Feature Article -  for release February 1, 2009

Dan Culbert - Extension Horticulture Agent 

 

Frozen fronds, Master Gardeners & Butterflies:

How Does Your Garden Grow?

What should I do to my plants that have been browned by the cold weather? With the next freeze nipping at our heels, whatever didn't get hit the first time, I need to know what to do,  or will my yard be double dead?

I was going to answer this one myself, but I found the perfect answer from Spencer Porteous, owner of the Everything Outdoors Garden Shop in Vero Beach.  (He’s got an E-newsletter, and just began a gardening forum, but that’s another story.)  Here’s his reply:

Look around town, can you see it? Can you see that some of our tropical plants have been bit by the cold weather that we experienced last week? I've seen Ixora, crotons, Arboricola, purple leafs and many more showing the signs. All week long we've had customers stopping by the garden center looking for advice concerning cold damaged plants. 

Friends, listen up, here's what you should do...NOTHING.

That's right, nothing. Be patient. Fight every urge that you have to get out there and prune off the dead stuff. If you prune right away and we get another cold snap, that just might do them in. Instead, this is what we recommend...

• Don't prune your palms until the fronds turn completely brown (the palms will pull out their nutrients and push them towards their new growth).
• Wait at least 3-4 more weeks to prune your shrubs (let's make sure winter is over).
• Wait until we have a nice spring day of rain forecasted, do your pruning and apply some organic fertilizer.
• Look for new growth to emerge on the stems of your plants. Prune just above the last new growth, closest to the tips.

Your established plants will bounce back quickly. They already have a fully developed root system and can support all of the new growth that the above ground part of the plant can throw their way.

 

I’m afraid I will soon be losing my job, and think it’s time to “branch out” into another line of work.  I’ve always loved gardening, but need to know more.  Where can I get a crash course that will open the doors to gardening careers?

Your situation is not unusual, and I feel bad that the sour economy has given you lemons.  Time is now ripe to make lemonade by signing up for training as a Florida Master Gardener. 

The Extension office is starting a spring Master Gardener training class on Wednesday February 9^th.  It is meant to train volunteers to work with our Extension office, but if you can agree to give us back some volunteer time while you are looking for a new job, it might be the right cup tea for the times.  You will have to hurry, as applications must be in our office by Wednesday along with the course fee.  An interview will be required before you are accepted into the class.

For more details, look at the on-line “Sprouting kit”: http://okeechobee.ifas.ufl.edu/Master%20Gardeners/MG.Sprouting.Kit.htm.  If you don’t have access to a computer, stop by the Extension office and pick the “kit” and to ask us any more questions.

 

I heard something about a butterfly garden that is going to be planted her soon?  Can I go there and collect butterflies for my garden too? 

The garden you are speaking of is not yet planted, but plans are rushing to completion.   The Florida-friendly butterfly attracting plants will be installed in downtown Okeechobee’s Park #6 by Valentine’s Day.   But we are not “planting” any butterflies, just the plants that will attract them.  With our cold weather, it will take some time for the plants to get established.  One they get blooming, FYN Program Assistant Angela Sachson assures me that flowers and butterflies will be a beautiful place to visit.

The purpose of the garden is to beautify downtown Okeechobee.  It will also be a place to see some principles of Florida Friendly landscaping in action.  I hope that park visitors will enjoy the butterflies that will find this garden enjoyable, inspirational and educational, but will not use it as a source of collectables for personal purposes. Visitors that want to re-create a similar Florida friendly landscape in their own yard can talk with us to learn how to do this in their own Florida Yard.

Send us your favorite garden question by fax (863-763-5901), email ( okeenews@newszap.com ) or just drop it off at the Okeechobee News  office at (107 SW 17th St. suite D, Okeechobee, FL 34974).  The University of Florida - Okeechobee County Extension office will pick out three questions that would be of greatest interest to local residents and publish brief answers in the Okeechobee News. . We need YOUR real questions by Monday at 5 PM. Be sure to include your name and phone or email address in case we need more information

More information is available on the award-winning Okeechobee web page, http://okeechobee.ifas.ufl.edu . If you need additional information on cold injury recovery, Master Gardening of butterfly gardens, please email us at okeechobee@ifas.ufl.edu  or call us at 863-763-6469.  Local residents can stop by the Extension office at 458 Hwy 98 North in Okeechobee, and visit our Okeechobee County Master Gardeners from 1 to 3 PM on Tuesday afternoons.  Go Gators! 

 

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Trade  names, where used, are given for the purpose of providing specific information. They do not constitute an endorsement or guarantee of products named, nor does it imply criticism of products not named. The Florida Cooperative Extension Service - Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences is an equal opportunity/ affirmative action employer authorized to provide research, educational information, and other services to individuals and institutions that function without regard to race, color, sex, age, handicap, or national origin.  Florida Cooperative Extension Service / IFAS / University of Florida.  Millie Ferrrer, Inerim Dean. Last update: 01/30/2009.  This page is maintained by Dan Culbert