William "Bill" Doty

Give Your Garden the Gift of Health

It’s hard to believe that the holidays are almost upon us once again. However, that’s no reason to forget about the important steps that will keep your lawn and garden looking its best throughout the winter.

This month marks the year’s most important lawn feeding. To ensure a green lawn this winter and a quick takeoff next spring, your grass needs to be fed immediately. I recommend Fertilome Winterizer, which should be applied to grasses, shrubs, trees, and flower beds. We can supply your needs for any type of grass.

Make sure you spray your petunias and other annuals every week or two with a combination fungicide and insecticide to avoid damage from “damping-off” blights and insects.

A great tip is to plant hardy annuals and vegetables periodically so you have some plants coming in as others are dying out.

Also, bank young and tender plants this month. Plants that are underfertilized, lacking in essential minor elements, weedy or weakened by disease or insects are more susceptible to cold damage.

Another suggestion is to overseed poor lawns with rye grass. This will not damage other grasses if you remember to feed and water for two — i.e., fertilize every six to eight weeks. Make sure you ask about our Restore.

CREDIT

column by WILLIAM R. “BILL” DOTY

BIO: William R. “Bill” Doty is the owner of Doty Farm and Garden Supply Inc in Winter Haven. Founded in 1954, Doty Farm and Garden Supply, Inc. has been there for every one of their loyal customer’s budding needs. Bill graduated from Winter Haven High School and then Florida State University, where he learned invaluable lessons in listening, asking questions, and reading anything related to the family business. Bill shares his knowledge with his customers’ daily and the readers of Central Florida Ag News each month.

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