk-in questions.

Gardening activities
 Amend planting beds, but not planting holes. Plants will grow roots and get established more quickly with no amendments added to the planting hole.
 Fertilize all landscape plants and lawns. Always use a complete fertilizer, one that contains the three major components (Nitrogen, Phosphorous and Potassium) and a list of minor nutrients such as magnesium, iron, and manganese. An analysis of 8-2-8, 12-2-14, 15-5-15 or similar is recommended. Nitrogen and potassium should have at least 30 percent in a slow-release form. Apply a maximum of one pound of nitrogen per 1000 square feet. To determine the correct amount of fertilizer to use, divide the first number on the bag (nitrogen) into 100; this determines the number of pounds in this bag needed to supply one pound of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet of lawn and landscape area.
 Prune dead branches injured by winter’s cold, as well as, any broken or crisscrossing branches. If there are diseased branches with canker, galls, or “witches broom”, make your cut six to twelve inches below the infected area. After each cut, sterilize the pruners with a solution of one part Pine Sol or similar product to three parts water.
 Treat stumps of trees cut down with an herbicide to prevent regrowth. Melaleuca should be shredded into mulch; University of Florida research has shown it to be the most repellent mulch against termites.
 Mulch to conserve moisture around your plants, but leave a few inches of air space at the base of the plants.

Planting guide
Vegetables and herbs to plant: Anise, basil, beans, beets, borage, cantaloupe, chervil, comfrey, corn, cucumber, cumin, horehound, kohlrabi, lemon balm, lettuce, marjoram, mustard, okra, oregano, peas, summer savory, sweet peppers, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, radish, summer squash, tarragon, thyme, tomatoes, and watermelon.
Annuals to plant: Ageratum, alyssum, begonia, browallia, celosia, coleus, cosmos, Dahlberg daisy, dusty miller, gazania, geranium, impatiens, lobelia, marigold, nicotiana, ornamental pepper, petunia, phlox, portulaca, salvia, torenia, verbena, and zinnia.
Perennials to plant: African iris, Amazon lily, blood lily, blue daze, caladium, canna, coreopsis, crinum lily, daylily, gaillardia, gerbera daisy, gaura, gladiolus, gloriosa lily, Mexican heather, milkweed, pentas, rain lily, rudbeckia, salvia, Shasta daisy, society garlic, spider lily, and walking Iris.
Fruits in season: Banana, carambola, citrus (calamondin, grapefruit, key lime, lemon, lime, orange, and tangerine), jaboticaba, kumquat, loquat, strawberry, and papaya.
Blooming plants: Angel’s trumpet, amaryllis, bird of paradise, blue flag iris, blue sage, bottlebrush, bougainvillea, buddleia, cape honeysuckle, Carolina jessamine, dwarf Indian hawthorn, flame vine, fuchsia skullcap, geranium, gerbera daisy, lantana, mahoe, Mexican flame vine, orchid tree, rhododendron, silk floss tree, society garlic, Surinam cherry, trumpet trees, Turk’s cap, and wildflowers.


(Patricia Porchey is a horticulturist with Sarasota County Extension Service, partner with the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Website: http://sarasota.extension.ufl.edu)
 

February Gardening Guide

Vegetables are grown year-round in Florida, but spring is the preferred season. As you will see from the extensive list below, many seeds can be started in mid to late February - cool season vegetables such as carrots, lettuce and potatoes, as well as, warm season plants such as peppers, tomatoes, and watermelon. Consider growing “organic” this year by only using natural materials instead of synthetic chemicals that may be detrimental to your health and the environment. Simply choosing the proper garden site and plant placement will eliminate many pest problems. For best results, rejuvenate your plot with organic amendments such as compost, composted manures, or peat humus.

Even though the average temperature this month is 62 degrees and the average low is 49 degrees, don’t be misled into thinking that spring is here. Interspersed with our warm sunny days are cold snaps so put off pruning cold-tender plants until the end of this month when the weather prediction is only for 40 degrees and above at night. However, you can prune crape myrtle and other deciduous plants that flower on their new growth.

