- April 28, 2024
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The heat and heavy rains prevented many of us from working in the garden this past month. However, we are grateful for the rain to replenish the aquifer and our parched landscape. I can only hope that cooler temperatures, at least in the lower 80s, will be coming soon.
It is time to fertilize many plants this month. Azaleas, bougainvillea, poinsettias and roses need a slow-release fertilizer with 3-4% magnesium to promote greener growth, or you can use Epsom salt, which is hydrated magnesium sulfate. Magnesium helps strengthen cell walls and improves plants' uptake of nitrogen, phosphorus and sulfur.
If you didn’t fertilize your palms last month, do so now with a slow-release palm fertilizer. Florida’s soils have very low capacities to retain nitrogen, potassium and magnesium in the root zone during heavy periods of rainfall or irrigation. The only way to keep these elements readily available to plants is by using a slow-release fertilizer.
Some scientists recommend that palms should be fertilized six times a year, once in March, May, late June, mid-August, late September and November. Others suggest once in March, early June at the start of the rainy season, August and October.
Erosion control
Are you tired of the torrential rain washing away your mulch or soil on garden slopes? Consider planting some hardy ornamental ground covers for erosion control.
For full sun, plant baby sun rose, hottentot fig (ice plant), perennial peanut, or sunshine mimosa (native). Sometimes the tops of perennial peanut and sunshine mimosa may die back from a frost, but the plants will come back. For shade or partial sun areas, plant Asiatic jasmine, or native wild petunia (deer resistant).
Plant these vegetables now
If you are planting a vegetable garden, this is the time to plant cool-season crops such as beans, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, cucumbers, lettuce, onions, spinach, squash, and tomatoes.
