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February: Timely tending

By PAMELA BROWN and NANCY R. VOLMAR
Published February 5, 2005

The spring gardening season begins soon. About two weeks before planting, be sure to till and add organic matter to your gardens. Cow manure, compost, peat moss or any combination of materials is suitable; add about 25 pounds per 100 square feet of garden.

Almost any type of vegetables are suitable for the spring garden, so order your seeds soon, or check the local garden centers for their shipment of vegetable seeds. Some nurseries may have starter plants for tender crops after the middle of the month. Hardy vegetables such as cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, carrots, beets, collards and onions may already be available.

Blossom-end rot is often a serious problem in vegetable gardens. If the bottoms of your tomatoes or squash are soft and dark, it could be a calcium deficiency. Correct this deficiency by using lime or treating existing plants with calcium chloride sold as Stop Blossom-End Rot. Fluctuations in watering can also contribute to blossom-end rot, so water your garden properly.

Thatch is an intermingled layer of dead and living shoots, stems and roots that develops between the grass shoots and the soil.

The most common method of removing thatch is by using a heavy-duty vertical mower. The mower has evenly spaced blades that revolve perpendicularly to the turf. They slice into the thatch and lift it.

This method, which can be used on St. Augustine grass, Bermuda or Bahia grass, removes thatch and matting. Thatch removal allows water and fertilizer to better reach the soil.

Thatch is seldom a problem in young lawns, but can become a problem in older lawns, especially if they are overfertilized and overwatered. Grass clippings do not cause thatch buildup when the lawn is properly mowed. The best time to have the lawn verti-cut in our area is mid February through June. Rapid growth and quick recovery are important after thatch removal.

Consider hiring a professional to do this job because the cutting is strenuous and there may be a truckload or more of thatch to haul away.

When choosing and planting shrubs that will eventually become a hedge or windbreak, be sure to space them properly. When plants are small, it may appear as if they have been underplanted or placed too far apart, but keep in mind the shrubs will grow and fill.

Overplanting, when plants are placed too close together, can also be a costly mistake. Make sure you have information about the tree or shrub you're planting so that you get the effect you want.

Now is the time to divide perennial plants such as cannas, gerberas, day lilies, stokesias, ferns, orchids, nandina, liriope and bulbous plants. To divide a plant, cut large clumps into smaller sections, making sure each smaller clump has an adequate supply of stems, leaves, roots and buds to survive transplanting.

Some plants can be pulled apart, but many must be cut. Transplant the separated clumps at the same depth they were growing originally. Do not divide plants when they are flowering, but any other time during the growing season is suitable as long as adequate care is provided after planting.

Rose pruning should be done in February in Central and North Florida. Major yearly pruning consists of removing some healthy top growth as well as twigs and branches that are dead, diseased, injured, unsightly, thin and spindly. Shortening main canes and lateral branches, as well as removing small twigs and some of the oldest canes, improves the plants' form. Pruning also regulates height and produces better light and air circulation within the plant. Leave at least half the length of each main cane that is 1 to 3 years old. Expect flowers eight to nine weeks after pruning.

To avoid dieback and encourage rapid healing, pruning cuts should be made just above a dormant bud (eye). When an entire branch is removed, make a smooth cut at the juncture.

Sterilize pruning equipment before each cut by dipping in alcohol or one-part bleach and nine-parts water solution.

Premature yellowing of palm fronds is an indication of a magnesium deficiency. Epsom salts or magnesium sulfate can be applied at the rate of a half-pound per inch of trunk diameter; do not exceed 5 pounds per year. Apply as you would fertilizer and water thoroughly.

You can also make up a solution of 1 tablespoon per gallon of water to spray on the foliage and pour into the center of the bud, if possible.

* Pruning can be done on needle-type evergreens. Check often for spider mites and spray with a miticide when necessary. Mites are very difficult to control on fine-needled junipers, so several treatments at seven to 10-day intervals may be necessary.

* Prune camellias after flowering. Cut branches just above the point where last year's growth ends. Remove most of the new growth. Rake up any fallen blooms to help avoid petal blight.

* Prune hibiscus at the end of this month or in early March. Hibiscus can be pruned throughout the summer to keep from becoming leggy.

