EDITOR'S NOTE: A University of Florida faculty member and Nassau County Extension Horticultural Agent, Rebecca Jordi addresses some of the questions she receives about landscaping and gardening in northeast Florida, in GARDEN TALK. The Extension also offers helpful clinics throughout the year, providing assistance to local gardeners in the Amelia Island and surrounding areas of Nassau County, Florida. __________
QUESTION: I looked at the FDACS fertilizer publication you put in the newspaper a few weeks ago. Does this really mean we will no longer able to use fertilizer products such as “weed and feed”, “lawn grass winterizer”, and “lawn grass turfbuilder” on our lawn grass?
JORDI: Because of the problems with algae blooms in our rivers, streams and ponds throughout Florida this law has come into fruition. This means after July 2009, the products you mentioned will no longer be sold here if they contain high nitrogen and phosphorus. It will be legal to sell anything currently on the shelves until the inventory is gone.
We are all deeply concerned about having safe and sufficient amounts of drinking water. With demands for water increasing, the Legislature took steps to ensure water is protected for current and future use. For years, the green industry, growers, farmers, forestry and landscape professionals have been complying with Best Management Practice (BMP) recommendations from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and yet we continue to have waterways polluted.
The next step is to reduce the amount of nitrogen and phosphorus leaching into water via non-point sources such as home landscapes. One way to do this is to agree to fertilize lawns and landscapes properly. This should not reduce the quality of the lawns, in fact, we are confident it will benefit the lawns by reducing the amount of disease and insect damage especially when combined with proper irrigation. For too long, we have been producing lush, dark green home lawns which are the prefect environment for disease and insects.
We receive hundreds of phone calls and office visits annually from people concerned about why their lawns are in decline. Invariably, we find the grass is receiving too much nitrogen, too much water and/or being mowed too short. We will be conducting a BMP class for landscape professionals on Friday, March 27 at the Yulee County Building. The cost is $25 per person and CEUs will be available. Contact me, Rebecca Jordi, at 548-1116 or rljordi@ufl.edu for more information. Duval County currently requires anyone who professionally applies fertilizers to commercial or home landscapes to be BMP certified. We would encourage all of you ask if your landscape professionals are currently certified in BMPs. It will benefit the environment and the landscapes.
QUESTION: This last freeze really caused many of my plants, especially the perennials, to wilt and die. I can not stand the way they look; can I cut them back now? AR
JORDI: I know it is frustrating to have the landscape not look perfect. We have been spoiled by the last five to six years of warm winter temperatures which only occasionally reached the low thirties. However, most of us knew this kind of freezing winter damage would eventually happen.
If you can stand it, consider waiting until the middle of March before removing all the tender, dead tissue. What you may find are some new, tender leafy growths underneath. These new growths are being protected by the dead leaves and given a warm place to grow. If you remove these dead leaves, you remove the protection to the new growth by exposing them to cold temperatures and wind. If a freeze does occur, this new growth will likely be killed too. However, if you feel you cannot wait until mid-March, then do what you must. Take special care of the new growth by covering it with sheets or towels when cold temperatures or winds occur then remove it when the sun returns. Do not worry, most of the perennials will come back but because of our cold winter it may take a little longer.
QUESTION: My patio lime tree has some fruit on it even now. I am concerned about losing this fruit if we have more cold weather. What should I do? KC
JORDI: Lemons and limes are “ever producers”, which means if the conditions are right, they continue to bloom and produce fruit. You obviously have this plant in a well protected area which must receive sufficient light and water. Therefore, this lime tree is happy to keep making fruit. If it has gone through temperatures in the teens and still produced fruit you have little worries. You can always cover it if temperatures drop below freezing. However, you are doing something right already, so I would suggest doing nothing to alter perfection.
Your patio may be a micro-climate where the temperatures are conducive to citrus production. This lime may also be on a dwarf tri-foliate root stock which is very cold hardy. All of these factors have contributed to your success. Keep up the good work; we are all envious.
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Rebecca L. Jordi, Environmental Horticulture Agent III, 543350 U. S. Highway #1, Callahan, FL 32011. (904) 548-1116 or (904) 879-1019, http://nassau.ifas.ufl.edu
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