Many of us may have made either formal (actually writing it down) or informal (we'll try and remember) New Year's resolutions. These can be major life altering changes. Or they can be as simple as things we may want to do in our garden.
You might resolve to keep up with the weeds, recycle yard wastes, add color. My list goes on and on.
First: Weeding. I will try and keep up with the weeds, whether with an herbicide or hand pulling. It is so easy to keep them in control if you do it on a weekly basis. But if you wait months between assaults, it can be overwhelming.
I also have a more permanent walkway planned for the west side of the house. I have found and priced the turf blocks I will use, measured the area, and convinced my son to help me.
I am using the turf blocks, so the water can percolate into the ground but still maintain a mud-free, stable walking surface. I got a good price by calling around. My son has a heavy-duty truck and will deliver them for the cost of a steak dinner.
These turf blocks are a good example of the benefits of calling around for prices. I found the blocks at over half the cost in Plant City as opposed to Brandon, but the delivery charge from Plant City is over three times as much. Luckily my son has a very large, heavy-duty truck and will charge me a mere steak dinner to help me get the blocks to the house!
More color is another design goal. I want to add more and change the flowers more often. I started by adding 54 petunias and 54 pansies to my front yard last weekend.
I also started the year out right by raking the leaves from the front tree. Instead of bagging them up for waste collection, I spread them around my peach trees in the back. This front tree is the only one that requires raking the leaves, because the other trees are surrounded by large planter beds where the leaves just fall and remain.
Take a look around your home and set a few goals for yourself.
This is often a time of year when our houseplants don't look so good, usually because of lack of light. Rotating houseplants outside can be of some help. We think about summer vacations outside for our plants. But as long as the temperatures do not drop too low, your plants will enjoy some outside time.
Before leaving for vacation last month I watered all my houseplants well and moved them out onto the lanai. We did have some cool weather, but the lanai cover was protection enough. The plants rewarded me with healthy new growth.
If some of your houseplants need replacing, here are a few that are very tolerant of indoor conditions. Spathiphyllum, or peace lily, is a sturdy plant with glossy green leaves and white "flowers," which are actually callalike spathes on slender stems. This plant blooms most profusely in winter but flowers can appear in all seasons. It will thrive in low to bright light preferring northern or eastern exposures. Keep the soil evenly moist.
Plectranthus australis, or Swedish ivy, is neither from Sweden nor an ivy, but is great in a hanging basket. It produces spikes of white flowers. Some varieties have variegated leaves. It tolerates low to moderate light and prefers evenly moist soil. Keep it on the east, west or south side of the house.
Sansevieria trifasciata - known as or snake plant, mother-in-law's tongue or cast iron plant - is a houseplant requiring very little care. The plant has sharp, pointed leaves that are dark green and grow upright. They produce fragrant light green to white flowers. I have a flower box full in my living room that is neglected most of the time but doesn't seem to care. It gets water maybe once a month. The plant takes low light conditions and can get bone dry between waterings. When it outgrows it pot, simply dig it up, divide the clump and repot each clump into its own container. I can't even remember the last time I fertilized mine.
Epipremnum aureum, called devil's ivy or pothos, is commonly thought to be in the philodendron family but is not. It grows in water for months, keeps in a planter for years, or given good, moist, humus soil and filtered sunlight, will frame a window in record time. I have two small plants on a high plant shelf in my family room that are neglected for months. I only remember to water them when I look up and see the leaves are wilting. Conditions probably can't get much worse, but the plants thrive. Most pothos have apple green, heart shaped leaves that are boldly splashed with creamy white. They can be trained on a support or used in a hanging basket.
While working in your garden, make sure you pick up all debris and stay after those weeds.
Don't prune off winter damage yet; cold weather could still be coming. Evergreen shrubs can be pruned and if you need work on your big trees, this is a good time to contact a tree service. This is an expensive task and it pays to speak to a number of companies and get recommendations from friends.
- Mary Collister writes about how to garden successfully in Florida's climate and offers problem-solving tips for your home garden. Mail questions to: Mary Collister, North of Tampa, 14358-B N Dale Mabry Blvd., Tampa, FL 33618.
