Citrus: Depending on citrus fertilizer label, apply fertilizer every six weeks or as directed. Check for citrus insects and disease. If adding horticulture oil or insecticidal soap be sure to use it only before 10am or after 6pm. Also be sure to use ultra-fine horticulture oil rather than dormant oil. Weed as needed, keep mulch away from trunk. Water once a week unless it rains.
Fruit: Remove about 1/4 to 1/5 of the oldest blueberry canes (usually 1 to 3 of the oldest canes.) Apply 6-6-6 or 8-8-8 fertilizer to nectarine. Weed as needed.
Flowers: Annuals to plant include celosia, coleus, crossandras, exacum, impatiens, kalanchoe, nicotiana, ornamental peppers, portulaca, torneias, salvia, and periwinkle.
Bulbs: Separate bulbs and give away to friends. Bulbs planted too deeply need to be removed. Transplant bulbs to raised beds or a dryer area if the soil does not drain well or it receives too much water. Any diseased bulbs should be thrown away.
Herbs: Bay laurel, culantro, ginger, horehound, lavender, Mexican tarragon, mint, parsley, oregano, rosemary, sesame, and thyme can be planted now.
Roses: Continue spray program. Water, water, water. Cut and remove spent blooms. Check for spider mites and aphids.
Lawns: Add iron sulfate to green up lawn but avoid high nitrogen fertilization or high amounts this month. “Take-all-root-rot” will be in full force during the summer – be sure to avoid over watering and over fertilizing.
Perennials: Cut off old flower heads, prune off dead or insect infested areas, and pinch off tips of stems to encourage denser growth.
Trees: Remove old flower and seed stalks. Palms should have a “palm special” fertilizer applied over the root system under the spread of the fronds if you forgot to fertilize in June. The configuration should be 8-2-12-4 (N-P-K-Mg). Ideally this would also include manganese, boron, sulfur, etc. with appropriate formulations.
Vegetables: It’s too hot to be planting anything now but lima beans, eggplant, okra, Southern peas, peppers, and watermelon. However, this is a good month to solarize your fall garden. Till your plot, moisten the soil, cover the ground with clear plastic. Place heavy objects around the edges to keep the plastic from blowing away. Let the sun bake your soil. It will help control fungi and nematodes. After 30 days till soil, replace the plastic and bake another few weeks. Plant your August or September garden.
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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