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 […]
When it comes to palms we need to be aware what a healthy, properly pruned palm looks like. Contrary to popular belief, this picture is not a properly pruned palm tree. It is unattractive and is weaker than a full canopied palm tree. A properly pruned and fertilized palm as in this picture, should have […]
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 […]
It seems winter has arrived and we have already had some signifcantly cold nights. Remember that wind chills also can cause significant damage to plants, and it won’t show up for a few days after the fact. Hoping for a milder February! Many of you may have plants that suffered some damage. Resist the temptation […]
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 – […]
Gardening for Wildlife: Ways to support wildlife in your landscape can include some of the following: Use plants of various heights, plant groups or islands of plants, reduce some of your turf with groundcover, leave some dead foliage or limbs if it is safe to do so and use plants of various types of blooms […]
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 […]
Winter Flowering January doesn’t have to be a wasteland for Flowering! January will bring in the gorgeous flowering display that Camellia Japonicas put on. These beautiful plants start blooming in December and continue until March or early April. There are many colors and types to choose from with flowers that are large with many petals. Some Camellia Sasanqua will also still […]
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