With so many people staying home lately, more folks are discovering the joy of gardening and landscaping. The good news is that here in Florida, there is always something to do in the garden! This is a fine time to spruce up the lawn with fresh sod, plugs, or by seeding. If you have Bahia grass, go ahead and give it a good power raking.
If you have taken an interest in vegetable gardening recently, this is also the perfect time to get that started. May is the ideal time for planting cucumbers, eggplant, collard greens, cherry tomatoes, mustard, okra, and cowpeas. If pretty flowers and annuals are more your thing, this is a good time for planting those. In a few months you could be prepping a fresh homegrown salad or arranging a lovely bouquet. Be sure that your annuals are getting sufficient water and fertilizer to maximize production.
Keep an eye on the fruit trees in your yard. Starvation and scale disease are the two biggest threats to backyard citrus. Feed and spray all of your fruit trees, shade trees, and other woody plants now to keep them healthy and happy through the long, hot summer.
As always, watch out for the little creepy crawlies that can wreak havoc on your beautiful landscape. If your Bahia grass is harboring mole crickets, hit them with some Turf Ranger or Befenthrin in either spray or granule form. Watch out for chinch bugs in St. Augustine grass – the hotter weather means those bugs’ gestation period is shortened. Triple Action is an excellent control for spider mites, which can infect a number of plants in your yard and garden. Mud daubers may start nesting around your house or storage buildings. If they do, you can get rid of them with Demon, Baycon, or 38 Plus. Be sure to treat for them again in August.
BIO: William R. “Bill” Doty is the owner of Doty Farm and Garden Supply Inc. 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 H.S. 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.