The variety of plants that can be used in hanging baskets is endless. Although trailing plants are most often used, a plant does not have to drape to look great. Some of the narrow-leaf bromeliads make a spectacular display. Ferns are excellent hanging-basket plants, especially some of the novelty types such as rabbit foot, where the creeping rhizome resembles a furry foot.

Plants that produce runners such as spider plants, strawberry begonia or even true strawberries also do great in a hanging basket. For color, try annuals such as petunias or ageratum; or perennials such as vinca, begonias, impatiens and geranium; and don't forget the many different orchids with their wonderful flowers.

Azaleas not only add a splash of color to the late winter landscape but serve as an evergreen border or low hedge. Plant in partial shade. Purchase azalea plants while they are blooming.

The planting hole for containerized, balled and burlapped azaleas should be 12 inches wider than the root mass, but not quite as deep as the root ball or soil surface in the container. Fill the hole so that the azaleas are planted at or above the same depth as they were in the container. An organic mulch applied to a depth of 2 to 3 inches will conserve water and reduce weed. Be sure to keep mulch 3 inches away from the base of the plant. November to February is the best season for transplanting; however, containerized azaleas may be transplanted any time if proper care is provided. Plants should be spaced according to mature size of the cultivar but generally 3 to 5 feet apart.

For garden color almost year-round, plant marigolds. Marigolds are heat and drought tolerant and will bloom in about six weeks after sowing and continue to bloom until the first frost. During extended heat, they may stop blooming but will quickly restart once temperatures cool. To encourage flowering, remove faded blossoms. Fertilize every three to six weeks.

Cacti can vary in size from tiny species less than 1 inch to treelike forms 30 to 60 feet tall. Some grow upright, others spread out to form mats. Some have thorns or spines while others do not.

All cacti love light. They may be grown in flower pots, glass containers or in the landscape. Regardless of where they are grown, they should be planted in well-drained soil. Gravel, coarse sand or broken clay pots may be used for soil drainage in containers or for outdoor locations.

Some cacti such as the Old Man, Organ Pipe and Fishhook are grown for their interesting forms; others, such as the Holiday cactus and Night Blooming cereus, produce an abundance of flowers.

Cacti can be grown indoors provided there is enough light. The Holiday cacti often are used as houseplants and coached into blooming by restricting the length of days from early October until mid November.

Many weeds that grow in the lawn are annuals. They start from seed in the early spring, grow, flower and reseed - all in one season. Summer weeds will sprout soon after night temperatures get above 70 degrees.

Applying a pre-emergent herbicide in late February or early March will help prevent these seeds from growing. There are many pre-emergent herbicides on the market, so find the one labeled safe for your type of lawn; common pre-emergent herbicides are Balan, Betasan, Atrazine, Surflan and Treflan.

Always read and follow directions. Even an herbicide that can be used on your grass may still injure it during certain weather or if the lawn is under stress. Labels list the pests to be controlled, application procedures and amounts, as well as precautions to take while handling and mixing the product. By reading the label, you may save the life of your plant or your own. Using more than the recommended amount is not better.

Watch for the blooms on your avocado and mango trees. It is often a good idea to spray the blooms with a fungicide to keep disease from causing them to abort. Fertilize your trees using a 5-10-10, 4-6-6 or 4-6-8 mixture.

February is a good month to transplant trees or shrubs. Most plants are in a dormant or slow mode. It is not necessary to prune plants when moving them, but if they must be pruned, do so before transplanting. Plants will drop leaves that cannot be supported once they are transplanted.

Select ornamental shrubs such as hibiscus and camellias while they are in bloom. This ensures that you get the color you want. Many varieties are available at nurseries and garden centers in small, medium or large containers.

Continue to plant pansies this month for color throughout the spring. Older plants can be pinched back to encourage new, compact growth. Fertilize monthly.

All newly planted trees, shrubs and vegetables should be mulched to conserve moisture and to suppress weeds. A 2- to 3-inch layer should be sufficient. Keep mulch at least 2 inches away from the trunk or stems of plants. Consider using Pinellas County recycled yard waste mulch. Call the hotline at (727) 464-6001 for locations of free recycled yard waste mulch.

Compiled by Pamela Brown and Nancy R. Volmar of the Pinellas County Extension Center/Florida Botanical Gardens. If you have questions, call them at (727) 582-2100.

[Last modified February 4, 2005, 11:03:08]