Gardening activities:
 Fertilize citrus and other fruit trees this month – approximately 8 pounds for a mature tree.
 As fruit sets on your fruit trees, water on a regular basis if there is no rain.
 Fertilize lawns with 12-2-14, or comparable ratio, at a rate of no more than 1 pound per 1000 square feet. The fertilizer should be complete with minor nutrients and have at least 30 percent of the nitrogen (N) and potassium (K) in a slow-release form. Slow-release (“water insoluble”) N and K sources will provide color and growth for 60 days or more, depending on the fertilizer. These fertilizer sources are safer environmentally, since they are less likely to leach N into ground or surface water.
 Apply a pre-emergent herbicide to lawns or beds where weeds, such as crabgrass, were a problem last year. This product controls the germination of new seeds; therefore, do not apply it to areas where seeds or bulbs are to be planted later.

Satellite Services
Cooperative Extension has weekly horticultural outreach services to make it more convenient for residents to receive our services when they are unable to come to our office at Twin Lakes Park. We have a new location at Selby Library in addition to our four locations in South County. Hours of service are as follows: Selby Library, Friday, 9:30-noon; Elsie Quirk Library, Tuesday, 9:30-noon; Al Goll Recreation Center, Tuesday, 1:30-3:30pm; Venice Library, Thursday, 9:30-noon; and Jacaranda Library, Thursday, 1:30-3:30 pm.

To assist you in your landscaping, there is one horticulture education program at Florida House Learning Center this month. The FHLC is located on the NW corner of Beneva & Proctor Roads (on the Sarasota County Technical Institute property). Wednesday, February 22, at 1:00 pm, retired Extension Director, Michael Holsinger, will be discussing “Tropical & Subtropical Fruiting Plants”. This program is free, but you must register in advance due to limited seating. Call the FHLC at 316-1200 to register.

Vegetables & Herbs to plant: Anise, basil. beans, beets, borage, cantaloupe, carrots, catnip, celery, chervil, chives, collards, comfrey, coriander, corn, cucumber, cumin, dill, eggplant, endive, garlic, kohlrabi, leek, lemon balm, lettuce, marjoram, mint, mustard, onion, oregano, parsley, peas, pepper, potato, pumpkin, radish, rosemary, sage, sweet potato, tarragon, tomato, turnip, and watermelon.

Annuals to plant: Ageratum, alyssum, amaranth, begonia, browallia, calendula, cosmos, dusty miller, gazania, geranium, lobelia, marigold, nasturtium, pansy, petunia, phlox, salvia, snapdragon, statice, stock, strawflower, and verbena.

Perennials to plant: African iris, agapanthus, amaryllis, Amazon lily, aster, Aztec lily, caladium, canna, calla lily, clivia, crinum lily, dahlia, dianthus, foxglove, gerbera, hollyhock, shasta daisy, society garlic, spider lily, tritonia, viola, and walking iris.

Fruits in Season: Banana, black sapote, carambola, cherimoya, citrus (calamondin, grapefruit, key lime, lemon, lime, orange, and tangerine), Indian jujube, kumquat, loquat, mysore raspberry, papaya, and strawberry.

Blooming plants: Bush daisy, Bottlebrush, bougainvillea, Carolina Jessamine, Chinese hat plant, jatropha, kalanchoe, lion’s ear, mahoe, Mexican flame vine, orchid tree, palm grass, poinsettia, porterweed, powderpuff plant, purple tabebuia, rose, silver trumpet tabebuia, thunbergia, turk’s cap and yellow shrimp plant.

