Question: In our landscape, the myrtles of crepes are beautiful. Pruning the stems of faded flowers will cause the plants to produce more flowers?
Answer: If you cut off the stems or blooming stems you are about to form a seed pod, prepare another flower. Cut them over the seed pods to make the trunk part at least 0.5 inches thick. More flowers usually appear in about 4-6 weeks. Removal of used flower stems can last until the end of August.
Q. My gardening friend says it’s difficult to grow vegetables during the summer, but I list many crops at this time of year. Is it really difficult to grow these vegetables?
A. Summer gardening can be challenged for heat, humidity and weeds. Crops listed in the summer are usually good growers and producers, but you need to keep up with their needs. The number one requirement is that weeds will hinder planting growth. This means you will be pulling out the hands of many of the unwanted vegetation. Crops also require water and water to fertilize once a month when rainfall is not adequate. Pay attention to insects such as caterpillars, aphids and beetles that affect plant leaves and controls when necessary. Most summer crops are resistant, but they cause fungal problems. Also keep some open spaces as they start in mid-August with more familiar crops like tomatoes, peppers, squash, cucumbers and beans.
Plant Doctor: Go to Red, White, Blue in Container Garden for Independence Day
Q. Our lemon tree has been producing lemons twice a year for over four years. This year, there were no flowers or lemons while the trees were growing. Is there anything I can do to help the tree produce lemon again?
A. We all need to take a break one day and we also need to do the plants. It’s not unusual to have a year off on a fruit tree and produce little or no fruit. There is still a chance that your lemons can produce some flowers and fruits, but this year may be recharged and ready for next spring. Trees need to store food to develop flower buds and fruits. Do your part to support citrus fertilizer applications in August, October, March and May. You can also apply a minor nutritional spray to each flash of growth. Control Asian pyrido insects with insecticide spray with each flash of growth to prevent the spread of greening disease.
Q. I’m thinking ahead of the next garden. When do you start tomato seeds?
A. Mid-July is the time to start the next crop of seeds, from tomatoes, peppers and eggplants. Numbers will take about four weeks during the summer and grow transplants ready to plant in the garden in mid-August. Start seedlings in a small container filled with cell packs or potted soil or germination mixture. In many cases, when using fresh seeds, only one seed is required per cell or small container. Keeps young plants in full sun and moist state. Start a half-strength liquid fertilizer application every week after the seeds have germinated. If you are 4-6 inches tall, if you have many leaves, you are ready for a garden or a large container.
Q. Once again, the crabgrass is creeping up into my St. Augustine’s lawn. What can I do to control it?
A. Many gardeners want to easily control the club grass grass in St. Augustine’s lawn, but nothing is available. The garden center has no effective products and no lawn care services. Use a lightly dusted baking soda home remedy on the grass at dusk in the late afternoon and report good success by suppressing crab grass. Baking soda appears to act as a contact herbicide, but crabgrass can grow. Other residents will dig out, kill the affected area, and add new grass. Some people cut crab grass because it produces green covers for the summer.
June in the gardens in Central Florida
Q. I recently purchased an indoor palm. How do I need to water and fertilize?
A. Start this care program by turning your new palm into a bright area of your home. Some palms can grow in lower light regions, but most people do their best in early morning sun and bright or filtered suns. Water when the surface soil starts to dry out as it touches. Next, apply enough water to run through the drain hole at the bottom of the plant container. Nursing with one of the houseplants or container plant fertilizers that slowly release the palms. Follow the instructions on the label. Most indoor palms require only fertilizer every 3-4 months. Take care to scale mites and insects and wash them off if necessary.
Q. Many of our neighborhood lawns have turned brown during the recent dry climate. How long does it take for me to recover?
A. The gardener had no problems finding dry spots during May. Even with irrigation, it may not have been enough water during hot, dry, low-humid climates. Some irrigation systems have done a poor job of damping the fringe area, and grass has decreased. Many brown areas have a good recovery. If the seasonal rain continues, they should fill with the greenery they remember in the middle of summer. If bare spots are recorded and the runner is dead, it’s time to fill larger areas with grass or plugs. If weeds remain for much longer these areas, you’re definitely waiting for them to regenerate.
Tom Maccubbin is an honorary urban gardener at the University of Florida Cooperative Expansion Services. Write him: Orlando Sentinel, PO Box 2833, Orlando, Florida. 32802. email: tomac1996@aol.com.
Original issue: 6am EDT, June 28th, 2025
