Are you thinking of moving to Florida to get away from harsh winters? Are you planning to live there permanently, or just for about six to eight months a year? If you love gardens, beautiful green lawns, many kinds of trees, flowers, and growing things, Florida may be the place for you.
But let’s be clear – Florida does have a great climate most of the time, but there are occasional hurricanes. There is sometimes heavy rain that can wash away a school bus. Alligators – there are alligators. And, for a couple of days a year, there will be a cold snap, where the temperature drops low enough at night to leave frost on the lawns and cars. But mostly, it’s pretty great.
It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year
If the property you have in Florida includes trees and other foliage plants, you will probably have to work on that part of your landscape during the winter months or hire Custom Acres to do this work for you. They can help you identify the kinds of trees and bushes you have and when and what type of trimming or pruning will be best.
Generally, most plants, including trees, flowering shrubs and bushes, and grasses, are dormant during the winter. This is because active growth has stopped for a while, and they sleep through the worst of the weather, even in Florida. Remember, there might be as many as two weeks’ worths of frost in the mornings! Also, a lot of non-evergreen trees lose their leaves in the fall. The stark and noticeable absence of leaves allows you to see the shape of the plant or tree and makes it easier to see any spots that look like they are diseased or damaged.
This is the time when you might be examining your trees and realize that this one is damaged from the last hurricane that passed through or that one has picked up some tree disease and will have to be pruned or replaced. That looks like a lot of work. On a ladder. With sharp tools. And let us not forget that this also can call for the pruner to climb the actual tree branches to inspect some areas of the trees more closely.
Perfect timing! You remember that your Custom Acres landscape team trims and prunes, even during the winter months! They will come to inspect your trees and point out some problems you may not have noticed. And just like that!! You decide to allow them to handle the whole project. Good choice!
Winter pruning usually starts by getting rid of damaged or dead branches. Some branches have had a party during the nice weather and now need to be thinned out. It will allow light and water to reach more of the tree’s other branches, the roots beneath, and new buds trying to burst free. After that, the landscapers can shape the tree and encourage new growth. Late winter is usually the best time before any new growth has shown.
Not all growth will benefit from winter pruning—some need to wait till spring to be shaped and pruned. However, the new buds and leaves provide a guide for getting rid of branches that use a lot of the tree’s resources but don’t put out much in the way of flowers or beauty.
Florida is also known for its fruit trees. There seems to be some kind of fruit growing almost year-round. But, the trees don’t all flower simultaneously, which allows us to have beautiful scents from different trees at different times. The trees also don’t fruit up simultaneously, so each season has a chance to grow different delicious fruit. You might enjoy picking some of the fruit on your property or having some of it picked for you.
Pruning Tips and Tricks
Some pruning tips include:
- Pruning should not be done too early; cut branches can dry out and die while waiting for spring. Late winter pruning is standard for some trees; they thrive on the extra attention during their “off” season. Choose a lovely day – slightly dry and warm. Water can cause plant diseases to spread.
- Prune out dead or diseased branches first. Floridians don’t have to worry much about snow or ice damage, but the trees have to survive the high winds of hurricanes. These occur everywhere in Florida, and during hurricane season (June through November), most people take precautions while still enjoying the warmest and humid weather. However, having a large part of a tree comes crashing through the roof while the wind and rain are growling around you can be an unwelcome visit. An examination by your landscape professionals would seem to be a wonderful yearly event.
- If you have evergreens, now is the time to trim the dead or unwanted lower branches. While evergreens don’t have leaves to drop in the fall, many drop needles to the ground beneath. Not too much grows under evergreens; the needles carpet the ground beneath pretty thoroughly.
- Branches need to be carefully selected to cut. You will want to prune the overgrown branches and smaller branches that only block light from healthier lower branches. On the other hand, you don’t want to cut off a branch that has flowered and is ready to fruit up with an abundance of fruit. You might not realize the difference, but your Custom Acres Professional will.
Flowering shrubs and bushes need attention in the winter and spring, too. Some should not be pruned until they have flowered and the flowers are gone. Some need new growth to bud and flower, so pruning should be done before the first buds appear. And some need the older growth areas to bud and flower, so they should be pruned in spring or summer. That was easy, right? NO! Your landscaping partners at Custom Acres have the experience and know-how to take advantage of the different pruning and trimming requirements of each kind of plant, bush, or tree.
Florida is many things, but mostly it’s home to many. So watch for falling iguanas when the weather is at its coldest!