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Planters' Almanac

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 19, 2008

PLANTERS' ALMANAC

What To Do This Week

Irrigate: Water according to the needs of plants.

Ornamental plants and fruit trees need only 1 inch of water a week. Lawns need one-half-inch to three-quarters of an inch of water when 30 to 50 percent of the lawn shows signs of wilt (blue-gray color, folded blades.)

To measure how much your sprinklers apply, place a few shallow cans or glasses in the irrigated zone. Adjust your timer schedule accordingly.

Fertilize citrus trees: Young trees (to 3 years old) should

be fertilized every four to six weeks from February to October.

Do not use a fertilizer with an analysis higher than 8-8-8. Apply 1 pound of fertilizer per year of tree age per application.

For trees older than 3 years, apply fertilizer three times each year (January-February, May-June and October) with 1 pound of fertilizer per year of tree age up to a maximum of 10 pounds per application. Fertilize an area twice the diameter of the tree canopy.

Prune lightly: Do this to shape plants and encourage branching. Never remove more than one-third of a plant's foliage at a time.

Transplant palms: Palm roots grow when soil is moist and warm, so summer is best for establishing palms. Never allow the soil to dry out during the first several months. Apply mulch 3 to 4 inches deep.

Mow grasses frequently: Cut grass often enough so that no more than one-third of the blade height is removed per mowing. Leave clippings on the lawn to recycle nutrients, or use as mulch or compost material.

Citrus leaf miner: Consider spraying for this small moth, which attacks new flushes of growth. Two applications of horticultural oil spray are recommended 10 to 14 days apart.

What To Plant This Week

Outstanding flowering plants: crape myrtle, hibiscus, mandevilla, oleander, plumbago, society garlic
Annuals: Amaranthus, celosia, cleome, coleus, crossandra, gomphrena, impatiens, melampodium, narrow-leaved zinnia, ornamental pepper, portulaca, red salvia, torenia, vinca, wax begonia

Perennials: Coreopsis, bush daisy, day lily, gaillardia, gazania, gerbera, golden shrimp plant, jacobinia, lantana, mallow, pentas, ruellia, salvia, Stokes aster, verbena

Vegetables: Okra, Southern peas (from seed), sweet potatoes, cherry tomatoes, peppers (from plants)

Information from Hillsborough County Extension

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