(Patricia Porchey is a horticulturist with the Sarasota County Cooperative Extension Service, part of the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Website: http://sarasota.extension.ufl.edu)

 

January Gardening Guide
 

By: Patricia Porchey

Overall, it had been a mild autumn until the mid December cold fronts ushered in wintry cold temperatures and brisk northerly winds. Temperatures hovered above the freezing mark, but brought to mind the necessity of thinking in terms of cold protection. Microclimate factors and the cold hardiness of the plant will determine how much, if any, damage will occur. Low areas, areas exposed to the north or northwest and dry areas are most vulnerable. If cold-sensitive plants are also contending with this environment, their susceptibility to cold damage, or even death, increases tremendously. The following measures will help minimize cold damage to your landscape plants.

Cold protection measures:

• Water the soil, but not the leaves. (Sprinkling leaves must be very precise to be effective so is best left to commercial growers.)
• Move containerized plants under cover of a carport, Florida room or garage.
• Move containerized plants under a tree canopy or to the south side of a structure or fence.
• Mass containers together.
• Wrap the sidewalls of containers or pile mulch around them.
• Cover plants with commercial frost blankets (cover should extend to the ground).
• Cover plants with burlap, grocery bags, cardboard boxes, sheeting, or lightweight blankets.
• Cover with plastic only when used with supports to keep the plastic from touching the leaves, creating a mini-greenhouse.
• Keep areas under cold-sensitive trees such as citrus barren so the heat absorbed during the day can radiate back into the canopy at night.
• Light bulbs such as small Christmas lights can be strung; however, be mindful of fire precautions - keep the lights away from coverings and leaves.
• Soil banks may be used around young fruit trees (3-5 years). This is similar to protecting the graft on your roses up north.
• Tree wraps only work to do more than prevent sunburn if of the insulating type.
• If cold damage occurs, do not remove the damaged areas until spring as this acts as protective covering for the remaining growth.
• Do not fertilize shrubs and trees as this will encourage new growth which is then more susceptible to damage.
• Remember to remove protective coverings during sunny days.

Gardening activities:

• Plant cold-hardy annuals and bulbs for seasonal color.
• Fertilize vegetables and annuals monthly.
• Prepare beds and plant spring gardens.
• Irrigate less often as the temperatures go down. Water turf every 10-14 days if there is no rain, but water annuals, perennials and vegetables more frequently.

• Prune temperate deciduous trees and shrubs.
• Transplant dormant trees and shrubs.
• Plant a tree for Arbor Day, January 21, 2004, to provide shade for your home, wildlife habitat for birds, etc., remove air pollutants, and reduce pollutant runoff from irrigation.

The Sarasota County Cooperative Extension Service has relocated its offices to Twin Lakes Park. The park entrance is approximately ½ mile east of I75 (exit 205) on SR 72 (6700 Clark Road). We are in the new Green Office building overlooking the lake as you enter. The Horticulture Help Desk will be open 9:00 am – Noon and 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm, Monday through Friday. Our telephone number remains the same, 861-9800.

Vegetables & Herbs to plant: Beets, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, Chinese cabbage, chives, collards, coriander, dill, eggplant, endive, fennel, garlic, kale, kohlrabi, lettuce, mustard, onion, parsley, peas, pepper, potatoes, radish, rosemary, sage, tomatoes, turnips, and watermelon.

Fruits in Season: Avocado, banana, carambola, cherimoya, citrus (calamondin, grapefruit, key lime, kumquat, lemon, lime, orange, and tangerine), hog plum, Indian jujube, and papaya.

Annuals to plant: Alyssum, ageratum, calendula, dianthus, dusty miller, geranium, lobelia, nasturtium, pansy, ornamental cabbage and kale, petunia, phlox, snapdragon, statice and verbena.

Perennials to plant: Agapanthus, amaryllis, calla lily, clivia, crinum lily, daylily, gloriosa lily, blue sage, shasta daisy, society garlic, tritonia, viola, and walking iris.

Blooming plants: Bougainvillea, Chinese hat plant, jatropha, kalanchoe, lion’s ear, Mexican flame vine, orchid tree, poinsettia, porterweed, purple tabebuia, red and yellow shrimp plant, silver trumpet tabebuia, thryallis, thunbergia, and turk’s cap.

