Brrringing Your Florida Garden Back to Life Most Seasonal Residents Come to Hardest Hit
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Vol. 30 • No. 3 ComplimeNtary Copy marCh 2010 Florida’s Leading Newspaper For Active, Mature Adults Brrringing Your Florida Garden Back to Life Most seasonal residents come to hardest hit. Your Oaks and Slash Pines Florida to get away from the cold. And and Palmetto will all be fine. In fact, they while our climate lately has been milder will thrive — especially if you plant na- than the Northeast’s, it’s still been one tive species near them when you go to for the record books. work on the yard. Over a two-week period in early Use Native Plants January, the average temperature was Native plants resist the cold, they the coldest in 100 years. On 12 of 14 tolerate direct sun, freezing tempera- days, Florida saw freezing temperatures. tures and the occasional dousing with One community near Jacksonville saw a salt water. Native plants also cost less to low of 17° on Jan. 11. That’s the lowest buy and they often require little watering temperature ever recorded in Florida. beyond what we get naturally. Morning frost, frozen and cracked With proper planning and careful windshields, day after day of freezing selection, you can design a beautiful temperatures… It’s enough to make you Florida garden that does not need a want to book a flight to Jamaica. traditional sprinkler system. There’s With the bitter cold hopefully behind some work involved, but with a rain us, it’s time to go outside, where you’ll barrel (See Page 10), you can save rain find lots of brown grass and dead shrubs. water for irrigation later. It’s time to get dirty. Also, the University of Florida says What Happened? that most people over water anyway, Meteorologists say our record cold particularly native pants — to the point snap was caused by a shift in upper where they do more harm than good. level winds. Cold Arctic air that nor- “We finally have our irrigation rec- mally falls on the Midwestern states ommendations for establishing shrubs got pushed East, leaving the Pacific backed up with science. We need less Northwest mild and dry. If you watched irrigation than many people think,” the Olympics last month, you know a says Ed Gilman, a UF Institute of Food lack of snow and mild temperatures in and Agricultural Sciences environmen- Vancouver presented some challenges tal horticulture professor who led the for the Games hosts. research study. As Senior Voice goes to press, the The six-year study’s objective was to upper-level winds are still distorted determine how best to irrigate shrubs Eastward from their average, but during “establishment” — the 20- to hopefully we are done with freezing 28-week period when shrubs’ roots temperatures till next year. Expect some grow until the plant can survive without crazy weather this summer, too. irrigation. The research examined irrigation The Bright Side frequency and volume on the quality, Even though many Tampa Bay Area survival and growth rates of three- residents will have to replace lawns, gallon, container-grown shrubs. Plants shrubs and plants, there is a bright side: were examined in Fort Lauderdale, Florida has been invaded over the cen- Balm, Apopka and Citra, locations that turies with exotic plants and animals, span three water management districts some of which are considered “invasive” or “nuisance” species. These were the Please See GARDEN, Page 2. Dealing with Frost Damage ......2 Website of the Month ..............11 Senior to Senior .....................20 Health Roundup .................... 4-7 Classified Ads ..........................12 Judi’s Gems .............................21 Living ................................... 8-10 Service Guide ..........................13 Fishing .....................................21 Support Our Troops .................9 Travel Scene ...................... 14-15 Senior Gourmet ......................22 Crossword ...............................11 Entertainment ................... 16-19 Senior Happenings .................23 page 2 SeNior VoiCe marCh 2010 GARDEN, From Page 1. Dealing with in Florida and have varied growing conditions. Some of the state’s most popular ornamental shrubs were evaluated, including both native and non-native Frost Damage species, such as yaupon holly and gardenia. Dealing with cold temperature damage to plants “One of the results that we noted was that there in your Florida yard involves patience. Plant experts are no differences between native and non-native spe- at the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and cies for amount of water required for establishment,” Agricultural Sciences offers some ideas on what Gilman says. “This often surprises people, but it em- can be done to help frost damaged plants recover phasizes that the Florida-friendly principle — right from the jaws of old man winter. plant, right place — is worth following.” Getting the Lawn Green Florida-friendly gardening means planting that accounts for site conditions, maintenance