Citrus: Depending on citrus fertilizer label, apply fertilizer every six weeks or as directed but this is the last month to fertilize until March. Check for citrus insects and disease. Weed as needed. Water generally once a week if we do not receive sufficient rain.
Fruit: Weed as needed.
Flowers: For instant color plant marigolds and garden chrysanthemums.
Bulbs: Bulbs to plant now include amaryllis, Aztec lily, calla, elephant ears, grape hyacinth, iris, leopard lily, narcissus, snowflake, watsonia, and zephyr lily.
Roses: Apply organic materials (same as February).Water, water, water. September 1, apply granular rose fertilizer. September 1, prune back just beyond previous cut (about 1/3 down the stem).
Herbs: Plant anise, basil, borage, chervil, marjoram, parsley, sesame, and thyme.
Lawns: Use a slow release fertilizer such as15-0-15 and this is the last month to fertilize until April 15. Most Florida soils are high in phosphorous, the middle number, so this nutrient is rarely needed. Keep mower heights on highest level all year to promote deep roots. Watch for large patch fungus disease, which attacks lawns when the weather is cool and wet. It is most commonly found in St. Augustine, centipede and Bermuda lawns. The grass dies in roughly circular areas 5 to 6 feet in diameter. In St. Augustine grass, the leaf blades rot where they attach to the runner or stolon. Apply an approved lawn fungicide according to label directions..
Perennials: This is the time of year to prune. When pruning, make cuts back to the branch angle, or to the ground. If you want the plant to fill in from the base, make the cut about 1 foot above where you want the new branches to begin.
Trees: Palms should have a “palm special” fertilizer applied over the root system under the spread of the fronds. The configuration should be 8-2-12-4 (N-P-K-Mg). This is the last month to apply fertilizer until March. Ideally this would also include manganese, boron, sulfur, etc. with appropriate formulations. Use a slow release fertilizer. If not using slow release, make monthly applications during the warmer months. Many palms are deficient in potassium, in spite of using palm fertilizers. Apply Muriate of Potash to correct this deficiency. For fall color plant deciduous trees such as bald cypress, Chickasaw plum, crape myrtle, redbud, red maple, river birch, sugarberry, sweet gum and winged elm. Trees to plant include black olive, dogwood, golden raintree, hollies, loquat, southern juniper, sugarberry, and wax myrtle.
Vegetables: Snap beans, pole beans, beets, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, endive/escarole, lettuce, cucumber, bulbing onions, bunching onions, radishes, summer squash, and turnips.
Selected from Florida Vegetable Guide by JM Stephens, RA Dunn, G Kidder, D Short, & GW Simone, University of Florida and Month-by-Month Gardening in Florida by Tom MacCubbin
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