Now is the time to start planting pansies
time of new growth. These sprays control the Asian citrus psyllids that spread the greening disease as they suck juices from young leaves and stems. The sprays must hit the insects to be effective. The insecticide recommended by your friend is also utilized.
Systemic insecticide imidacloprid controls the insects from within the plant. This product is applied to the soil and is taken up by the roots. Large commercial sizes of the insecticide can be expensive, but Bayer Advanced, now known as BioAdvanced, markets this systemic insecticide as a smaller Fruit, Citrus & Vegetable Insect Control available at local garden centers. It is a convenient and less expensive home use size. The product can be applied once a year several weeks before the insects are expected or as noted feeding, following label instructions.
We planted a healthy hibiscus in a large planter that produced lots of blooms. Now, all we are getting is growth. Is there a way to make it bloom again?
Plants arriving at garden centers usually come with root-filled containers that encourage them to flower. When planted in the ground or a larger container, they often flower for a while longer and then enter a growth phase. They may produce lots of new stems and foliage for months without the blooms.
The growth of your hibiscus should gradually subside so the plants can resume flowering. You can help get the plant back in the flowering mode by occasionally applying blossom booster type fertilizers with a low nitrogen content. Also, keep the soil moist but not overly wet. Allow the plants to make the new growth, as frequent pruning encourages shoots and not blooms.
We missed the October fertilizer application for our St. Augustine lawn. Is there still time to give it a feeding?
At least a good month of growing weather exists for St. Augustine lawns, so a skipped fertilizer application can be made but hurry. Actually, St. Augustine can grow through the late fall and winter months if the weather remains warm. The only problem with late-season feedings is they encourage growth that can be more susceptible to freeze damage and brown patch, a mild weather disease. But if the lawn lacks vigor and the desired the green look, a feeding now is usually worth the risks.
Should thatch be removed from a Floratam St. Augustine lawn? I have been told it helps inhibit weed growth?
Large amounts of true thatch is seldom present in St. Augustine lawns. Thatch that could affect grass growth and hide pests is a peat-like material made up of decomposing grass parts below the St. Augustine runners. Only when this layer becomes an inch or so thick do we start to become concerned.
Thick thatch normally accumulates in over-watered and heavily fertilized lawns. Putting turf on a leaner diet often cures the problem. What many residents call thatch is the yellow and tan declining or recently shed grass blades. These may become thatch in the future, but if needed, it can be raked from the lawn. Nutrient-rich thatch may be a good starting place for weeds and is probably going to do little to stop their growth.