Monthly Gardening Tips
Find out what to do in the garden each month of the year!
January
February
March
April
Lawns: With the increase in temperatures this is one of your last chances to to do selective weed control and not damage your turf. Make sure your lawn is not under stress, it is watered and healthy before applying herbicides so as not to damage your lawn.
May
June
July
July is still a good time to plant most container plants. The summer rains help with the watering, but if more than a couple days go by without rain check the soil moisture and water if needed.
Peaches and nectarines are starting to ripen and become a favorite food for for Caribbean fruit fly and papaya fruit fly. No real good control is available for these pest. Cooler weather will reduce the fruit fly activities.
If the lawn is looking a little yellow or light green an application of iron may help to green things up.
Bermuda and zoysia grass like a light application of nitrogen during this time.
It is too hot at this time for most selective weed controls. Dig out or spot treated weeds if needed.
Finish up pruning of shrubs especially azaleas and gardenias. It is too late to prune camelias without taking the risk of losing flowers.
Remember to only remove the brown fonds and seeds on palms.
This is a good time to get the vegetable garden ready for the long fall and winter growing season. Okra and southern peas can still be added to the garden but planting is over for hot season vegetables.
Solarization for nematodes is done now after you remove as much of the old plants. Add organic matter and control weeds with herbicides.
August
Prepare for next nine months of gardening. August is a great time to plant corn, eggplant, pumpkins, peppers, tomatoes and watermelons.
Blueberries and blackberries need to be pruned right after fruiting. Blackberries need to be pruned to the ground allowing the new shoots to come up and grow for next years's fruiting.
For your August fertilizing of citrus apply 1/4 pound of for each inch of trunk circumference. Measure circumference approx. 6 inches above the ground. Spread the fertilizer under the tree and out past the drip line a couple of feet.
August is the usually the last month of the rainy season. Leaf spots caused by fungus activity cause yellow to brown spots mainly on older leaves. If you are going to apply fungicide apply it to the new healthy leaves that may be infected.
Check azaleas for lacebugs. They are found on the under side of leaves and turn the leaves yellow or bronze. They favor plants that receive more sun light. An oil spay applied to the underside of the leaves or a systemic applied to the top of the leaves is usually effective.
You can continue to add container grown plants to the landscape. Watch the plant depth of new plant, planting too deep is a major cause for plant failure.
Removing old seed heads on crape myrtles will encourage additional blooms. Continue to remove old fronds and seed stalks from palm. Do not remove any green fronds.
September
October
November
December
