Trees and Shrubs

The best planting season for trees and shrubs is now through mid-March. Root systems will establish well in the winter months, requiring less frequent watering than in the spring and summer establishment period. When the heat hits in late spring, your plants will benefit from the “head start” on root establishment!

 

Mulch: Trees and shrubs will benefit from an additional layer of mulch to protect their roots in the winter and to conserve moisture. Pull the mulch away from trunks and stems, as the mulch will block gas exchange and hold moisture, resulting in damage to the vascular system under the bark.

Irrigation: Cooler weather means your soils will be holding moisture longer, and the moisture needs of the plants while dormant or not actively growing will be less. Adjust your irrigation to your lawns and shrubs to reflect these conditions. In general, if we don’t receive an inch of rain in a 2-3 week period of time, apply an inch of water to your lawn and trees.

 

Newly planted trees and shrubs will continue to require hand watering throughout the winter. Pay attention to the temperature and the amount of wind your plants receive to determine frequency of watering. Click HERE for tips on establishing plants in the winter.

Evergreen trees and shrubs will require more frequent watering than deciduous trees and shrubs, since their leaves still loose moisture that will need replacing. Be aware of WINDY days if you have evergreen trees and shrubs. The wind takes moisture from the leaves and the plant will need to be hydrated going into the windy day.

Lawns

 

 

Irrigation: Cooler weather means your soils will be holding moisture longer, and the moisture needs of the plants while dormant or not actively growing will be less. Adjust your irrigation to your lawns and shrubs to reflect these conditions. Once the lawn is dormant, if we don’t receive an inch of rain in a 2-3 week period of time, apply an inch of water to your lawn and trees.  Click HERE for more information.

Remember to rake any leaves off your lawn to allow light and water to penetrate.

 

 

Pruning Perennials

Herbaceous perennials, or those that die back to the ground with the first hard freeze, may be cut back after a freeze has “melted” them. These include Katie’s Ruellia, Russian Sage, and Mystic Spires Salvia.

 

 

 

Evergreen perennials, such as Salvia greggii, should not be cut back until late February to early March. These can be sheared by 1/3 at that time, or, if they are old and woody, may be “rejuvenative” pruned (pruned to the ground) before new growth starts in the spring.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lantanas and ornamental grasses are best left to be cut back in late February to early March as well, as the above-ground plant parts will provide some insulation to the root system if we have a severe winter. The ornamental grasses are actually quite pretty when they are dormant! Many times Lantana is cut back earlier to make room for winter annuals.

Click HERE for tips on when to prune which plants.

 

 

 

Houseplants

 

 

 

Bring houseplants inside before freezing temperatures threaten. Most tropical plants do best at temperatures above 65°F.

Click HERE for additional information.

 

 

 

 

Tropical Plants

 

 

Tropical plants will need protection from freezing temperatures. Click HERE for tips on preparing your citrus, bougainvillea, plumeria and hibiscus for the winter months.

 

 

 

 

 

Plant Vegetables

 

Plant seeds of spinach, lettuce, mustard, radish, leeks, carrots, rutabaga, parsnips, cilantro and garlic bulbs. Plant asparagus from root crowns and strawberries from plants.

Click HERE for information on growing spinach from seed.

Click HERE for information on growing lettuce from seed.

Click HERE for information on growing cilantro from seed.

 

 

Plant Herbs

 

 

All evergreen, winter-hardy herbs will benefit from being planted at this time. Like trees and shrubs, their root systems will grow all winter, and they require less effort on your part to get them established! Rosemary, Sage, Oregano, Thyme and Winter Savory are examples.

 

 

 

 

 

Plant Cool Season Annuals

Pansies are a very winter-hardy annual, and will produce blooms all winter long. Plant snapdragons, violas, flowering cabbage and kale, dianthus, cyclamen, alyssum, lobelia, stock and diascia for beautiful winter blooms. (Note: You will need to protect some of these from hard freezes) Click HERE for growing info.

Treat for Fire Ants

Fertilome Come and Get It is an organic bait containing Spinosad that we find effective for Fire Ants and it is labeled for use in vegetable gardens.

We recommend a product called Extinguish Plus.  It is a bait that contains a slow acting insecticide and an Insect Growth Regulator. This two-way action prevents rebound of the colony and insures a rapid demise of the colony as well.

Plant Wildflowers Seeds Now for Spring Blooms

With the expectation of winter rains, plant your wildflower seeds now to ensure success. Most seeds will germinate this winter and shoot their flowers up in the spring!

Click HERE for more information.