Choices for Container Gardens are Endles...
By Debbie Falton, Master Gardener Q. I don’t have a lot of space for a garden. Can you give me some information on growing plants in containers? A. Container gardening is very popular with people who have limited space outside to grow plants. Plants grown in containers have the advantage of being portable. This is important when freezes are expected. They can be easily moved into a...Plant Cool Season Vegetables Now
By Debbie Falton Q. Summer is over. Are there any vegetables that I can grow that will tolerate colder weather? A. There is still time in late fall to grow vegetables in your garden. Most spring and summer vegetables have are finished producing. So, why not use the space in your garden to grow some vegetables that actually grow best in cool weather and can even withstand some...Successful Backyard Gardener’s Fes...
Our “Backyard Gardener’s Festival and Plant Sale” last weekend was a huge success but left me recuperating on Sunday with a sore throat and the beginning symptoms of a cold, which fortunately by Tuesday had subsided. Cold or no cold I had to get the plants I purchased in the ground. If I waited until later in the week, it would be dark by the time I was home from work....Backyard Gardener’s Festival Tomor...
Wherever You Live, Go Native! It only makes good gardening sense. Plants that are native to where you live are already acclimated to the soils, climate and other environmental conditions. They are the most trouble-free and foolproof way to a beautiful landscape. Native plants don’t have to be tricked into surviving with soil amendments, fertilizers and such. They grow like...Why Does pH Matter?
By Joe Wolf When you have trouble with a plant or get a new one, you need to look at the soil conditions the plant needs. One of the most important characteristics of soils is something called pH, which is a way to measure how acid or basic the soil is. Levels of pH range from 0 to 14 with pure water at 7 or neutral. Below 7 is considered to be acid while above 7 it is...King Sago Palms Under Attack
By Pat Farris Q: My King sago has a powdery white substance on the fronds and it seems to be dying? What’s going on? Will all my palms be affected? A: The only sure way to diagnose a plant problem is to see it firsthand. Did you know you can bring a piece of infected plant to the Extension Office in Bartow, where our Master Gardener staff can help you figure out what’s wrong? If...Two Small Palms Make Excellent Additions...
By Joe Wolf What kind of small, maintenance free, palm can I plant in my yard? A. Two of my favorite palms are the Needle Palm (Rhapidophyllum hystrix) and the European Fan Palm (Chamaerops humilis). Both are fairly small palms with typical heights under 10’, drought tolerant, have fan-shaped fronds, and should not be bothered by a frost. The Needle Palm is a beautiful, small,...Nectar-Producing Flowers Keep Hummingbir...
By Debbie Falton, Master Gardener Q. Recently, I purchased a hummingbird feeder and placed it in my garden. So far, I have not seen any hummingbirds use it. How can I attract them to my garden? A. Hummingbirds are fascinating birds to watch. They are the smallest of birds with the largest of appetites. They must feed every 10 to 15 minutes from dawn until dusk to survive. They eat...Don’t Commit ‘Crape Murder’
By Pat Farris Q: My neighbor cuts his crape myrtle way back every year at this time, is this really necessary? So I don’t have to prune, what kind of Crape Myrtle should I buy to fit my landscape? A: That’s a great question! The answer, in a word, is a simple and resounding, “No!” The crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica) is a low maintenance, gracefully growing plant, with...What News Will the White Peacock Butterf...
You know it is the butterfly who brings us our dreams – who brings the news to us when we are asleep. Have you never heard a man say, when he sees a butterfly fluttering over the prairie, “There is a little fellow flying about that is going to bring news to someone tonight?” Or have you not heard a person say after the fire burns low and the people begin to make up...Roses for the Home Gardener
By Debbie Falton, Master Gardener Q. I would like to grow some roses. What advice can you give on their care and maintenance? A. Roses are the most popular flowers in the world and have been for centuries. In Florida they are high-maintenance plants because of our climate and abundance of insects. If you like to spend time working in the garden then growing roses can be a very...What is a Master Gardener?
By Joe Wolf, Master Gardener Very simply, a Master Gardener is a person who has been officially trained and certified, and who likes to share his or her knowledge of gardening with other people. People thinking about becoming a Master Gardener sometimes worry that they do not know enough, but that is where the training comes in. All that is really needed is the desire to learn. A...Polk County Master Gardener Training Sta...
Polk County Master Gardener training starts September 14th and training is held each Tuesday from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. through Dec. 7. Training is held at the UF/IFAS Polk County Extension Service (1702 US Highway 17 South in Bartow) and the cost for the classes (plus materials) is $125. For more information contact Dr. Shibles at (863) 519-8677. Master Gardeners are a group of...The Right Plant in the Right Place
By Joe Wolf My plant is not doing well, what is wrong? My question is: Is it planted in the right place? In my last article I wrote about the need to identify your plants. This is so you can find out how and where it grows best. Does this plant prefer shade, sun or filtered light? Does it want a lot of water or prefer it dry? How large will it grow? Is it native to this part of...Create a Signature YOU!
What is it about you that people remember? Do you have a signature that family and friends immediately associate with you? If not, consider creating one. Everyone is familiar with restaurant signature drinks, desserts and appetizers – like Outback’s “Bloomin’ Onion.” While you may have a recipe specialty, I’m suggesting you cultivate something more along the lines...My Plant Is Not Doing Well, What Is Wron...
By Joe Wolf This is a great question, but not an easy one to answer. I get this question all of the time and I have a hard time with it. It is just a little too general. So the first thing we have to do is figure out what the plant is. In fact, figuring out any problem in the garden requires you to know the identity of the plant. For example, if you are having a problem with your...Perennial Peanut Can Be a Great Substitu...
By Joe Wolf Q. I want to reduce the amount of turfgrass in my landscape. Can you suggest any alternatives? A. A good option is to go with a Florida Friendly yard which uses easy to grow and maintain plants that grow well in this part of Florida, are cold hardy, and drought and heat tolerant. Many but not all of the Florida Friendly plants are natives. Florida Friendly yards use some...Good Bugs – Bad Bugs
By Joe Wolf, Master Gardener There are over 13,000 species of insects here in Florida. Of those less than 1% are harmful to our plants or us. The other 99% are either helpful or just ignore us. We depend on insects. We all know that bees pollinate most of our fruits and nuts and without them these foods would be eliminated from our diets. Polk’s important citrus industry depends on...Beat The Heat With Summer Annuals In You...
Q. I am looking at my beautiful, colorful annual beds and thinking about what I will use to replace my snapdragons, dianthus and petunias as they fade in the heat. What will I replace them with to have color this summer? A. I like things that will last all summer through all of our heat, not things that will do well only until June. Below I have written short descriptions of only...When And How Should I Prune My Landscape...
There can be many reasons for pruning landscape plants (shrubs and trees) and the how and when depends on your reason for doing it. For example: in order to improve the plants health and vigor, to control its size and form, to increase flowering or fruiting, to rejuvenate an old plant, or to develop or maintain safety and structural soundness. Pruning can often be an effective way of...From the Publisher, Marialice Quinn
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