Get Your Florida Yard Ready to Grow

     In our area of Florida, February is a great time to start thinking about installing new plants prior to their spring growth period.  Celebrate Valentine’s Day by creating a display that will last through the seasons with flowers and new plantings.  Allow your new plants to settle into their new location in late winter to ensure healthier plants come springtime.  Create a plant design that incorporates different levels and complementary colors that will be successful in the selected location.  If you have mature plants, you will want to consider pruning and trimming so that your existing landscape will be ready for their new spring vegetation.   If you are contemplating installing turf grass, February is a great time to select the type of grass you want and prepare for installation prior to spring.  Adding plant specific fertilizers will increase your plants’ blooms and growth by providing important nutrients for them to grow.
     If you are enhancing your landscape or creating a new design from scratch, think about the location, irrigation needs, and space when you are selecting plants.  Try to group plants together that have similar water and soil requirements.  Think about your plant heights so that taller plants are placed in the back and do not block the lower level of plants.  Before plant placement, sketch a copy of the plant design to make sure you know the number of plants that you need for your space.  Research Florida-friendly plants for our area to create a low-maintenance design that is drought-tolerant for an easy-to-maintain landscape all year round.
     It is important to prune and trim your existing landscaping before spring so that plants receive lots of sunlight and have plenty of room for new growth to flourish.  Specific plants, such as Crepe Myrtles, Gardenias, Jatropha, Hibiscus, and existing hedges will really benefit from trimming and pruning during this time of year.   When plants are properly trimmed and pruned before spring rolls around you will notice a spectacular increase in blooms on flowers and intensely green and healthy new growth on other ornamentals.  Sprinkle some plant specific organic fertilizer before adding a top layer of mulch for extra vibrant vegetation.
     Selecting a turfgrass for your area can be difficult with the many options available.  You will want to consider your location and irrigation system to select the right grass for you.  There are many different cultivars of St. Augustine available, each best suited for different planting environments.  Classic Floritam St. Augustine is a tried-and-true variant that has been around for years and thrives in bright sunlight. If Floritam is your variety of choice, be sure to have it professionally treated for pests and diseases such as Mosaic Virus the same week it is installed to ensure a healthy lawn.  A newer St Augustine cultivar to try is Citra Blue which was developed to provide a natural resistance to diseases such as the mosaic virus.  All St. Augustine sod will need a significant amount of sunlight to thrive, however if there is a portion of the yard with filtered light most of the day Palmetto may be the St. Augustine variety for you.  If you want something a little bit different and more unique than St Augustine varieties, Zoysia may be a great option for your space.  Zoysia is a fine bladed grass that is very soft to the touch while also exhibiting all the great properties of St Augustine such as salt and drought tolerance, durability to withstand foot traffic and its ability to outcompete most Florida weeds. 
     By preparing your existing landscape, installing your new plants and sod prior to spring, your yard will be blooming and thriving during its maximum growth period.  With the correct care, your plants will blossom and be vibrant with color as new growth emerges from the branches.  Allowing the sod to establish before spring is advantageous because it will be acclimated to the location prior to its best growing season.  The fertilizer that was placed in late winter will greatly benefit the plants in spring as they are consuming more nutrients from the soil for their new vegetation.  Enjoy a picturesque, lush landscape all year round with the right planning, maintenance, and nutrients for your plant life.