| |
ummer seems to arrive early
in Florida with hot May days signaling an end to springtime
flowers. As the heat returns it's time to pick some of the
more durable replacement to replant in flower beds and container
gardens.
Luckily there are plenty of plants that won’t mind
the hot and eventually humid weather ahead. A few Torenia
found at the local garden centers include blue daze, cat’s
whiskers, coleus, creeping zinnia, fire spike, gomphrena,
impatiens, melampodium, pentas, purslane and torenia(pictured).
When you have picked your favorites for the light levels
found in your yard prepare the flower bed for planting.
Most summer survivors grow well in the sandy soils. But
you can stretch the time between waterings by enriching
the soil with compost, manures and peat moss. Also add a
light scattering of a general garden fertilizer before planting.
Set the plants in the ground at the same depth as they were
growing in their containers, moisten the soil and then follow
these tips to keep the flower beds attractive.
- Maintain a thin layer of mulch over the flower bed.
- Water when the surface of the soil begins to dry to the
touch.
- Feed monthly with a general garden fertilizer following
label instructions or use a slow release product following
label instructions.
- Remove declining blossoms to encourage new growth and
flowers.
- Control caterpillars and similar pests with natural sprays
available at garden centers.
Not all flowers last the entire summer season. So I find
it necessary to periodically pop out the declining plants
and add new ones until the cooler weather arrives and we
can once more plant the cool season color.
|
Select a Florist
