FORESTRY RESOURCES DECEMBER 2016

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1 FORESTRY RESOURCES LANDSCAPING GUIDE INFO FOR BOTH THE PROFESSIONAL AND WEEKEND WARRIOR LANDSCAPERS DECEMBER 2016 DECEMBER LANDSCAPE TO DO LIST FOR A DETAILED LIST OF WHAT TO PLANT IN DECEMBER AND TERRIFIC LANDSCAPING TIPS CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA:

2 s/december_south.pdf DECEMBER IN THE SOUTHWEST FLORIDA LANDSCAPE - SPOT WEED CONTROL LAWN AREAS WHERE NECESSARY - THIS IS A GOOD TIME TO TRANSPLANT SMALL TREES AND SHRUBS - EDGE BEDS THAT HAVE BECOME OVERGROWN - BEST VEGETABLES TO PLANT ARE: BEETS, BROCCOLI, BRUSSEL SPROUTS, CABBAGE, CARROTS, CAULIFLOWER, COLLARDS, LETTUCE, MUSTARD, ONIONS, PEAS, RADISHES, SPINACH, SWISS CHARD AND TURNIPS - BEST HERBS TO PLANT ARE: ANISE, ARUGALA, BASIL, BAY, CILANTRO, CORIANDER, DILL, FENNEL, LAVENDAR, MINT, OREGANO, PARSLEY, ROSEMARY, SAGE, THYME AND WATERCRESS - BEST FLOWERS TO PLANT ARE: BEGONIAS, BUSH DAISIES, CALENDULA, CARNATIONS, DIANTHUS, DUSTY MILLER, GERANIUMS, LOBELIA, ORNAMENTAL CABBAGE AND KALE, PANSIES, PETUNIAS, SALVIA, SHASTA DAISIES, SNAPDRAGONS, STOCK, SWEET PEA, VERBENA AND VIOLAS - REPLANT HARD TO GROW GRASS AREAS WITH LOW GROWING GROUND COVERS

3 - RENEW MULCHED AREAS WITH FRESH MULCH TO CONSERVE WATER AND CONTROL WEEDS - DECEMBER IS A GREAT TIME TO EVALUATE YOUR TOOL SUPPLY (PRUNERS, SHOVELS, SPRAYERS) AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OFF SEASON GARDENING SALES - HAVE FROST CLOTH ON HAND TO BE ABLE TO COVER YOUR DELICATE FRUITS AND FLOWERS WHEN THE INEVITABLE COLD WAVES COME THROUGH. INSULATE FROST CLOTH WILL GIVE YOU EXCELLENT PROTECTION EVEN WHEN TEMPERATURES PLUNGE INTO THE TWENTIES. THIS IS A GREAT ITEM TO PICK UP NOW AS AVAILABILITY IS OFTEN GONE WHEN THE RUSH STARTS JUST PRIOR TO A COLD SNAP - DRY SPOTS CAN USUALLY BE WATERED AS NEEDED WITH A HAND-HELD HOSE WITH AN AUTOMATIC SHUT-OFF. - MAJOR FEEDING TIME IS OVER FOR LAWNS. - YELLOWING TURF CAN OFTEN BE GREENED UP WITH IRON OR A MINOR NUTRIENT SPRAY. - MANY LAWNS HAVE MAJOR WEEDY AREAS; REMOVE WEEDS AND ADD NEW SOD OR PLUGS. - MOST LAWN INSECTS ARE INACTIVE AT THIS TIME HOWEVER LAWN FUNGUS DISEASE CAN STILL BE A MAJOR PROBLEM. - MAKE SURE YOUR WATERING SYSTEM IS APPLYING THE PROPER AMOUNT OF WATER TO WET THE SOIL. - MOW TO MAINTAIN PROPER TURF HEIGHT AND CONTROL WEEDS. - HELP LAWNS SURVIVE THE COLD BY MAKING SURE THE GROUND IS MOIST PRIOR TO A FROST OR FREEZE.

4 - PREPARE IDLE POWER EQUIPMENT FOR WINTER STORAGE. Golden Rain Tree - RAKE FALLEN LEAVES FROM LAWNS AND ADD TO THE COMPOST PILE. - START SEEDS OF THE COOL SEASON CROPS FOR TRANSPLANTS. - MOST WARM-SEASON VEGETABLES HAVE DECLINED; REPLANT WITH COOL-SEASON SELECTIONS. - PLANTINGS NEED LESS WATER DURING THE COOL WEATHER; WATER WHEN THE SURFACE SOIL BEGINS TO DRY. - RENEW MULCHES TO CONSERVE WATER AND CONTROL WEEDS. - USE THE COOLER WEATHER TO RESTART IN-GROUND OR CONTAINER GROWN HERB PLANTINGS. - MANY CITRUS FRUITS ARE RIPENING; USE A TASTE TEST TO DETERMINE WHEN THEY ARE READY TO EAT. - ADD NEW COLD-TOLERANT FRUITS TO THE LANDSCAPE; DELAY TROPICAL FRUIT PLANTINGS UNTIL SPRING. - DELAY DECIDUOUS FRUIT-TREE PRUNING UNTIL NEXT MONTH; CITRUS PRUNING UNTIL MID-FEBRUARY.

5 - CONTROL CATERPILLARS, A COMMON COOL-SEASON PEST, AS NEEDED WITH THURICIDE. - FEED THE VEGETABLE GARDEN EVERY 3 TO 4 WEEKS WITH COMPOSTED MANURE OR A GENERAL FERTILIZER. - FEEDING TIME IS OVER FOR ALL FRUITING TREES, SHRUBS AND VINES; FEED AGAIN IN MARCH. your poinsettia outside after the holidays! Plant - PREPARE SHELTERS FOR COLD-SENSITIVE TROPICAL FRUITS. - REMOVE BANANA PLANTS THAT HAVE FRUITED TO MAKE ROOM FOR NEW SPROUTS. - FILL DECLINING FLOWER BEDS WITH COOL-SEASON COLOR. - KEEP POINSETTIAS AND CHRISTMAS CACTUS OUT OF THE NIGHTTIME LIGHT UNTIL THEY SHOW COLOR. - PRUNING TIME IS OVER FOR MOST PLANTS; OUT-OF-BOUNDS SHOOTS CAN BE REMOVED AS NEEDED. - TREES AND SHRUBS CAN OFTEN GO SEVERAL WEEKS WITHOUT IRRIGATION; WATER AS NEEDED. - ESTABLISH WATERING ZONES TO ONLY MOISTEN THE ORNAMENTAL PLANTINGS.

6 - FEEDING TIME IS OVER FOR ALL TREES, SHRUBS AND VINES. - FERTILIZE ANNUAL FLOWERS MONTHLY OR USE A SLOW- RELEASE FERTILIZER AS LABELED. - HURRY TO PLANT WILDFLOWER GARDENS TO HAVE BLOOMS FOR SPRING. - ELIMINATE INVADING VINES COVERING TREES AND SHRUBS. - REDUCE WATERING TO NO MORE THAN ONCE A WEEK; IT'S THE RULE IN MOST AREAS