By Master Gardener Volunteer Lesley Arrandale
mail@floridanewsline.com
Spring is historically our dry season, and this year has been no exception. I’m stingy with watering, because about 50 percent of Florida’s precious drinking water is used in our landscapes, so up until the storm on May 10 my garden was looking a bit “crisp!” Nevertheless, it had been so long without appreciable rainfall, that I had been watering the precious shrubs which are the framework of my front yard as well as recently installed flowering perennials and potted plants. The small area of Bahia grass that looks quite decent with adequate water was parched, but with rain in the forecast I had let it fend for itself.
Now it’s time for the clean-up after the storm. Some tall perennials have been blown sideways, the coral honeysuckle support is no longer vertical, and everywhere there are leaves and twigs of southern magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora). But we came off so lightly compared to people whose trees were downed by the wind. In our street, a huge hickory snapped and fell on a garage, and another neighbor’s much-loved greenhouse was crushed by their favorite tree.
It had been a good week for watching wildlife. Fledgling bluebirds were learning to eat suet, fed by their parents. The cardinals’ nest in the native coral honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens) had seen more action; I’m guessing the adults were feeding their young hatchlings. Hopefully the storm didn’t destroy them.
One perennial that hasn’t wilted in hot dry conditions is native petunia (Ruellia caroliniensis: https://www.fnps.org/plant/ruellia-caroliniensis). I’ve found that its roots go deep, which is why it’s drought tolerant. The flowers are a delicate shade of pale mauve. Each one lasts only for a day, but there are plenty more to keep the show going from spring through autumn. Although it’s less showy, it’s a good replacement for its cousin, Mexican petunia (Ruellia simplex), which is an invasive plant and not recommended for Florida gardens (https://assessment.ifas.ufl.edu/assessments/ruellia-simplex/). Some Mexican petunia cultivars are sterile (read the plant label!), but they spread freely as they are stoloniferous and should be kept in check. Beware if a neighbor offers to share with you. Neither of these is to be confused with the wide variety of bedding petunias, which are treated as annuals and are lovely in hanging baskets and pots and make a good groundcover.
The May/June edition of the Duval Extension newsletter, A New Leaf – Yard and Garden, is available here: https://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/duval/lawns-gardens-and-trees/new-leaf-newsletter/. (If you’d like to subscribe, contact the Extension Office at (904) 255-7450.) Along with advice on what ornamentals to plant that withstand the heat, there’s an article on summer vegetable gardening. But if you don’t plan to plant a garden till fall, how about solarizing the soil (https://tinyurl.com/5x9dmdcj)? Or maybe plant a cover crop (https://tinyurl.com/6rrmmprp)? Both techniques can benefit your garden. Solarizing helps kill weed seeds and pathogens. A cover crop dug into the soil will replenish nutrients. Also in the newsletter, Larry Figart’s article on how to use yard chemicals safely goes into detail about why we should always read and follow the instructions on the product’s label. And he has a cautionary tale to tell, which is well worth reading. Following the label will not only ensure you get the best result from the product, but you will be protecting yourself, your family, your garden, and potentially our water supply.
Also in A New Leaf, Tonya Ashworth, our Horticultural Agent, offers advice about how to work safely in the garden in the heat of summer.
