November is a great time to be in Florida! The humidity is generally gone, the rest of the country is freezing and we enjoy high temperatures in the 70's and low 80's. What does this mean for your grass and landscape? Here's some tips to keep yours looking its best as we head into the busy holiday season. It's a great time to get on that honey-do list and enjoy some time outdoors, or call us and we'll take care of that list for you!
Trees: This month you should be removing dead fronds and coconuts on palms trees. Palms should be pruned at a minimum of twice per year. (May prior to hurricane season & November before holidays). If you are unsure how to prune, contact us for help.
Pests: Until the month of May watch for brown patch and large patch, fungal diseases that cause areas of grass to turn brown. Since treatment is difficult, prevention with proper cultural practices is key. Now that temperatures are lower, use dormant oil sprays to control scale insects. Monitoring the garden for insects and diseases should be done on a monthly basis. Not all insects cause damage, some are beneficial and eat damage-causing insects. If you are not sure, hire a Florida certified pest control operator.
Irrigation: Although most residential & commercial properties have automatic sprinkler systems they should operate based on rainfall. Rain sensors (automatically shut off during rain) to irrigation systems should be checked and adjusted to the lowest setting. To much water will cause fungus & disease in our landscapes & turf. Plants need less supplemental watering in cooler weather. Turn off systems and water only if needed.
Lawns: To prevent cooler weather weeds from growing set mowing heights at the highest recommended heights, St. Augustine & Bahia turf @ 4″, Dwarf St. Augustine @2.5″. Mulching the cut grass will add nutrients back to the roots and soil. To prevent or minimize disease in turf, proper cultural practices should be used.
Plants: Plant trees, shrubs, and perennials and water until established. If you've been thinking of re-doing any of your landscape now is a great time to get that type of project started! We have a landscape designer on staff and we'd love to turn your BLAH into AHH and make your home a true oasis for you to enjoy the cooler temperatures that we will be seeing.
Fertilizer: The health and vigor of your landscapes depend upon applying the right amount of fertilizer at the appropriate times. Too little or too much fertilizer will cause problems for the growth, appearance, and health of your lawn. November is the last month when fertilizer should be applied. While some yellowing of older leaves in plants is normal, yellowing of new growth usually indicates a micro-nutrient deficiency. Fertilizer can correct the problem. If you're not sure what to do, please call the experts at RCM Lawn and Ornamental (941)447-5129 and they'll be happy to help you.
Annuals: Create a display of fall colors with cool-season plants. Some to try are new guinea impatiens, pansy, strawflower, cape daisy, and pentas. We will be sending out another email later this month for those who are interested in ordering Poinsettias. Look for it within the next few weeks. If you’re looking to plant flowers this month, pansies are a great cool weather bedding plant. Now that temperatures are lower, use dormant oil sprays to control scale insects in your garden. Cooler weather also means your plants will need less supplemental watering, so turn off automated sprinkler systems and water only when needed.
Vegetables: Continue planting cool weather vegetables like lettuce, carrots, broccoli, and kale this month. Try a container garden on your patio and enjoy freshly grown produce in your kitchen for your holiday parties and get-togethers.
Herbs: A wide variety of herbs like cooler, dryer weather, including dill, sage, mint, thyme, parsley, and cilantro can be planted from seed or plants.
I hope the list we have prepared for you helps you with tips to improve your gardens & landscapes. If you need help regarding your landscape, we at Fast Lawnscapes are fully certified & insured to handle all of your irrigation, landscaping, lawn maintenance, and tree service needs whether it’s a residential, commercial or homeowner association property. If you ever have any questions, please don’t hesitate to email me and I’ll be happy to answer any questions you may have. Special thanks to UF/IFAS extension offices for some helpful information provided to this post.
Comments