University of Florida Extension ServiceUF/IFAS Okeechobee County Extension Service

458 Highway 98 North

Okeechobee, FL 34972-2578

Phone: (863) 763-6469

E- mail:  dfculbert@ifas.ufl.edu

November 14,  2007

Quick Links:  Quiz winners    Water Hogs    Drought Busters    References 

Feature Article - for release the week of November 19, 2007 

Angela Sachson & Dan Culbert – UF/IFAS Okeechobee Extension Service

 A Thirsty thanksgiving 

Last week was Farm City Week, and hundreds of residents turned out Thursday for one of the best meals available on this side of the Lake.  Your local Extension office was scurrying around helping program organizers and encouraging local 4-H Clubs and FFA chapters to meet and greet everyone from the Farm to the City.  And, our FYN program assistant Angela Sachson was on hand with an exhibit about using more drought tolerant plants in the landscape.

Over 30 people took our Thirsty Test of Knowledge at Farm City Day.  Top scores on their plant Id skills were D. Belcher and Eric Pope, who also knew the drought tolerance of the following plants.  They earned a prize from our FYN Program! 

This week many people will have a little time to spend around their Florida Yard.  It’s a good time to think about how to deal with the dry weather expected here next spring.  And in case you missed it, we have placed the results of our “Thirsty Test” from Farm City Week as today's topic.  

Azalea. Photo: Linda Hughes,  FL DEP
Hibiscus  Photo: Dan Culbert, UF/IFAS 
Impatiens. UF/IFAS Escambia County
Golden Canna. UF/Aquatic Plants

Water hogs

All plants need water, and most plants used in Florida Yards require an adequate amount of regular watering to get them started.  A number of these plants will continue to have higher water needs throughout the year. 

Please consider carefully if you have the time and money available to provide for the following “water hogs,” especially as we look forward to a long dry spring that may set records for drought.

* Azalea: This shrub is popular in areas that have good soils with above average water holding capacity.  They require little pruning, relatively pest free and attractive all year round.   Azaleas are colorful in the spring when they erupt with lots of red, pink or white flowers. (There are some new azaleas that bloom in both fall and spring, and others that are grown in containers as holiday plants.)  Another factor to consider is that these are also “high-iron” plants.  This means that to get adequate fertilizer nutrients, the soil pH must be “slightly-acid.”  We can test your soil to see if you have the right stuff for these shrubs.  But if you see marly shell in your dirt, and don’t plant to keep them moist, chances are good that azaleas are not the right choice for your Florida Yard.

        * Hibiscus – The “Chinese Rose” excels in the warm parts of the year with hundreds of different kinds of bold and beautiful blooms.  Like the Azalea, it prefers slightly sour soil. Its beauty is based on a rapid rate of growth, which means it is a heavy feeder and requires plenty of moisture.  Some gardeners call this the “Key plant for Key pests” because it attracts all kinds of bugs and diseases. 

* Impatiens – our standard flowering groundcover for the cool part of the year has lots of colorful flowers reds, pinks and whites are the usual colors.  But a careful look at their soft succulent stems tells you it needs lots of water to stay looking pretty.

* St.Augustinegrass – the standard turfgrass in much of South Florida is well adapted to Florida Yards.  It tolerates many pests, recovers from being mowed shorter than 3-inches, and grows well in sweet alkaline soils.  But it does need water, on the average a half-inch per week.

*       Willow trees are small fast-growing native trees found around freshwater areas.  Well adapted to moist soils, they require no care if they are naturally part of a Florida Yard.  But if planted in sandy well-drained areas, watering is essential for their survival. 

*       Yellow Canna  is a beautiful “aquatic” flowering plant that has broad flat leaves.  As the warmer season progresses, it will clump and sucker, and produces tall spikes of colorful flowers.  If you are unable to keep the soil moist, it will fail to produce the upright flowers that are a fixture in Florida’s tropical summer.

If you plan to use any of these plants, plant them together in a hydrozone – an area designed to be watered more often.  This practice of grouping plants with similar water needs will help conserve water.  Please plan to do so if the seduction of these bright and beautiful flowers is too much to avoid.

 

Drought Busters

Areca Palm. Photo: Dan Culbert, UF/IFAS
Bougainvillea.  Photo: Dan Culbert, UF/IFAS 
A massive bed of crotons.  Photo: Dan Culbert, UF/IFAS
Fountain Grass Photo: Mack Thetford, UF/IFAS 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Lion's Ear. Photo: Dan Culbert, UF/IFAS

 
Marigold. UF/GFREC

*       Areca Palms are equally at home in a container or in the ground.  They clump and sucker and form an attractive topical look that can handle dry conditions.  It the full sun they naturally turn yellow – don’t overfertilize them to make them green.  And be aware that freezing temperatures will turn the fronds brown.

*       Bougainvillea is a sprawling vining shrub that comes in a variety of colorful forms – yellow, white, red, purple, and even pink blooms are available.  It does have thorns, which can be useful if a security fence is desired.  But it’s included here as a drought buster because it does best when it is pruned heavily and kept dry.

*       Croton – up north this plant is a temperamental tropical houseplant.  In the Florida Yard, its multi-colored leaves work well in outdoor containers or as shrubs in the landscape.  Keep it dry for a better show of the reds, yellows, greens and purples found on this relative of the poinsettia.

*       Fountain Grass is a medium-tall clumping ornamental grass.  Used as an accent plant, they can be reddish to purple in color, although there are several shades of green available.   After several months of growth, Fountain grass will be topped with attractive seedheads that give it a floating appearance.

*       Lion’s Ear is an underutilized exotic plant that is a South African native.  It has golden flower clusters on upright stems that will be irresistible to butterflies and honeybees, and the foliage itself has unique smells that make it fit in a “scent” garden.  But it does not like to be overwatered.

*       Marigolds are heat-and drought tolerant bedding plants that might make it through a Florida summer, but can do equally well in a dry winter, as long as Jack Frost stays away.  Most Marigolds are golden yellow in color.  They are readily available at area garden centers, and are not that expensive.   Feel free to replace them if they get too much watering, or keep them dry and they will give you color during the long spring drought.

We’ve placed more information on our Okeechobee web page, http://okeechobee.ifas.ufl.edu.  If you need additional information on dealing with drought in your Florida Yard, please email us at okeechobee@ifas.ufl.edu or call us at 863-763-6469.  Local residents can stop by our office at 458 Hwy 98 North in Okeechobee, and visit our Okeechobee County Master Gardeners from 1 to 3 PM on Tuesday afternoons.  Have a Blessed Thanksgiving and, 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.  Larry A.  Arrington, Dean. Last update: 11/19/2007.  This page is maintained by Dan Culbert    

References

Areca Palm:

Azalea:   

Bougainvillea:

Croton:

Fountain Grass: 

Lion's Ear:  

Marigold: