January is here and we will continue to feel cold temperatures because it is the second coldest month of the year. Average temperatures range from the 65s with highs in the 70s or 80s and lows in the 40s or 50s.
Freezing is always a possibility and has actually been a reality on Marco Island in the past. These frosts can cause great damage to most of our tropical grasses, flowers and plants. Especially those that were pruned at the end of the year and now have new, tender shoots.
what to do Do not operate the mower on the grass as this may further damage the blades. Trim only once every ten to fourteen days as needed and maybe less after such an event. And resist the temptation to cut dead and damaged branches from your plants. Wait until spring to do this as there will be more cold outside which will be more damaging if you have new shoots or tender growth on the ends of the branches.
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Be careful not to overwhelm your landscape. Due to the cold weather, there will be a lot of brown in our landscape. Your plants, trees and palms have lots of yellow and brown leaves and are starting to fall off. Remember that this is cold damage, not a lack of water. These damaged plants will become inactive and their transpiration rate will be very low. There will be more water in the soil and this constant moisture can cause disease. Until the warm, dry spring weather sets in in April or May, turn on your sprinkler no more than once a week.
Many flowers and vegetables are damaged by frost, but luckily you can still plant new plants in January. If the damage to your flowers is minor, you may be able to cut off the shoots to make new flowers instead of replanting the entire bed. If flowers and vegetables wilt to the ground, it might be better to throw them away and start over.
Hibiscus plants bloom profusely after a severe cold. It may be too cold for this tropical plant and only time will tell. Azaleas also start blooming in January. Plant azaleas in full sun, but not full sun. It's just too much for him here in South Florida. This is also a good month for planting roses. Remember dr. Look for roses that have been grafted onto Huey or Fortuiana rootstocks. The rootstock is nematode resistant and grafted roses can live for fifty to sixty years. Roses produce beautiful flowers even in cold weather.
January is one of the fertile months for citrus fruits. Be sure to fertilize citrus trees before they start blooming in spring. Many of the orange trees in our orchard on Marco Island have declined and died in recent years due to storm damage. Fertilize mangoes when they start to flower, either in December, January or February. If you have a problem with diseased mango trees or flowers, spray the flowering trees with copper weekly, alternating with other fungicides to prevent copper poisoning to maintain disease-free flowers and fruit.
Keep an eye out for spider mites, especially on evergreens like arbor de la vida, juniper and Italian cypress. Treat with a miticide for control.
Many poinsettias are reluctant to throw these plants away after the holidays. They can be grown as houseplants in South Florida, but can be very tall plants, so care should be taken when choosing a location. It should be a place without light at night to promote next season's flowering. They are not without problems. Cutworms may eat your poinsettias this month. They can be several centimeters long and difficult to see. These worms can kill plants in a day. Also, look for eggs that are perfectly round and light green in color. They are located on the top and bottom of the leaves and bracts. The eggs are the size of a small BB. When the poinsettia leaves turn yellow and the stems split open and emerge, remove and discard the entire plant for disease.
As the new year begins, we all need to try to manage our country better. Adopt good gardening practices that will help you use less fertilizers and pesticides, and most importantly, water. Learn to identify invasive exotic plants that are destroying our natural spaces. Do not plant them in your garden and if they voluntarily become in your land, remove them from your garden or bare land to prevent them from spreading to the remaining valuable natural areas on and around Marco Island. Grow native plants and enjoy the wildlife that surrounds us by giving them a place in your garden. Marco Island is truly a special paradise that we can share with Mother Earth. Don't forget that's why we all love him so much. I wish you and our island a healthy and prosperous New Year.
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Peter and Eileen Ward are selling Marco Island Greensward after 40 years in the Marco Island lawn and landscaping business. You can email Eileen with comments or questions about her column at Gswdmarco@comcast.net or call her at 239-269-0192.
