Plant of the Month & Gardening Tips
Plant of the Month - August
This is a thick groundcover that grows rapidly. It grows best in partial to full shade. You can see this plant at the entrance to Lake Orienta Park.
The Variegated Asian Jasmine adds great color to a landscape and is very easy to maintain. No major pest or disease problems.
LANDSCAPING TIPS
Summer is here, the temperature is rising and there is much to do in the landscape. Now is the time for regular lawn maintenance and landscape renovations or improvements. There are many web sites providing information about the landscape, including plant selection and “how-to” sites. Remember to drink plenty of water while enjoying the weather and completing your projects in the yard.
The lawn should have been fertilized this past spring with a 16-4-8. Summer is the time to put out weed and feed to kill the weeds in the grass while they are actively growing. Be sure to use a weed and feed fertilizer that is labeled for your type of grass. Chinch bugs and Mole Crickets start to feed when the grass is growing, so inspect your yard on a regular basis to catch early signs.
New shrub growth will need to be trimmed so be sure your hedge trimmers are sharp enough to allow the hedge to heal and prevent disease. Be sure to use the right plant in the right place, a concept developed by the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS). Landscape questions can be answered by your local county extension agent or by logging on to the IFAS web site at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu and selecting the topic of your choice.
Another good web site is www.fufc.org for the Florida Urban Forestry Council, a nonprofit organization with representatives from all areas of the tree and landscape industry. This organization has articles and information regarding many important tree issues.
If trying your hand at re-landscaping or installing a brick walkway are in your plans this summer be sure to check the Internet. There are web sites like the IFAS web site or the Home and Garden Television web site www.hgtv.com which can give you excellent step by step instructions that are easy to follow to ensure success.
A final note to remember, even though we have had plenty of rain we are still under water restrictions. If you are not sure of the restrictions you can call your local public works department or contact the St. Johns Water Management District at web site http://sjr.state.fl.us. By using the proper plant material, watering at proper times, and using the correct amount of water, we will be able to protect this valuable resource.
By following simple tips it is possible to create an aesthetically pleasing yard that will require minimum work. Also, by using the proper plants in the correct place we can reduce the amount of effort to maintain them while saving water.
