Humingbirds Hummingbirds are Back and Butterflies are becoming more abundant daily! Artificial feeders will attract hummingbirds. Because feeders can be placed almost anywhere, they increase your opportunities to view hummers from inside your house. However, feeders should not be the sole source of food provided. The sugar solution may appeal to the hummingbirds’ sweet tooth, […]
Shade Gardening If you have a lot of trees in your garden and want to add some interest or color to the shade here are some great options: Camellia japonica (blooms Dec-March), Camellia Sasanqua (blooms October to Dec); Gardenias (bloom early spring to mid-summer); Hydrangeas – newer varieties like Nikko Blue or Endless Summer bloom […]
Palms Palms are tropical of nature and LOVE the warm weather. Rooting and establishment is pretty fast during the growing season. We are often asked about palm roots damaging foundations or driveways. Palm roots differ greatly from tree roots and will not damage foundations, driveways or patios. Palms come in a variety of sizes and […]
Grass, Lawns and Bugs! • Mow at least weekly to ensure no more than a third of the grass blade is cut each time. This will also aid with the prevention of thatch buildup. St Augustine and Bahia Grass should be cut 3”-4” high while Zoysia Grass is 1 ½ inches and Bermuda should be […]
Plants of the Month – Perennials for Butterflies There are many perennials that are available and many of those will produce flowers to attract butterflies but here are some of our favorites! Anne Marie Lantana Anne Marie Lantana is one of our favorite, easy care, sun loving perennials! Lantana is a profuse bloomer (spring till […]
Plants of the Month: Trees Magnolia Grandiflora A Southern landscape tradition! Huge, fragrant flowers stand out against the dense, dark green glossy leaves. The cinnamon colored backing on the leaves just add another striking accent to this beautiful grandiflora specimen. Mature height can reach 40′-60′ with a 30′ width. Moderate to slow growth rate first […]
Those Pesky Insects! This is the time of year when insects become VERY active. Aphids, leafhoppers, grasshoppers, leaf miner, scales, mealy bugs, spider mites and thrips are all out in force looking for something to munch on. Keep an eye out for the orange caterpillars on Oleanders as well. One of the best insecticides on the […]
Trees love the spring season. Redbud, Cherry Laurel, Chickasaw Plum, Citrus, and fruit trees are all in bloom. Deciduous trees like Crape Myrtles and Maples are leafing out, as are the Drake and Alee Elms. Oaks are beginning to put on their new flush of growth and Magnolias will begin budding up for their signature […]
Got Deer? There are many, many lists of plants that are produced by extension services and garden centers such as ours. These list plants that are USUALLY deer resistant. However, none of these lists should be taken as a guarantee. What was not on the menu last year may very well be on the menu this […]
April Gardening What’s Blooming? Citrus are blooming, fragrant Confederate Jasmine vine, Nikko Blue Hydrangeas, with their large, mop head flowers of blue or pink depending on the soil’s pH, Coral Honeysuckle vine that will attract lots of hummingbirds. I’m sure a lot of hibiscus, plumbago and other big bloomers may have gotten damaged in the […]
It’s the Spring ‘Growing’ Season! It’s time to ‘Spring Clean’ your plants and clean up the garden before planting others! For small perennials like Lantana, Salvia’s, Pentas, Blue Daze etc., simply trim it back to if they are overgrown and looking leggy. They should flush out beautifully with the upcoming warmer temperatures. For woody shrubs […]
Beautiful Blooming Azaleas! Azaleas have been putting on their show now and this is a great time to plant them! Formosa varieties can reach heights and widths 5’-8’ if left unpruned and bloom large, clusters of flowers in abundance. The most popular varieties are G.G. Gerbing (white), Lavender Formosa (bright purple-pink), Red Formosa (red wine […]
Flowering Perennials: Beautiful, blooming perennials that are suitable for spring/summer planting are Geraniums, Pentas, Salvias, Gazanias, Gaillardia, Dune Sunflower, Begonias, Batface, Cigar Plant, Heliotrope, Scaeveola, Scabiosa, Heather, Blu My Mind, Angelonia, Verbena, Phlox, Vinca, Lantanas, Coreopsis, Impatiens, Guara, and many, many more. Whether you’re planting a border, butterfly garden, or creating a colorful container there’s […]
Citrus & Fruit Bearing Plants Citrus are in full bloom now and its no wonder the sweet-scented orange blossom was chosen as Florida’s state flower! The most popular orange variety is the seedless Navel – but don’t count out the Hamlin orange that is another tried and true favorite. Valencia is the most popular juice […]
