Category » Florida Friendly Landscaping

There were 46 articles found in this category:

1. My Ixoras are totally brown, Curly Crotons are completely dark and shriveled up. What should I do or not do?
   With freeze damaged shrubs like ixoras and crotons we would suggest waiting until freeze danger is past (end of February) to do any pruning. At that time the dead wood can be pruned back to living wood. To determine where the wood is alive, scratch the bark of a shoot near the tip to expose the ...
2. Where can I get a rain barrel?
   The Pinellas County Extension teaches rain barrel workshops at no charge to attendees. We usually have rain barrels available for purchase at the workshops. For dates and locations of the workshops please check our website calendar. You might also check with the following businesses that may h ...
3. What is the best construction material for rain barrels? Can you give me some information on the types of construction materials to look for?
   Previously used food-grade plastic barrels are recommended if you plan to make your own rain barrel for collection and storage of rain water for landscape use. New, purpose-built rain barrels made from new or recycled plastic are also appropriate for landscape use. These are sold by some retaile ...
4. What action do I need to take if a Desert Rose was affected by the cold weather (frost). The leaves are brown; do I need to cut it back?
   It may be too soon to tell how much damage the plant has suffered. If parts of the stems have become mushy they can be pruned back to firm tissue. Otherwise, I would not do anything at this point. The plant will not need much water until new growth appears. If the soil stays wet, root rot diseas ...
5. When should I cut back dead branches on bushes which have been damaged with the recent freezes?
   We suggest delaying pruning of freeze damaged shrubs until after the danger of additional freezes is past (late February).
6. What causes the leaves on my azaleas and sycamore to have a bleached-out appearance with black, tar-like spots on the underside?
   Both azaleas and sycamore are susceptible to damage caused by insects called lace bugs. Damage results from the insect sucking out cell sap, resulting in a mottling of the leaves. The black tar spots are actually the insect’s excrement. Control on sycamores may be impractical if the trees ...
7. My poinsettia is showing spots on the leaves and creamy colored scab-like lesions on the stem. What is this and how can I get rid of it?
   Poinsettia scab (Sphaceloma poinsettiae) is a fungal disease that causes circular, cream-colored spots on the midribs and veins of leaves and raised, often elongated lesions on stems and leaf stalks. Severely infected leaves may drop off the plant prematurely. Scab is most prevalent in the summe ...
8. What landscape plants are toxic to household pets if they chew on them.
   The following list includes only a few landscape plants known to be toxic to household pets. If you observe erratic behavior in your pet after ingesting any plant, contact your veterinarian immediately. Toxic plants: Amaryllis, Angel’s Trumpet Antherium Asparagus Fern Azalea, Bosto ...
9. How can we treat soda apple weeds and will this be an ongoing problem?
   Tropical soda apple can sprayed with glyphosate-based herbicides like Roundup. Complete coverage of the plants is necessary for the best control. Glyphosate is non-selective (will kill most kinds of vegetation that it’s sprayed on) so be sure not to spray any desirable plants. You will nee ...
10. Why are my Cigar Plants (Cuphea micropetala) leaves are turning brown but new leaves are appearing. Should I prune them?
    It is probably best to delay cutting the plants back until freeze danger is past (late February), since cigar plant is somewhat cold tender. When established, cigar plant is somewhat drought tolerant, but will require some watering during dry weather. As with most other plants, less frequent wa ...
11. What is the best root stock to look for when purchasing rose bushes?
    Research in Florida has shown that hybrid roses grafted on 'Fortuniana' rootstock (Rosa fortuniana, 'Double White Cherokee') grow larger, are more vigorous, produce more flowers, and live much longer than plants grown on any other rootstock. 'Dr. Huey' rootstock is a distant second-best. More ...
12. When is the best time to plant rose bushes?
    Container grown roses are available throughout the year and can, with proper care, be planted successfully anytime in central and south Florida. Bare-root roses are normally available only during the winter and should be planted soon after purchase. More information on planting and care of rose ...
13. Is there a fertilizer that will work for lawns, bushes, trees, and flowers?
    A fertilizer with equal amounts of nitrogen (the first number in the 3 numbers of the fertilizer analysis) and potassium (the third number) and little or no phosphorus (the middle number) can be used on lawns and many kinds of trees, shrubs and flowers. An example of such a fertilizer would be a ...
14. Why are the leaves on my poinsettia drying up and falling off?
    You may be seeing the effects of magnesium deficiency on your poinsettias. This causes the lower leaves to yellow around their edges followed by browning and curling. Eventually the leaves drop off. This begins on the lower leaves and moves up the stem. Eventually all of the leaves can be lost ...
15. What are some shrubs that will survive along a seawall which gets some salt water?
    Adam's-needle, Marlberry, Natal plum and Yaupon holly are all plants with possibilities. Once established, these all require little water. You might want to reconsider planting directly along the seawall because of the maintenance involved. Instead, plant 5-7 feet back from the edge Additional R ...
16. What are the black spots on my rose leaves?
    The rose probably has black spot, a very common fungal leaf spot disease of roses in our climate. The disease produces black spots surrounded by yellow halos. The yellowing advances and the infected leaves eventually drop off. ~To manage black spot, avoid watering late in the day since leaves ...
17. Do you perform soil tests, and if so, how much does the test cost?
    Soil testing services are available through the University of Florida’s Extension Soil Testing Laboratory in Gainesville. The laboratory offers a soil pH and lime requirement test for $3.00 per sample and a soil fertility test (which includes pH, lime requirement and levels of phosphorus, ...
18. Is there an email where I can send you a photo of a snake that I frequently see in my yard?
    You can send a photo of the snake to our Lawn and Garden staff at hort@pinellascounty.org One of our horticulturists will examine the photo and give an identification of the snake if possible. Another resource is the Online Guide to the Snakes of Florida from the Florida Museum of Natural Hist ...
19. Can you provide a speaker for my homeowners association meeting?
    Yes, we have speakers available for homeowners associations as well as other organizations. Presentations relating to Florida-Friendly Landscaping principles are provided free of charge to groups of 25 or more as this is a grant funded, partnership program. Speakers may be available to present o ...
20. How can I find information about water restrictions for sprinkling my landscape?
    Specific information may be obtained by calling the phone number on your water bill. You may also find it helpful to visit the water conservation webpage of the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/conservation/restrictions for general information a ...