(Patricia Porchey is a horticulturist with the Sarasota County Cooperative Extension Service, part of the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Website: http://sarasota.extension.ufl.edu)

Autumn becomes winter this month with the advent of shorter days and cooler weather. This is great for our citrus because they lose their green rind color and the pulp becomes sweeter. Unlike the perfectly colored fruit in the commercial orchards, our dooryard fruit oftentimes have some imperfections. Most of these are just cosmetic problems to the rind and leaves and require no treatment. The pulp is not affected and remains flavorful.

Nurseries are full of festive decorations now and Norfolk pines are decorated with bows for the holidays. Just remember before planting that cute "pine", it’s really an Araucaria heterophylla and it will grow to 80 feet. It eventually towers over a single story home and becomes completely out of proportion. It’s also susceptible to lightning strikes and wind damage.

If you opt for a cut tree for the holidays, shake it before you buy it and avoid those trees whose needles readily fall off. Color and fragrance are other symptoms of freshness. After getting it home, cut the tree stump about one inch above the original cut and place it in a bucket of water in a cool, shady spot. After placing it indoors in a stand, be sure to keep the stand filled with water.

Poinsettias are tropical plants that prefer temperatures arounmdn65 degrees at night and 75-80 degrees in the daytime. Avoid purchasing those plants exposed to the hot sun and wind. Select poinsettias with tight green buds in the center of the colorful bracts. These are the true flowers and should not have any yellow pollen being released. Place the plant in a warm, well-lit and draft-free location in the home. Water only when the soil feels dry as they tolerate drier conditions much better than wet.

In the early spring or late winter, poinsettias can be planted outdoors. Select a sunny location that is away from any artificial light to insure a colorful bract display next year. They are tolerant of most soils as long as they are well drained.

• Plant cold tolerant annual flowers such as pansies, snapdragons, alyssum, and dusty miller.
• Grow holiday cactus in well–drained soil and water frequently, but don’t let the soil remain wet
• Root prune trees and large shrubs for transplanting in January or February.
• Reduce watering during the winter months. Watering every two weeks instead of weekly is usually sufficient for turf, trees and shrubs. Vegetables and flowers will need more frequent irrigation.
• Do not fertilize turf in December and January, but vegetables and flowers should be lightly fertilized monthly unless using a slow-release fertilizer.
• As we enter the dry season, be conscious of having a 30 feet perimeter around your home free of dead and dry plants if you live in a wooded area.

Vegetables & Herbs to plant: Anise, beets, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrot, cauliflower, celery, chervil, collards, coriander, dill, eggplant, fennel, garlic, kale, kohlrabi, leek, lettuce, mustard, onions, peas, parsley, potato, radish, rutabaga, sage, spinach, strawberries, Swiss chard, thyme, and turnips.

Fruits in Season: Avocado, banana, cherimoya, citrus (calamondin, grapefruit, key lime, kumquat, lemon, lime, orange, tangelo and tangerine), hog plum, and Indian jujube.

Annuals to plant: Alyssum, begonia, calendula, dusty miller, foxglove, geranium, impatiens, lobelia, ornamental cabbage and kale, pansy, petunia, phlox, snapdragon, statice, strawflower, and verbena.

Perennials to plant: African iris, aster, blue daze, blue sage, buddleia, bush daisy, candytuft, dianthus, gerbera daisy, pentas, salvia, scabiosa, Shasta daisy, verbena and viola.

Blooming plants: Allamanda, bauhinia vine, bottlebrush, bougainvillea, Cape honeysuckle, cassia, Chinese hat plant, cordia, firecracker plant, firespike, ixora, jatropha, kalanchoe, lion’s ear, Mexican flame vine, Mexican sunflower, orchid tree, Philippine violet, pipevine, poinsettia, red and yellow shrimp plants, rose, salvia, silver trumpet tree, turk’s cap, thunbergia, and tibouchina.

