By Master Gardener Volunteer Lesley Arrandale
mail@floridanewsline.com
We all saw the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene, which is both heartbreaking and sobering, and now I’m writing in the immediate aftermath of Milton, which has left more of Florida devastated. Jacksonville has been relatively lucky, yet again.
During Helene, two large trees in our street, a southern magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora) and an oak, species uncertain, dropped huge branches which fell across power lines. Looking at the downed branches of the magnolia stacked by the side of the road, there’s not much to show why it lost them. Where the branches were attached to the tree, the trunk looks healthy. Hopefully it will stay that way, but with the bark ripped away, the tree is more vulnerable to pests and diseases. The oak is another matter. Some of the heart wood is dark and streaky, which could signal rot. The structure of the tree was also poor. Branches were closely placed on the trunk, and there was probably some included bark in there. This is bark that grows in a tight crotch between competing trunks or branches, gradually pushing the tree apart, weakening it and allowing water to infiltrate. For a better understanding, check out this article: https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/EP507.
I also like this detailed article which has good diagrams and photos of problem trees, with potential solutions: https://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/woody/documents/ch_13_mw06.pdf. Bear in mind that tree work is skilled and can be dangerous, so don’t tackle anything but the simplest, smallest pruning tasks yourself. If you think you have a potential problem in any of your trees, do consult a qualified arborist: www.treesaregood.org/findanarborist/findanarborist. It would be wise to assess our trees and, if necessary, act before the storm season.
Fall is finally here. At the beginning of October there were huge numbers of birds migrating over Florida. Unfortunately for us, these mass migrations occur mainly at night, so we don’t usually see the phenomenon. Sadly, there can be multiple fatalities because some birds become disoriented, crashing into the lighted windows of high-rise blocks. Even low-rise lighted windows can be a problem, so please consider closing your blinds and shades at night. Most wildlife will benefit.
It’s not too late to divide large clumps of spring-flowering perennials, which is a great way to make more plants for free. Dig up the plant, shaking off enough soil to see the root system, and locate the crowns where new growth will emerge. You may be able to tease the roots apart, but if the root mass looks dense and somewhat woody, cut it apart, making sure to keep some crowns intact. Replant the divisions right away or keep them in pots until they are larger. Water the new plants well and keep them watered if they’re in pots, or until they are established if they’re in the ground. Some perennials die back to the ground in the winter, so mark their positions. When they reappear in spring, you’ll be glad you did.
Cool season leafy vegetables generally will be coming along well, although lettuce could still bolt if the weather is too warm. Large slower growing crops like broccoli and collards can be interplanted with quick growing vegetables like radishes to take advantage of the space between them. Make sure to scout regularly for pests, particularly on smaller plants. One cutworm can literally cut a small transplant down overnight. To avoid this problem, encircle transplant stems with 3-inch lengths of cardboard tubes from rolls of kitchen paper, ensuring that the bottoms of the tubes are below soil level. If the weather is dry, apply diatomaceous earth around seedlings. It deters soft bodied pests but doesn’t work if it’s wet. Refer to the Florida Vegetable Gardening Guide for more information on how and what to grow: https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/VH021.
