If you’ve recently moved to Florida from up north – either as a seasonal move or a permanent move – you’re in for a little bit of a surprise.
- The northern part of the state gets the most variation in weather (once, about 50 years ago, even snow!).
- The central Florida area probably sees some variations from season to season. Summers are hot; winters cool down, sometimes enough to produce frost.
- The southern Florida peninsula presents relatively uniform warm weather and sunny days, except during hurricane season.
Sometime around October, lawn and garden care changes. Most plants, grass included, start to enter a dormant state. You will probably notice the grass doesn’t grow as fast as the month before. It still needs regular mowing, but maintenance is much easier. Your Custom Acres professionals can help you with scheduling mowing and watering.
Applying fertilizer to the winter lawn is not usually done, as it can hurt the grass and roots. You can try overseeding, though, which means putting down a layer of seed to mix with the grass you already have. Choose a seed meant for cooler weather, and while the grasses grown from that seed will probably die out during the warmer spring and summer months, it will keep your lawn green through the long winter.
It might be fun to use a special lawn colorant during the holidays. This is the same kind of grass paint used for football games or the decorations one sees on hillsides all over the country. Make sure it is formulated for grass and not just some paint from a hardware store. Be bold in your designs, and have fun with them!
You can do other things for your garden include:
- Trimming back trees and shrubs
- Removing dead plants from your bedding and planters
- Planting bulbs for spring
Don’t forget your sprinkler systems! They will need maintenance, also. In the northern panhandle of Florida, you will probably elect to drain and turn off your sprinklers since there are usually several freezing nights during the winter, and burst sprinkler hoses and tubing is an expensive and unsightly repair. Central Florida probably won’t experience the complete freezes, but you will want to cut down your watering quite a lot for winter, so draining your systems for the winter might be sensible. South Florida will have sunny days for the whole year, and while you might want to water your landscape less, it will still need regular watering.
Getting your sprinkler system checked over every year will always be a good idea. Your Custom Acres lawn and garden professionals will be able to do that check for you and replace or repair any parts that are worn or broken.
Some plants will need to be wrapped with burlap to avoid damage if there’s an unusual freeze; your Custom Acres expert can advise you about the type of plants that will need this extra care.
Can I grow plants during the winter?
Yes! Florida is home to many beautiful landscapes, varying from flowers, lawns, shrubbery, and trees, to edible gardens and vast lawns. In addition, the variations in seasons in Florida give so much scope for the imagination regarding your landscape. Your Custom Acres landscape partners can help you make your gardening dreams come true.
Now might be the perfect time to consider an edible garden. Depending on where you live, you can grow various fruits that will grow well in your climate. Vegetable gardening has so many benefits, not the least of which is fresh, nutritious vegetables and economic savings. And, this is Florida, so that you can grow edible plants pretty much year-round.
An herb garden would also be successful in most parts of Florida. Many people love a fragrant, herbaceous border around showy plants or lawns. Fresh herbs for cooking are always welcome. If you don’t have experience using fresh herbs, there are a lot of cookbooks or online recipes available that explain how to prepare the herbs for cooking. The difference between store-bought dried herbs and herbs picked from your garden moments before using them is tremendous. Your mouth and nose will have a little party!
Do lawns get diseases during the winter?
The short answer is yes, it’s possible. However, rusty or yellowed grass could be caused by cold. Discolored areas should be watched as those could be a sign of disease.
Fungal diseases are the most likely to occur because we’ve had some recent summers with more rain than usual.
Lean toward caution when treating your lawn if you believe it’s a disease-causing your lawn to have discolored spots. Fertilizers or fungicides might do more damage than good. The best way to prevent lawn and grass diseases is to ensure your lawn is adequately watered, mowed, and trimmed, with fertilizer or fungicide applied only at the correct times. This is one of those times when your relationship with your landscape professionals at Custom Acres is so valuable.
What tools are essential to maintain my lawn and garden?
Hiring lawn and garden professionals, such as Custom Acres will be a huge benefit when it comes to tools. Some of the tools used can be very expensive, especially when it involves mowers or other large equipment. They can tell you what tools you will need to maintain the areas where you are most interested in your plantings.
If your interest is in maintaining beddings, you have a beautiful range of plants to choose from. The scents and bold colors can be intoxicating when you go to the garden store, so have a plan of what you’re looking for. Consult with your experts to decide which plants will be most successful and whether you’re looking for seasonal plants or plants that will be happy in your yard for the whole year- round. Be creative! And have fun!