(Patricia Porchey is a horticulturist with the Sarasota County Cooperative Extension Service, part of the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Website: http://sarasota.extension.ufl.edu)

How many of us said to ourselves upon arriving in Florida, "Everything here grows like a weed!" The onslaught of summer rains makes the additional growth even more dramatic. For some, this lush tropical foliage is paradise, whereas, for others it is seen as insurmountable work. And lest we forget, the weeds are definitely growing like weeds.

If that "right plant" was planted in the "right place," minimal pruning will be needed because its mature size was planned for. However, if pruning is needed, the rule of thumb to minimize stress to the plant is to only remove up to 1/3 of the total growth of the plant. This rule applies to lawns as well – remove no more than 1/3 of the leaf blade per mowing. When St. Augustine grass is no taller than 6-6 ½ inches, mow it down to a height of 3 ½-4 inches. Remember to keep mower blades sharp as dull blades will shred leaf tips and add stress to the lawn. It is also recommended that grass clippings be left on the lawn instead of being bagged.

Weeds in beds can be controlled manually by hand pulling or covering them up with layers of newspaper topped with mulch to remove their light source. Non-selective herbicides, such as RoundUpä and other glyphosate-based herbicides, injure or kill plants that are sprayed, even when accidentally sprayed. Some "hard to kill" weeds, such as sedges, may require a selective herbicide, one with those specific weeds listed on the label as controlled weeds. Weeds in lawns this time of the year are more difficult to control because most herbicides are not recommended when the temperature rises above 85 degrees. Be sure to thoroughly read the label before applying any chemicals.

Vegetable gardening is very limited in the summer; however, it is a great time to solarize your planting bed. First, remove all existing vegetation and till the soil to activate the nematode population. Rake the bed so it is slightly elevated in the middle, then water the bed well to make it moist down to about 8-12 inches. Cover the whole bed with 2-6 mil of clear plastic (NOT black plastic) and anchor it tightly on the edges. July is the perfect month for this treatment because the goal is to reach temperatures above 130 degrees for six weeks. Nematodes and other soil pests such as wilt fungi, insects, and weeds are killed by prolonged exposure to these high temperatures.

Other gardening activities:

• Monitor Bahia grass lawns for mole crickets and St. Augustine for chinch bugs and spot treat if necessary.
• Address bare spots in lawns. If the lawn is more than 50% bare spots and weeds, consider replanting or, better yet, consider planting alternatives to grass.
• To "green up" the lawn without promoting growth or contributing to polluted runoff, apply chelated iron or ferrous sulfate instead of lawn fertilizer.

Annuals to plant: Celosia, coleus, cosmos, crossandra, Dahlberg daisy, gomphrena, marigold, melampodium, nicotiana, periwinkle, portulaca, salvia, torenia, wax begonia and zinnia.

Perennials to plant: Beach buttercup, beach sunflower, blue daze, coreopsis, daylily, gaillardia, Mexican heather, Mexican petunia, pentas, rudbeckia, salvia, shrimp plant, society garlic, verbena, and whirling butterflies.

Blooming plants: Allamanda, beautyberry, bird of paradise, blackberry lily, crape myrtle, crossvine, dwarf Poinciana, firespike, frangipani, golden dewdrop, horsemint, magnolia, mimosa, orange jasmine, perennial peanut, plumbago, rose, royal Poinciana, vitex, and yellow Poinciana.

Fruits in season: Avocado, banana, citrus (calamondin, key lime, lemon and lime), fig, guava, kumquat, longan, lychee, macadamia, mango, papaya, passion vine, pineapple, pomegranate, sapodilla, and seagrape.

(Patricia Porchey is a horticulturist with the Sarasota County Cooperative Extension Service, part of the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Website: http://sarasota.extension.ufl.edu)

June in Florida signals the start of summer and two important weather patterns – afternoon and evening showers and thunderstorms and the start of the hurricane season (June thru November). June 2003, however, was not typical – we received 12 inches of rain, a new high for rainfall. It replaced the old record high of 7.4 inches set in 1992.

