Summer certainly has arrived! Thank goodness for the rain. It was getting desperate there for a while! Remember, to monitor your watering and turn off your irrigation system when we get plenty of rain. Remember you may be hot but your plants and grass are not. Don’t water unnecessarily. Rain tends to bring mosquitoes so […]
Vegetables The first round of summer vegetables such as tomatoes, peppers and squash that were planted in March and April should all be winding down now. Some people clean up their beds or containers at this point and plant their next planting. Others try to continue to maintain their tomatoes and peppers etc. throughout the […]
Palms Consider planting a palm or two this summer! Palms love the summer heat, and the tropical rains will help get them established. Pindos, Sylvesters, Queens, Sabals, European Fan Palms, Chinese Fan Palms and Robellinis are some of the great choices available. Stop by the Garden Center to see for yourself! Crape Myrtles Crape Myrtles […]
Maintenance • July is the last month to trim your azaleas. Pruning after July may result in no or fewer spring flowers. • Plants are growing quickly right now. Any that have become leggy can be cut back. Trim and shape to promote fullness. To create density, lightly trim your shrubs all around. Only trimming the tops of plants will […]
Lawn Care: For St. Augustine & Zoysia Lawns: Fertilome F-Stop A granular product containing Eagle(R) fungicide that provides a systemic protectant and curative fungicide. Controls turfgrass diseases in established lawns and ornamental turfs. Turf diseases controlled: Anthracnose, Red Thread, Spetoria Leaf Spot, Brown Patch, Copper Spot, Dollar Spot, Fusarium Blight, Leaf Spot, Melting Out, Crown […]
Semi-Tropicals Tibochina Princess Flower An old time favorite used in full sun locations where bright color is desired. Fertilize with 6-8-10 slow release bloomer April, June and September for a spectacular flower show that will last from May to January. It is extremely easy to grow and drought tolerant once established. If winter damaged, established […]
Summer is here- officially not until June 21st but we sure do need the summer rains! We have seen some hot days already and very little rain. We are also in a drought situation, so the watering guidelines have changed back from two days a week to one day per week- this includes anyone on […]
Fruit Your citrus trees should have flowered and set some fruit by now. As your citrus tree grows you are sure to experience “leaf miners”- little grey squiggly lines in the leaves. These little critters are harmless for the most part- just causing cosmetic damage however, if you are plagued with them try using to […]
June Garden Maintenance • Trim your azaleas, gardenia and camellias for the final time this month. These plants set their flowers for next year early and too much trimming after this month will result in far fewer flowers. • Mow lawns at least weekly, no lower than 1 1/2 inches for centipede, 3″ for St. […]
Lawn Care St Augustine & Zoysia Lawns Hi Yield Turf & Ornamental Weed & Grass Stopper with Dimension • Prevents weed seeds from germinating • Do not use where garden seeds or flower seeds are sowed • Can also be used in landscape beds. Weed bed then apply to prevent weed seeds from germinating • […]
Butterfly Gardens are so beautiful and everybody’s favorite. Many people would like to entice them to their gardens. You do not need to have a huge garden to do this as every plant you can manage will make a difference. Butterflies love color of all kinds and as they see things in Ultraviolet light, bright color flowers […]
Perennial FlowersPerennial flowers come in all sizes, shapes and colors! Everyone loves flowers and now is a great time for creating a perennial flower bed or adding to an existing one. Perhaps adding flowers that attract butterflies and hummingbirds would be an idea. Try planting Knock Out Roses, Drift Roses, Milkweed, Cigar Plant, Gazanias, Gaillardia, […]
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 […]
Shade or Partial 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 […]
Grass, Lawns & 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 […]
May is a fabulous mont to accomplish a lot on the garden! The temperatures are still reasonable, the sun is shining, and everything is growing! Now is a great time to get those new gardens going or refresh older ones! We look forward to seeing you in the Garden Center to get you “growing”! “The […]
“April showers bring….” We have not had too many of those unfortunately, but what a difference a few weeks make! Oaks have flushed; deciduous tress are sprouting out leaves and spring bloomers are blooming everywhere! Temperatures have heated up but still perfect for getting that garden spruced up, added to or re-designed, and after the […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 green if they were frozen or frost damaged. If no green, wait awhile until some evidence of that and then […]
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 […]
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