needs and UF specialists offer many ideas on how to prepare local climate. If you do choose non-native plants, make a lawn or landscape to handle cold temperatures. sure they are not an invasive species. Dealing with damage is different. The best course of action for turf and other ornamental plant recovery Regular irrigation in the months after planting helps is to wait for warmer conditions to return and then shrubs remain healthy and attractive as they establish. resume normal but not excessive amounts of water But one eyebrow-raising study finding is that light, and fertilizer. frequent watering is much more efficient and effective These Ixora bushes were frosted. While the top than applying large volumes less frequently. Water Needs foliage has been burnt back, there is plenty of green stems below which allow for recovery. In our area, Gilman says, we need 1 gallon of water Plant water needs should be checked after a Photo by Dan Culbert, UF/IFAS. per shrub every 4-6 days. freeze. The leaves will continue to release water More frequent irrigation, does result in more vigor- vapor, especially on those clear sunny days after a Cold injury may appear as a lack of spring bud ous plant growth. freeze. However, if water in the soil or a container break on a portion or on all of the plant. Some “Results showed that applying large volumes of is frozen, it will not be able to move up into the may show an overall weak appearance. The outer water cannot compensate for infrequent irrigation,” plant. Wilted plants will be the result. branch tips may be damaged, while older wood Gilman said. “This means that you should water more In the short term, applying water to the soil will can be free of injury. often, but with less water at each irrigation event. That help thaw it out and provide available water for the The “line” between dead and live wood will helps the plants achieve proper establishment and, in plant. Water may actually serve to warm the roots eventually be “marked” by the growth of a new turn, means less watering in the long run.” and get them to work better. Be certain not to add bud. If you are still not sure, a small scrape of the too much water — over watering can reduce the As you replant UF recommends these simple steps bark with a sharp knife will show either a green or amount of air space in the soil and can encourage to help ensure your plants get established. darkened growth layer. Cold-injured cambium lay- soil borne root diseases. • Consider planting at the start of the rainy season. ers under the bark will be black or brown in color; • Irrigate based on location, weather and desired Pruning live tissue is green. Prune these branches behind plant vigor. Severe pruning should be delayed until new this point of discoloration. • Apply water directly to the rootball. growth appears. However, dead, unsightly leaves In some cases, it will take some time for the buds may be removed as soon as they turn brown. If pos- to break after cold damage, so be patient before • Use low-volume irrigation. Don’t irrigate if a sible, wait until they naturally fall if the appearance going crazy with winter-kill pruning. quarter-inch or more rain fell in the last 24 hours. factor is not critical. • After establishment, irrigate when there are signs Before the pruner touches the plant, be sure that Right Plant / Right Place of wilting, but before leaves begin to die. the place where the cut is to be made will be in Finally, consider that a plant damaged beyond live wood. Do not remove living plant parts that repair is actually an opportunity to try something contain stored up food reserves. Remember that different. pruning scars will only heal if the cuts are made Florida homeowners enjoy a vast array of plant into living tissue. material choices. We often choose the more exotic tropical appearance in our Florida yards and now we pay the price. Publisher.......................................Todd Goldman, [email protected] Editor/Art Director ............Matthew Wiseman, [email protected] Plants are rated by their cold tolerance and the Contributors......... Judith Sabghir Gannon, Rick and Lisa Parsons USDA Hardiness Zone Map (http://www.usna. usda.gov/Hardzone/ushzmap.html) gives garden- THE SENIOR VOICE OF FLORIDA • EST. 1980 ers guidance on choosing the right plant based on Senior Publishing and Meetings, Inc. cold temperatures. PO Box 270 • Lutz, FL 33548 Enthusiastic gardeners often plant past the Phone: (813) 949-0006 • Fax: (813) 433-5181 northern limit in Florida. For our area, dependably Member of the Clearwater, Dunedin, Gulfport, Tampa Bay Beaches, hardy plants are those rated for USDA Hardiness St. Petersburg and Sun City Center Chambers of Commerce zone 9b or less. ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVES These hardiness zones are guidelines, as the Todd Goldman .........................................................todd@ggpubs.com microclimates in your area may differ dramatically Deb Goldman ...........................................................