Even though last year’s rain was the result of a tropical depression, not a hurricane, the resulting flooding was devastating to many of our landscape plants. Foliar and root-rotting fungal diseases were common, as well as plant death in some instances. The damage was not always immediate; sometimes, symptoms appeared weeks or months later.

Here are some tips to minimize damage should flooding or excessive winds occur:

• Install a rain shutoff device on your irrigation system (this is required by law). Or, check to see if your existing device is working properly.
• Improve drainage in areas where water gathers after sprinklers run or during heavy rains. A good alternative is to install plants in those areas that can tolerate "wet feet."
• Water plants only when symptoms indicate they need it. Remember plants can also "wilt" from too much water or too much sunlight.
• Prune dead branches on trees and those branches touching structures.
• Prune palm seedpods and those fronds that are brown. However, do not give palms a "hurricane cut" where green fronds are removed. This practice stresses and weakens the palm.
• Healthier plants withstand stress better than unhealthy ones, so fertilize landscape plants with a fertilizer such as 12-2-14 that contains at least 50% of both the nitrogen and potassium in a slow-release form. Palms may need a supplemental application of manganese sulfate to prevent frizzle top.
• Install new plants in the landscape, but remember the principle of "right plant, right place." Match the plant requirements with the existing soil and sunlight conditions as well as water availability and drainage.

There will be no educational programs at Extension’s Florida House Learning Center during the summer, but classes will resume in September. However, the house and gardens will remain open for touring. Summer hours are Tuesday – Friday, 10:00 am – 1:00 pm, and Saturday, 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm. The "Model Florida Yard" is always open. The FHLC is located on the NW corner of Beneva & Proctor Roads (on the Sarasota County Technical Institute property). Admission is free.

Annuals to plant: Celosia, coleus, crossandra, gomphrena, marigold, melampodium, nicotiana, periwinkle, portulaca, salvia, torenia, wax begonia and zinnia.

Perennials to plant: Blue daze, gaillardia, gazania, coreopsis, daylily, pentas, ruellia, salvia, Shasta daisy, society garlic, Stokes aster and verbena.

Herbs and Vegetables (plant herbs from transplants and vegetables from seeds or transplants): Basil, borage, catnip, collard and mustard greens, eggplant, lemon balm, marjoram, mint, okra, oregano, rosemary, southern peas, summer savory, sweet potatoes, thyme and turnip.

Blooming plants: African tulip tree, Australian flame tree, allamanda, bird of paradise, canna, crape myrtle, gardenia, gerbera, hibiscus, ixora, Jerusalem thorn, magnolia, plumbago, roses, royal Poinciana, society garlic and thryallis.

Fruits in season: Banana, blueberry, carambola, cattley guava, citrus (calamondin, key lime, lemon and lime), Jackfruit, fig, kumquat, lychee, macadamia, mango, papaya and pineapple.

(Patricia Porchey is a horticulturist with the Sarasota County Cooperative Extension Service, part of the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Website: http://sarasota.extension.ufl.edu)

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May Gardening Guide
By: Patricia Porchey

May brings thoughts of maypoles decorated with flowering garlands and colorful ribbons blowing in the breeze. Add gleeful children singing while they wind and unwind the colored ribbons and it’s a May Day celebration. This same jubilation is visible in our landscapes as all the profusion of new growth and flowers dominate where there were previously only shades of green.

This month is typically dry, however, so irrigation is necessary for most of the non-native plants coloring our landscapes. Sarasota County still observes the once per week irrigation schedule for lawns. Three quarters of an inch of water is allowed on Sundays if your address ends in an odd number or a letter N- Z. If your address ends in an even number or the letter A-M, you can water on Tuesdays. Only reclaimed water users and micro-irrigation beds are exempt from the regulations. It is best to irrigate in the morning before 10:00 am rather than after 4:00 pm.

