Don't let Indian summer trap you in floral mistakes
By MARY COLLISTER
Published January 14, 2005
The absolutely gorgeous weather we have been having makes it difficult to remember that we may have more cold weather coming. It's hard to stay away from the garden centers. I just want to fill my yard with flowers, but have to temper that with the understanding that our winter may not be over.
If you choose to add plants to your landscape now, you may want to stay away from those that are cold sensitive. A plant newly added to your landscape will be even more susceptible to cold damage than an established plant. Those plants that are completely hardy here will be fine planted now. If we do have frost predicted (which is hard to imagine with the moderate temperatures we have had), I would cover them just to be on the safe side.
I'm concentrating on getting the weeds out of my grass now. Some weeds were damaged by the cold we had around Christmas time, so they are easy to spot and remove now. The Bermuda grass is slow growing now so this is the best time to remove it. Unfortunately the only safe way to remove Bermuda from St. Augustine grass is to pull or dig it up. Anything you spray on the Bermuda to kill it will also kill the desirable grasses. Remove all you can from your lawn now and it will be easier to contain this spring and summer.
A few of my orchids are blooming. Fertilization and fungus control are on my to-do list for all my orchids. They are so easy to neglect because even with the little or no care they receive, the blooms are still fantastic. But the use of a fungicide will make the foliage look a little better. Without any rain, I have to remember to water them and it always seems like two or three weeks pass between waterings. If you think orchids are too difficult to grow, I would encourage you to buy a plant and try it. I have found that they thrive with just minimal care. They do not like frost, so they must be brought in under cover a few times throughout the winter.
If I hear it will drop to 45 degrees or less, I pull my orchids under the lanai. That is the only protection I have ever given them. Start with a Phalaenopsis, as they are easy to grow and probably the least expensive orchid. A nice flowering specimen will cost less than a bouquet of fresh flowers, have gorgeous blooms, and the flowers will last three or four weeks. They are available throughout the year at garden centers and often even at grocery stores. You'll most often see these with purple or white flowers. Bring them in the house to enjoy the bloom and then place them back outside; mine hang under a maple tree, once the flowers start to fade.
I did take a few minutes to walk around the yard and spray herbicide on the weeds growing between the pavers used for the walkways on both sides of the house. The sunny, warm weather has not only made it more enjoyable for us to be outside, it has been a great environment in which the weeds flourish. Just as in the lawn, I want to keep the weeds in check so there is not an explosion this spring. It is easier to kill the weeds when they are little - whether you choose to pull or spray - than waiting until they get large enough to bloom. Once they go to seed, you have also increased the population of these pests tremendously. You'll just have more of a fight on your hands in the spring. Get rid of them now.
If you haven't already done so, now is a good time to gather all your unused plant containers and give them a good scrubbing. This will make it easier when you start your container gardens late this winter. You can use the hose, a stiff brush and 10 percent solution of bleach. This will work on all of your containers: clay, metal, plastic, etc. The pots can harbor disease and pests, so this scrubbing will eliminate those problems. Also, they just look better when they are cleaned up.
As you are cleaning the containers, take a minute to think about where they will be placed and what type of plant materials you may want to use. You might want to try something different, so start looking in magazines, catalogs, garden centers and the Internet for some ideas. These miniature gardening areas are the perfect location to try plants you may not otherwise use.
If you accomplish these few activities, you will still have time to enjoy your garden and that is the perfect activity for this time of year.
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.