Springtime Checklist • Make sure all your tools, chemical supplies and fertilizers are ready for spring. • Check all plants for unwanted pests and come in to get advice and products. • Mulch! It saves on water and your back- less weeds. • Check your irrigation system to make sure it functions properly, and all […]
Lawn Management Lawns will start to grow rapidly again this month. It will be time to dust off the mower and check it out. Begin mowing at the recommended heights for your grass: • Bahia: 3″-4″ • St. Augustine: 3″-4″ • Zoysia: 1″-2″ • Bermuda: 1/2″-1 1/2” What to do in the Lawn March is […]
Perennials This is our favorite time of year at VerdeGo! We would love to help you transform your garden this SPRING! We look forward to seeing you!!! We carry many beautiful Perennials in our garden center. Here is a sampling of some of the many to choose from: Pentas: Plant it and the butterflies and […]
Fungus Issues & Fungicides Although we didn’t get a killing freeze (yet!), we did get a lot of rain and undoubtedly has led to some fungus issues in your garden. Many times, fungus will right itself when a plant or grass stops getting overwatered. If, for some reason, you continue to have lots of fungus […]
Lawns: The VerdeGo Lawn Calendar was designed to supply your turf with the products it needs at the time your turf needs it most. Staying one step ahead of insects and disease while supplying the proper amount of nutrients is key to having a great looking, healthy lawn. Remember, once the damage is done – […]
Winter Color: Need a splash of color for the rest of the winter? Plant some winter annuals like Alyssum, Pansies, Snapdragons, Dusty Miller & Dianthus or cold hardy perennials. Roses are in bloom too! Add some Knock Out Roses or Drift Roses to your garden for year round color. By the third or fourth week […]
Vegetables and Herbs: If you are a Vegetable gardener, you can still plant beets, broccoli, cabbage, collards, cauliflower, carrots, celery & lettuce. These plants will tolerate temperatures slightly below freezing but protect below 28 degrees. Cold hardy herbs can be planted as well- such as dill, parsley, rosemary, sage and thyme. By the end of […]
February Lawn Products St. Augustine & Zoysia Grass Ferti-lome Weed & Feed Apply this product at the END of February. Ferti-lome Weed & Feed should be applied to a lawn that has been moistened prior to application. It contains the active ingredient Atrazine, which should take care of all of your pesky broadleaf weeds such […]
Plants of the Month: Azaleas In this part of Florida there are a couple of varieties of azaleas that perform beautifully! The Formosa Azaleas are a variety that generally grows 4-6 feet high and 4’ wide. They have larger foliage and the flowers are strikingly showy when they bloom- generally late January to March. The […]
Plants of the Month – Screening Plants Do you have an unsightly view of something or want to create some privacy for your garden? This something we at VerdeGo get asked almost every day, so here are some suggestions for good, cold hardy screening plants Ligustrum: No other plant has more landscape uses than the […]
Winter Protection When there is a freeze coming or especially a hard freeze where temperatures will be below freezing for 3 or more hours, your tender plants will need care. First, on the day of an expected freeze, water your plants well as wet soil absorbs more heat during the day that will help radiate heat […]
Winter Annuals Winter Annuals are a way to add in temporary color and hide some of the tired perennials that are taking a break. Some examples would be petunias, pansies, violas, flowering cabbage, dianthus, snapdragons, and dusty miller can all be planted. Winter vegetables to plant include beet, cabbage, mustard greens, lettuce, carrots, cauliflower, onions and broccoli, […]
January Gardening Tips • Many customers, especially newcomers, assume you cannot plant this time of year. This is not the case! There are many cold hardy plants, trees and palms that can be planted now. For newcomers it is very important to know what your Hardiness Zone is- we are Zone 9. The higher the […]
December Gardening Tips Speaking of Christmas trees, check out some possible options for a Living Christmas Tree! Living Christmas Trees Would you like to enjoy a beautiful Christmas tree that you then can plant and enjoy for years to come? Stop by the Garden Center to see some. Here are some good choices: Here are […]
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