Here are some water management guidelines to keep your landscape healthy during this dry month:
 Water early in the morning. There will be less water lost to evaporation and wind drift.
 Irrigate deeply at long intervals rather than frequent shallow waterings. This will promote deeper, more extensive root systems in landscapes with deeper root zones.
 Install micro-irrigation in beds of flowers, shrubs, trees, and vegetables. This can cut water usage up to 50% when used properly.
 Mulch around trees and shrubs to control weeds that compete for water.
 Mow grass high, 3-4 inches for Bahia and St. Augustine grasses.
 Avoid unnecessary applications of pesticides that require “watering in.”

To assist you in your landscaping, there are horticulture education programs at Extension’s Florida House Learning Center this month. The FHLC is located on the NW corner of Beneva & Proctor Roads (on the Sarasota County Technical Institute property). These programs are free, but you must register in advance due to limited seating. Call the FHLC at 316-1200 to register.
 May 1: “Rain Barrel/Compost Workshop, How to Make One for your Home” demonstrated by Dee Cissel and Angela Polo.
 May 5: “Universal Design” with Robert J. Black. Learn how to eliminate physical barriers in your home so it‘s usable by every family member.
 May 12: Entomologist, Dr. Fred Santana, will discuss “Pests Around Florida Homes”.
 May 19: “Florida Yards & Neighborhoods” with Valerie Ollinger. Learn how to save time and money by planting the right plant in the right place.
 May 26: “Stinging Insects” will be discussed by Dr. Fred Santana.

Springtime tasks include:
 Plant heat-tolerant annuals and vegetables.
 Fertilize annuals, roses and vegetables monthly.
 Fertilize palms with a complete palm fertilizer every 3-4 months to prevent nutrient deficiencies. Use a fertilizer higher in potassium and containing micronutrients, with at least 50% slow release.
 Monitor Bahia grass lawns for mole crickets and treat if present.
 Monitor St. Augustine lawns for chinch bugs and spot treat if present.
 Fertilize lawns with a complete fertilizer, such as 12-2-14, with at least 50% of the nitrogen in a slow-release form.
 Monitor for pests on landscape plants, such as oleander caterpillars on oleander and lacebugs on azaleas.
 Treat powdery mildew on roses.
 Do not apply pesticides during the heat of the day or when it is windy.

Annuals to plant: Ageratum, begonia, celosia, cleome, coleus, cosmos, crossandra, four o’clocks, gazania, marigold, morning glory, periwinkle, portulaca, salvia, sunflower, tithonia, torenia, verbena, and zinnia.

Perennials to plant: Blue daze, bush daisy, coreopsis, caladiums, daylily, Gerbera daisy, gaillardia, gladiolus, Dahlberg daisy, kalanchoes, milkweed, pentas, ruellia, rudbeckia, salvias, society garlic, walking iris, and yarrow.

Vegetables: Black-eyed peas, bush beans, chayote, dasheen, eggplant, lima beans, okra, peppers, southern peas, sweet corn, sweet potatoes, and watermelon.

Blooming plants: Allamanda, Australian flame tree, beach buttercup, beach sunflower, birds of paradise, bottlebrush, bougainvillea, canna, conferate jasmine, daylily, gardenia, roses, hibiscus, ixora, Jacaranda, Jerusalem thorn, lantana, oleander, plumbago, prayer plant, ruellia, shrimp plants, silk oak tree, southern magnolia, star jasmine, and whirling butterflies.

Fruits in season: Banana, blackberry, blueberry, citrus, guava, kumquat, loquat, macadamia, papaya, pineapple, strawberry, Surinam cherry, and tamarind.

(Patricia Porchey is a horticulturist with the Sarasota County Cooperative Extension Service, part of the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Website: http://sarasota.extension.ufl.edu)

 

Our Town Flowers
Pictorial

Bird of Paradise	Gardenia bush
Gold tree	Passion flower
Jacaranda tree	Mexican petunia

Gardening Resources

Tree lessons from past hurricanes


A study done by Mary L. Duryea in 1995 after Hurricanes Erin and Opal, highlighted wind resistance to a variety of North Florida trees. Now while we have several different trees here in warmer Southwest Florida, the information gathered from this study on the trees we have in common can still be useful.

