Q: My cardboard palm turned brown after it froze. Will it grow again, and how much pruning will it need?
A: Most of the so-called cardboard palms look pretty disappointing at the moment. In fact, these are not palm trees, but cycads, which are most often referred to as cardboard plants. The name comes from the fact that the leaves resemble cardboard. Look at the base of the plant and inside the crown of brown leaves. Some of them are probably green, which indicates that there is a lot of life in these plants. Now is a good time to prune dead leaves so that spring growth can renew the plant. Keep it moist and feed in the spring to encourage bud growth from the base and produce new leaves.
Q: I have a tall mango tree with all brown leaves. Will it recover from the freeze?
A: There is a good chance the tree will recover, but most mangoes that have been frozen for several hours are severely damaged. It is doubtful whether they will survive on the grafts to which new varieties have been added. Scrape the bark off the limbs and trunk. Finding green allows the tree to survive and produce new buds. Although there is life, the tree will not be able to reproduce the desired variety if it is under a graft. In this case you will need a new tree.
Q: Our canna plants have died for the winter. Can I dig up the bulbs and transplant them at this time?
A: Due to the extremely cold weather, the canna population continued to decline heading into the winter. Kanna is normal
In cold weather, it turns brown and dies, returning to the ground. But don’t worry, the rhizomes and roots
The parts below the ground are usually insulated by soil and can regrow during warm spring weather.
Feel free to always dig up the rhizome and separate it into individual parts. Can be stored
Leave for a few weeks or plant immediately in a prepared garden spot or container. Keep moist after planting
Also, when new sprouts appear, apply a slow-release fertilizer.
Q: I purchased a small lime and lemon tree. When can I transplant into a 20 gallon container? What soil should I use?
A: Don’t wait any longer to give these citrus trees a new container. The climate is mild and the risk of damage from freezing is minimal. Use a high-quality potting soil mixture. Most contain peat moss, bark, and perlite. It should flow easily through your fingers, letting you know it’s breathable and doesn’t clump. Add the tree to the new container, but leave about 2 inches of free space at the top to catch water and channel it directly into the root system. After a few weeks, add a slow-release fertilizer to the soil surface according to container growing instructions. Then feed repeatedly according to the label throughout the growing season.
Botany: Recent winter freeze has reduced pests on peach trees
Q: My red maple tree is opening its buds and starting to grow. Is it too late to perform the necessary pruning?
A: Now may be the best time to prune your maple tree. Even if shoots and leaves begin to grow, the tree has not progressed far enough to waste time and energy. Trim as soon as possible. It is always best to perform any necessary pruning just before new plants begin to grow. To be safe, hire a professional to work on the top of the tree.
Q: Can I grow edible ginger in Central Florida? How do I get started and what kind of care is required?
A: Get ready to grow the ginger you need this spring when the weather gets warmer. Edible ginger grows vigorously from fresh root segments known as rhizomes, which are available from grocery stores and specialty food stores. Plant in a container or garden soil enriched with compost or other forms of organic matter. Place ginger pieces about 12 inches apart or 1-2 pieces apart in a large container. Keep it moist and fertilize monthly with garden products. Ginger grows best in full sun to light shade. The plant grows to about 4 feet tall and has narrow leaves and rare but exotic flowers, almost like small greenish-yellow orchids. During the winter, ginger stems will die in cool locations. If a large harvest is made in late summer or autumn, thick tubers can be removed if desired.
Q: My lawn is starting to recover from the cold, but I see lots of weeds among the greenery. When is it okay to feed and feed your St. Augustine with weed?
Parade in Central Florida Gardens
A: When grass grows, weeds also grow. There has never been a better time to apply herbicide and fertilizer combinations. Make sure the weed you use is listed on the product label and follow the instructions for your lawn type. Combination weed and feed products effectively control many broadleaf weeds but have no effect on most grass and sedge weeds. So, don’t expect to be able to completely control your lawn’s weed problem. If weeds remain after treatment, ask your local University of Florida Extension Center for recommended control methods that can identify the weeds and remove them from your lawn.
Tom McCubbin is an emeritus urban horticulturist for the University of Florida Cooperative Extension Service. Write to Orlando Sentinel, PO Box 2833, Orlando, FL. 32802. Email: TomMac1996@aol.com.
