Winter is right around the corner, and while we won’t see snow in Florida, the weather is going to change enough that you will want to prepare your landscaping for the cooler temperatures ahead.
As you prepare your commercial landscaping, keep the following tips at the forefront of your planning:
- Get Blankets Ready: Cold spells do come, and plants and trees should be covered when they arrive. Having quilts and blankets handy is something every commercial landscaping company should do.
- Don’t Cover Plants with Plastic: Moisture can condense and then freeze beneath the plastic. This can burn the plants.
- Increase Watering: Winter in Florida means less rainfall. Adjust your watering schedule to account for the decrease in precipitation.
- Remove Dead Foliage: Dead leaves can facilitate mold growth and insect infestation. Removing dead foliage from plants and trees helps to keep plants healthy and happy.
- Watch Your Fertilizer: It is a good idea to hold off on fertilizing until later in the winter. This can give plants a chance to rest until the prime growing season returns. Keeping your plants on a regular growth schedule can help keep them vibrant for years to come.
- Overseed Your Lawn: North and Central Florida landscapes are good candidates for overseeding. South Florida lawns may benefit, too, but it is not necessary.
- Add Mulch: Three inches of new mulch assists in insulating your plants and tree roots from cold snaps this winter. Mulching is also a fantastic way to dispose of dead branches that would otherwise rot in a landfill.
- Trim Carefully: Trees and shrubs benefit from a winter pruning, but be careful not to over prune your plants. Moreover, don’t prune shrubs such as azaleas or bougainvilleas, which deliver beautiful winter blooms.
- Add Color: Poinsettias and pansies look marvelous in the wintertime. Easy to grow and well-adapted to Florida’s weather, they are happy additions to any landscape.
- Check the Irrigation: Healthy plants resist freezes better than plants that are thirsty. Check your irrigation system to ensure that it is not leaking. Make sure the watering schedule is set appropriately and sprinkler heads are properly aligned.
The team at Plant Professionals can help keep your commercial landscaping looking fabulous this winter. We invite you to contact us at 305-259-0503 to learn more about our services and the ways we can assist you.