Damage observed to trees was reported in different ways including uprooting, crown damage (branch damage) and/or breaking at the main stem. Within the category of conifers, slash pines and longleaf pines survived the winds fairly well. However, even though there was fair wind resistance noted, many of these pines suffered from long-term stress that allowed certain bark beetle and borer outbreaks to occur months and years later. The live oak also did very well with less than 2 percent of the trees showing any damage in the tree crown. The sabal palm was also noted as having superior wind resistance with up to 100 percent standing after the hurricanes making it almost "immune" to these storms. Southern magnolias also fared well with less than 10 percent damage noted. Some of the candidates for worse wind resistance were laurel oak, red maple, southern red cedar and sweetgum.

Beyond good tree selection based on hurricane-resistance, many other practices that ensure a more stable tree are important. Site analysis is a must. A sampling of cultural conditions before you plant a tree may include examination of the soil characteristics, proximity to a building or overhead wires, existence of underground lines or obstructions, adequate rooting space to support a good root system, height of the water table, etc. Proper pruning is also very important as it can reduce tree damage from a hurricane. It is important to note however, that this type of pruning does not include topping" of trees, hurricane cuts on palms and excessive crown thinning -- all are not recommended.

At this point in time, many of us probably view trees as a problem. However, as we work through recovery, we must still consider the benefits that trees provide our community including energy conservation, reduction of stormwater runoff, habitat for wildlife and of course beautification. Proper tree selection, detail to site analysis and pruning will help make future trees safer for a healthier urban forest. It should also be noted that Dr. Duryea conducted a similar survey in Southwest Florida soon after Hurricane Charley. The results of this study should also be helpful.

For more information on all types of tree information, please contact our Master Gardeners on the Plant Lifeline at 764-4340 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Our office is located at 25550 Harborview Road, Suite 3 in Port Charlotte. Our Plant Clinics are available across the county:

Englewood/Charlotte Public Library 9 a.m. to noon every Monday. Publix Punta Gorda Crossing 9:00 a.m. to noon the third Friday of the month.

Resources: Duryea, M. L. (1997) Wind and Trees: Surveys of the Tree Damage in the Florida Panhandle after Hurricanes Erin and Opal. The University of Florida Extension Service, IFAS. Gilman, E. F. (2002) Site Evaluation Form for Selecting the Right Tree for Your Planting Site. The University of Florida Extension Service, IFAS.




Perennial Peanut (Arachis glabrata) Excellent low-growing groundcover alternative to turf with masses of yellow flowers during warm months. Grows best in sunny areas. Drought tolerant.
 

Oak Leaf Hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia) Sarasota County is at the Southern edge of its range. Plant bears large, fragrant white bloom clusters. Foliage has good fall color in its northern range. Does well in shade. Mature height is 5'-8'; and spread is 5'-6'.
 

Simpson's Stopper (Myrcianthes fragrans) An evergreen Florida native shrub with small glossy leaves and small white fragrant flowers in late spring. Following berries are reddish-orange attractive to birds. Upright growth habit and sensitive to freezes in inland areas.

Bismarck Palm (Bismarckia nobilis)Massive, robust palm with large silver-blue fronds. Sensitivity to freezes in our area would limit its use to barrier islands.

 

Orange Plume(Justicia spicigera) Bears bright orange tubular flowers during the warm months. Evergreen. May be tender to freezes in inland areas. Grows 4'-6' tall and 2'-4' wide.

Giant Plume Ginger (Curcuma elata) This perennial bears a bright pink inflorescence in spring as large leaves emerge. Bloom can be cut for long-lasting flower indoors. This ginger can reach 7'-8' tall. Tolerates shade.

Robin Holly (Ilex x 'Robin') We are at the edge of its Southern range. Can grow more than 10' tall and 6'-8' wide in ideal conditions. Evergreen, with large dark green spiny leaves with reddish-maroon new growth.