South Florida Fall Garden Makeover
Save Money by Rejuvenating Summer Stressed Plants
South Florida gardening seasons are reversed; fall is roughly equivalent to spring in most parts of the country. September is the beginning of the fall gardening season in South Florida, and the time to rejuvenate all those stressed out plants. A few simple tasks can make summer plants last and thrive through the fall and for some, even through the winter.
Trim Leggy Plants
Ornamentals can become very leggy in the summer in South Florida, due to the rains, which promote excessive growth. Don't be afraid to be brutal. Most ornamental shrubs can be cut back by half their height with no permanent damage. Tropical Hibiscus, especially, respond especially well to a decent fall trimming.
Trimming also serves another purpose. September is the most active month for hurricanes, and trimming plants back gives the wind less to tear asunder during a storm. Trimming back your plants actually protects them from hurricane damage.
Fertilize Hungry Plants
The heavy summer rains can deplete the South Florida garden soil of nutrients, causing yellowing and dropping of leaves. After trimming back their leggy stems, feed them well with an all purpose fertilizer, or one suitable to their particular needs. Be sure that the fertilizer either contains minor elements, or that those are added as well.
Prepare Tender Plants for Overwintering
If geraniums or impatiens, for example, have survived the brutal South Florida summer heat and rain, now is the time to move them to pots for overwintering. Dig them, clean the soil off the roots, and repot them with good potting soil. Cut them back by half and put in a semi-shady location. Soon, they will show new growth, and will thrive and bloom during the cooler months. When cold weather comes, it will be easy to bring the pots inside or place in a warmer location.
Repot Overgrown Plants
Fall is an excellent time in the South Florida garden to repot plants that have become rootbound. If moving to larger pots isn't desirable, simply prune the roots by 1/3 and add fresh potting soil and fertilizer to get them through the fall growing season.
Treat for Pests
Fall is a wonderful time to treat South Florida garden plants for pests that have attacked them during the summer months. Check each plant carefully, and use the appropriate pesticide to spray or dust the plant. Treat the soil by pouring soapy water through to kill anything lurking there. Check the soil for slugs, snails or larvae.
One of the joys of gardening in South Florida is the year-around growind environment. Following these simple tips will save time and money by rejuvenating viable South Florida garden plants instead of replacing them. Fall is a magical time in South Florida, and the rejuvenated plants should now provide beauty through the fall and into, and maybe through, the winter.
Rejuvenating Plants Saves Money in the Garden
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