Question: I seem to remember that many yards had Azaleas, but now it seems to be just a few yards. Is Azarias difficult to grow here in central Florida?
Answer: Many residents also remember selling spring azaleas at garden clubs and nursery schools and parking lots offered by many societies. Unfortunately, many gardeners were not successful in planting their plants, and their enthusiasm for Azaleas has diminished. The local soil is very sandy and not adjusted to the acidity preferred by azaleas. You can have Azaleas, but it’s going to do a little work. Choose the best Azaleas or our growth conditions. The ones that appear to be growing are South Indian types such as the variety Formosa, George L. Tucker, and Mrs. GG Garbing. By adding more organic matter to the sandy soil, we begin planting azaleas at the filtered sun position. Next, test the acidity of the soil and adjust it to pH in the range of 4.5-5.5. When planting, make sure the azalea root balls are moist. Add pine bark or pine straw mulch, then moisten the soil. Azaleas may need to be watered every 2-3 days a few months later. Fertilize in March, May and early October with azalea fertilizer that helps maintain soil acids.
Q: My Meyer lemon tree has big flowers. You said in March to fertilize and spray new leaves. Do I need to continue with this schedule?
A: I’m happy to know that the trees have potential lemon crops in their formation. You need a pollinator to help set up the fruit, so skip better the spray of insects while the trees are in bloom. Apply a spray when the flowering is finished and apply every time new leaves form during the remaining growing season. Fertilize the tree again and again in May, August, and early October now.
Q: The recently purchased star fruit tree is in a container and ready for the landscape. When can I plant it?
A: What many call star fruits and carambola are best grown in the warmest parts of the garden. Now, autumn is the perfect time to add trees to your landscape. Planting in the spring will have enough time to grow and mature before the cold arrives next winter. The wood is cold and sensitive and is damaged by temperatures well below freezing. When trees are frozen, they often lose parts to the ground. Carambola usually returns as a shrub-like tree, but can be retrained into a single trunk.
Plant Doctor: Pruning colorful fire resistance while perennials are growing new
Q: I miss the host in the northern landscape. Can I grow it in central Florida?
A: Many gardeners have tried to grow hosts, but it doesn’t appear to have established a display similar to Big Leaf. Several varieties are sold locally, but they seem to struggle with the local scenery. Gardeners seeking the appearance of the hosta must choose either the Peacock Zinger or Amazon lilies on shaded landscape sites. Some varieties of peacock zingers often mimic hostas with colorful leaves. The short stems have white, pink or lavender blooms. Like hostas, plants decrease during the winter. Amazon lilies have green leaves and drug-like flowery narcissism throughout the winter. Both are excellent hostas alternatives.
Q: There are some weeds in St. Augustine’s lawn. What is this lawn’s excellent weed control and fertilizer program?
A: Apply labeled weeds as soon as possible for use in St. Augustine. This helps to control unwanted greenery and provides nutrients to promote spring growth. You’re noted that you’re in a county that doesn’t allow summer feeding, so at the end of May you’ll create a second fertilizer-only application. Choose fertilizers with slow release properties that will be supplied to the lawn for several months. If you are allowed to fertilize again in October, apply weeds and food, or apply lawn fertilizer if we are no longer concerned. Following St. Augustine’s label instructions, any weeds that remain or grow at other times can be controlled with liquid products. Please note that some St. Augustine types are excluded from treatment with certain products.
Central Florida Garden April
Q: I received a tulip container and one of the daffodils. What should I do with the light bulb?
A: Send these bulbs to friends up north to cover these bulbs. You will have a hard time getting them to get locally into the brom because two years of cold treatment and care are required before the bulbs bloom again. Northern friends can plant them on the ground and have them take care of Mother Nature as they need. Another option is to maintain the container and add a light bulb to the compost pile.
Q: There were a lot of rubber last year. What do we ask for when working in planting our garden? Can you see the eggs?
A: The ferocious rubber grass hopper has already hatched from eggs placed on the ground from late summer to early autumn. Look for young black stage clusters with red or yellow stripes on crinum, amaryllis, bromeliads, and similar plants. The best control is to remove the clusters and deposit them under the friction alcohol or feet. Natural control of insecticides, including spinosad, reportedly, helps reduce the population. One of the synthetic pyrethroids also helps to control grasshoppers in young diving polos. If you use any of these insecticides, follow the instructions on the label.
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.
