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Planters' Almanac

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: April 24, 2008

PLANTERS' ALMANAC

What To Do This Month

Celebrate Arbor Day: Plant a tree or a palm in observance of Arbor Day on Friday.

Dig the planting hole at least twice the width of the root ball. Position the plant at the same depth that it was growing in the pot or ground or slightly higher. Remove all wraps from the root ball.

Backfill the hole with soil, and water as you go. Mulch well, and water again. Stake if necessary.

Water wisely: Ornamental plants and fruit trees need only 1 inch per week. Lawns need 1.2 to 3.4 inches of water when 30 percent to 50 percent of the lawn shows signs of wilt (blue-gray color, folded blades).

Place a few shallow cans or glasses in the irrigated zones, and measure how much your sprinklers apply. Adjust your timer schedule accordingly.

Remove thatch from lawns if necessary: Thatch, a layer of organic matter, builds up between the soil and grass blades and can cause mowing and pest problems. Verticut St. Augustine and Bermuda lawns; power rake Bahia lawns.

Seed or sod new lawns: Plug damaged lawns. Buy scarified Bahia grass seed to increase germination. Apply at a rate of 5 to 10 pounds per 1,000 square feet.

Begin spraying roses: Prevent black spot and powdery mildew disease. Symptoms of black spot are dark, round spots with yellow halos followed by dropping leaves.

Purchase a fungicide labeled for the control of these diseases, and follow label directions carefully.

What To Plant This Month

Outstanding flowering plants: Easter lily, roses, Confederate jasmine, amaryllis, bottlebrush, jacaranda, bougainvillea, day lily, parkinsonia, Shasta daisy

Annuals: ageratum, begonia, calliopsis, celosia, coleus, crossandra, dusty miller, gomphrena, impatiens, marigold, melampodium, morning glory, nasturtium, portulaca, salvia, vinca, zinnia

Perennials: African iris, coreopsis, day lily, gerbera, gaillardia, marguerite daisy, pentas, perennial salvias, rudbeckia, Shasta daisy, verbena

Vegetables: pole beans, lima beans, collards, cantaloupes, okra, Southern peas, sweet potatoes, summer spinach, Jerusalem artichokes

Herbs and spices (from plants): basil, borage, lemon balm, marjoram, oregano, sage, summer savory

Information from Hillsborough County Extension

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