Florida winters are not brutal but you still need to care for your plants and trees. All it takes is a single night of 30 to 40 degree temperatures for your them to suffer damage.
You can’t bundle your trees up in hats and gloves, but you can prepare them for cooler temperatures and storms with these helpful tips from Grasshoppers Landscaping.
Dormant Pruning
Pruning your trees during dormancy, in the coldest part of the winter is best practice because wounds will heal faster, there are less risks for disease, and it’s easier to prune when all leaves are gone. Pruning in the coldest part of winter will also result in more vigorous growth when spring arrives.
Fertilize
As with pruning, timing is also important when it comes to fertilizing. In central Florida, it’s recommended to fertilize your lawn in October and November with a high-potassium fertilizer.
Mulch
Mulch helps moderate the soil temperature, keeping tree roots cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Mulch also helps reduce weed growth, soil erosion, and improves the overall health of your trees. Because mulch helps retain water, it also will reduce the watering needs of your trees.
Water Appropriately
If you have newly-planted trees, you’ll want to continue watering them as usual since it doesn’t rain often in the winter here in Florida. While the plant above ground may be dormant, the roots will continue growing if they’re properly hydrated.
Although our winters are quite mild, it’s still smart to prepare your trees and landscaping for the cooler weather and shorter days. Palms, in particular, require special care and can easily suffer damage in sudden drops of temperatures. So you’ll want to pay close attention to your trees and treat them quickly at the first sign of damage.
We understand taking care of your trees and landscaping can seem like a huge undertaking, especially as a business owner. You have other things to worry about like customer satisfaction, sales, your brand, and more. Let us take care of all of your landscaping needs. We specialize in commercial landscaping afterall! Our team is composed of ISA Certified Arborists, FNGLA Certified Horticulture Professionals, and landscape contractors so you’re in good hands. Interested in a quote? Contact us!
