Now that February is here, it’s time to fertilize your fruit and shade trees, along with those woody shrubs. It’s planting time for gardens and tender annuals come mid-month.
You’ll want to have your soil pH checked before you plant; most plants like a pH of 5.5 to 6.5. If you’re new to gardening, this might not mean much, but it can make a positive difference on the health of your plants. We’ll check that for free here at Doty Farm & Garden Supply in Winter Haven.
Be sure to feed vegetables and annuals lightly every two weeks for best production. You’ll also need to spray them weekly with a combination fungicide and insecticide.
It’s also time to feed bulbous plants, divide day lilies and prune ragged poinsettias. Azaleas will need to be shaped and then fertilized with an acid fertilizer when they finish blooming.
Before active spring growth begins, it’s pruning time for trees and shrubs – unless they’ve been damaged by the winter cold. You’ll need to wait until mid-March or April to tell how far back to prune the damaged ones. Be sure to use pruning paint afterward.
Watch for those insects, especially spider mites, aphids and caterpillars! It’s an excellent time to use pre-emergence weed killers on lawns.
CREDIT
column by WILLIAM “BILL” DOTY
BIO: William R. “Bill” Doty is the owner of Doty Farm and Garden Supply Inc. Founded in 1954, Doty’s has been there for every one of its loyal customers’ 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 our readers each month.
