MARCH
Flower of the Month - Primrose
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Do It Now!
*Plant portulaca, marigolds, petunias, snapdragons, and candytuft.
*Divide and plant daisies. Set out periwinkles, begonias, copper plants, salvia, torenia, vinca, pinks, forget-me-nots, sweet William, phlox, verbena and violets.
*Protect all from late frost.
*Try carefree geraniums that take hot weather. Set out hibiscus and spring seedlings. Fertilize roses, shrubs and plants to stimulate spring growth.
*Fertilize established plants as well as lawn early March. Diseases and insects to watch for include azalea petal blight, camellia tea scale, aphids, white fly, pillbugs and caterpillars.
*Cut back old mums to encourage new growth. Continue to pinch old blooms and apply a light application of fertilizer to pansy beds for continued flower production.
*Start disease prevention program on roses and be prepared to continue 7 to 10 day intervals throughout the growing season.
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APRIL
Flower of the Month - Daisy
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Do It Now!
*Divide chrysanthemums. Plant pinks, glads, cosmos, periwinkles, dahlias, zinnias, asters, torenias and caladiums.
*Feed azaleas every few weeks until June with proper fertilizer.
*Examine plants closely for insects, such as aphids, thrips, chinch bugs, cutworms, spider mites and scale insects. Prune spring flowering trees and shrubs as soon as they finish blooming, as needed.
*Divide and transplant day lilies.
*Fertilize established spring flowering bulbs.
*Apply chinch bug control insecticides on St. Augustine lawns the 2nd week of April. Easiest and most effective control is achieved by using a granular type lawn seeder or fertilizer spreader. Water thoroughly after applying.
*Do not hurry to plant caladiums. Wait until the soil temperature is at least 70 degrees F.
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MAY
Flower of the Month -
Lily of the Valley
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Do It Now!
*Plant begonias, coleus, caladiums, geraniums, petunias, plumbago and jasmine.
*Mulch plants and water in late afternoon.
*Top Petunias, verbenas, phlox and sweet alyssum that have bloomed for several weeks so that the plant will continue to bloom. Remove annuals that have spent their beauty.
*Fill beds with zinnias, vinca, ageratum or marigold for summer color. White is a good choice for the summer garden.
*Remember snails and pill bugs will eat tender leaves. Use bug baits regularly.
*Time to lift and divide chrysanthemums. Do not cut foliage of bulbs until it dries.
*Watch for webworms (caterpillars) on pecan trees. Control with spray of Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) or cut off infested branches and burn.
*Fertilize lawn in early May using 5 lbs. ammonium sulfate or 3 lbs. of ammonium nitrate per 1000 sq. feet. Heavier applications can burn the grass or cause heavy growth and require more frequent watering. Water lawn thoroughly after fertilizing. If chinch bug controls were not applied in April, do so now.
*Watch for signs of iron chlorosis in your plants. If leaves are yellow with green veins, it indicates plants lack adequate iron supply.
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