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Garden

January: Timely tending

	Click for January's checklist

Winter and spring are the best times to do major landscape renovations. Deciduous shade trees and fruit trees can be pruned, winter and spring annuals can be planted for a show of color, and hardy plants can be added to the landscape.

Even though winter is a dormant period for most hardy plants, they still need proper handling to ensure healthy growth in the spring. Many trees and shrubs die before they get a chance to leaf out because they are planted improperly. Until new roots have formed and the plants are firmly anchored, using stakes for support may be necessary. Even if the plant does not fall over, constant shifting of the root system keeps the plant stressed.

Avoid extremes when watering new plants. Too little water may cause tender roots to dry up and die; too much water can encourage rotting. New plants should be watered deeply when they are planted during the winter. Water only when the soil surface is dry, which will be every second or third day for the first week. Water twice the second week, then weekly; this should be sufficient until growth begins in the spring.

The amount of water a plant needs is the amount the soil can absorb. Stop watering when it no longer seeps into the soil rapidly. Newly planted shrubs and trees should not require fertilizer for six weeks. Give them time to get settled and ready for growth.

Houseplants must have light to survive. Some can exist on low light, but most will not survive, much less thrive, without sufficient bright light. If possible, find out what a plant needs before you purchase it.

In general, foliage plants require less light than flowering plants. Plants that do not receive adequate light may become tall and weak-looking, with pale leaves. Flowers may also fail to form.

Don't wait too long to move your plant to a well-lit area or it may never recover. On the other hand, don't think that placing your plant in direct sun will help it recover. Your plant may end up with sunburned leaves.

Citrus scab, rust mites and nutritional deficiencies are problems that need correcting before they cause extensive damage. Neutral copper (for scab), Malathion (for scales, whitefly and mites) and minor elements can be combined and sprayed at the same time. Follow label directions for correct use. If you prefer a less toxic approach, use horticultural oil after the copper and element spray. January is an optimal time to spray citrus trees.

Watch for anthracnose on mango blooms. This disease appears as small, black, sunken areas on the flower spike. If left unchecked, it can kill the flowers and prevent fruit development. Begin treatment with copper fungicide when the bloom spikes first appear, and continue spraying at weekly intervals until the fruit is fully formed; then spray monthly until June or July.

January is a good time to start preliminary work on your vegetable garden. One of the most important steps is to have your soil's pH tested. The pH range for growing vegetables in sandy soil is 5.8 to 6.5. The pH refers to the soil's acidity or alkalinity (sourness or sweetness). These cool-season crops can be planted from seed or small starter plants: beets, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, celery, kohlrabi, lettuce, onions, parsley, peas, radishes, spinach, collards, cauliflower, mustard and turnips. County extension offices will test your soil's pH as well as some local garden centers.

Night dampness brings out snails and slugs. Spread bait near tender plants, especially seedlings, and in moist, shady spots where they hide during the day. Read the instructions before using bait around vegetables and pets. An alternative to baits is diatomaceous earth. This powder contains tiny sharp projectiles that puncture snails and slugs. Sprinkle lightly around plants; it will not harm beneficial insects or pets.

- It's best to apply water before there is a frost or freeze, and make sure your sprinkler system is NOT on automatic during freezing weather. Plants can sustain major limb damage from splitting or breaking if ice forms when sprinklers come on.

- Protected plants can withstand cold temperatures, so remember to water and mulch; this prevents the stem and roots from being killed. When frost is predicted, plants should be covered with sheets, blankets, newspapers, cardboard boxes or other suitable materials. Don't leave this covering on the plants longer than two or three days.

- If a light frost occurs, sprinkle the leaves of tender plants with water from a hose after the temperature rises above freezing, but before the sun hits the foliage.

- Potted plants can be moved to a garage or shed for temporary protection. After potted plants are returned outdoors, check the soil for dryness, and water as needed.

- Though you may be tempted to prune damaged or wilted plants after a frost, delay severe pruning until new growth appears in the spring. In our area, pruning often encourages new growth, especially if there is a week of warm weather. This new growth is tender and vulnerable to further damage from frosts or freezes.

When it is time to prune, identify the wood injured by the cold by scraping a small section of bark and examining the cambium layer beneath the bark. Dead wood will have a brown or black discoloration; healthy wood will be green. Prune damaged branches back to the green area. Herbaceous plants, which tend to rot after a freeze, can be cut back to try to save the root system.

For more information on pruning, send a long, self-addressed, stamped (39 cents) envelope to "Pruning Ornamental Trees & Shrubs," 12175 125th St. N, Largo, FL 33774-3695.

With proper care, a holiday poinsettia plant can remain colorful and attractive all winter. Keep your plant in a well-lighted location, but out of drafts. Water to keep the soil moist, but not soggy. Don't let plant sit in water. Once the colored bracts fade and drop, the plant can be cut back and moved outdoors.

This is an ideal time to plant bulbs. Some bulb and bulb-type plants that thrive in this area are agapanthus, alstroemeria, amaryllis, caladiums, crinum lily, gloriosa lily and zephyr lily. Work in a generous amount (25 pounds per 100 square feet) of organic matter such as compost, cow manure, sphagnum peat, or other kinds of peat moss. When possible, plant the bulbs in large masses for the best display of color.

Roses should be pruned once each year, in January or February.

This yearly pruning consists of removing some healthy growth and all of the dead, injured, diseased, or unsightly branches. Leave at least half the length of each main cane that is 1 to 3 years old. The rose bush should bloom again in eight to nine weeks.

Pruning should occur just above an outward facing dormant bud, and cut surfaces larger than a pencil's lead should be covered with white glue. When an entire branch is removed, make a smooth cut at the trunk and paint it with glue. Be sure to remove clippings from around your plants after pruning to help prevent the spread of disease. Apply a layer of fresh mulch.

- Remove faded camellia flowers from your plants and rake up any old blossoms that are on the ground. This helps prevent petal blight, which can become a serious problem.

- Seeds from papaya can be started indoors in January. Clean the pulp off each seed and plant them about a quarter-inch deep in a container of potting soil. Fresh seeds usually germinate in 10 to 15 days, but some may take longer. Under ideal growing conditions, fruit should be produced in eight to 10 months. Seedlings planted in early March should produce edible fruit by November.

- Florida has a wealth of native trees that are suitable for rural or urban home landscape. They have adapted to climate and soil conditions, so they usually have fewer pest problems. Native plants desirable for home use range from the spectacular southern magnolia to hardy yaupon holly, which thrives in moist areas.

- Remember that Florida's native wild plants are protected under the Plant Protection Law. Under this law, both preservation and propagation are encouraged. It is against the law to destroy, injure, harvest, collect, pick or remove any plants covered by the law without prior written permission from the landowner or legal occupant of the land.

- Another Florida law specifically protects sea oats and sea grapes. It is against the law to dig up or remove these plants, whose growth helps prevent beach erosion.

- Is Spanish moss helpful or harmful? Although it is often branded a parasite, Spanish moss is an epiphyte, which means it receives water and nutrients from the air, dust and rain. The only obvious threat it poses to trees is reduced air circulation through foliage and broken limbs caused by its weight when wet. But those will not kill a tree.

- 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 December 30, 2005, 08:46:05]