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Spring Lawn and Garden Tips

Wayne Hobbs
Posted 2/21/18

GREEN COVE SPRINGS – Warm temperatures are upon us and for many it’s time to get outside after a cold winter and get into the garden.With weeds growing, trees and shrubs blooming and the …

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Spring Lawn and Garden Tips


Posted

GREEN COVE SPRINGS – Warm temperatures are upon us and for many it’s time to get outside after a cold winter and get into the garden.
With weeds growing, trees and shrubs blooming and the grass slowly starting to green, it may be tempting to go into full swing with your landscape but some caution and science-based decisions can help your garden throughout the year.

Fear Another Frost
With highs in the mid-80’s, it’s easy to think that the danger of frost has passed but this is not the case. We could likely still have a cold snap as evidenced by last year’s March 29th freeze. To counteract this issue, avoid cutting back your frost damaged plants for a few more weeks as this material protects the new growth. Also, you should wait to plant tender perennials, annuals and vegetables outdoors or be prepared to cover them at night if another freeze occurs.

Wait to Feed Your Plants
Fertilization seems like to something you should do to help your lawn and garden head into spring but the timing is not right. Most plants are still dormant and will not use the fertilizer yet, leaving the fertilizer to run off or infiltrate into the ground and surface water. Wait to fertilize your lawn until at least April 15th, and this includes weed and feed products as well. For other plants, the extra nutrition can cause a flush of new growth that can be damaged if we have another frost.

Controlling the Weeds
At this point, you are also likely seeing a lot of cool seasonal weeds growing and even flowering in the landscape. However, at this point of their life cycle, herbicides may not be effective so hand pulling is a good idea for most areas. Most of the weeds you see now will go to seed and be gone by early summer but removing them before they increase their fall populations with seed will be helpful.
Speaking of seed, we are in the time of year when pre-emergent herbicides in turf should be applied, with March 1st being the usual deadline for effective control in North Florida. These applications can be either a granular or liquid product, but make sure it is labeled for both your turf species and the weeds you would like to control. Be sure to follow all of the products’ instructions and it should be noted that these should not be applied to newly established lawns or to areas where you plan on seeding this spring.

For assistance with finding the right products to control your weed or pest issues, contact your local UF/IFAS Extension Office.
If you have any horticultural, agricultural, 4-H, or family and consumer science questions, contact the University of Florida/IFAS Clay County Extension Office online at http://www.clay.ifas.ufl.edu or call by phone at (904) 284-6355.