Question. Some chewing pests are working on my young broccoli. I put down snail and slug pellets. Is there anything else to do?
Answer. Use a flashlight to look for the snails and slugs at night or try to spot them early in the morning. These pests do feed on the plantings, but caterpillars are more likely the cause of chewed broccoli leaves. Check the undersides of the leaves and look for small round bits of excreta. If caterpillars are spotted, and few in number, they can be handpicked from the plants. Otherwise, a natural insecticide spray of Thuricide or a spinosad containing product could be applied following label instructions.
Q. I have a new zoysia lawn, but it likes to run into nearby beds. Is there a way to keep this grass from invading surrounding areas?
A. One good and bad thing about zoysia is it's very aggressive, usually sending many underground shoots to creep into new areas. This is very beneficial when you want to fill in a lawn but a nuisance when the shoots move into shrub and flower plantings. Let's start by saying there is no quick cure but here are some thoughts.
Chemical treatments may affect the nearby grass you want to grow when the shoots are left intact. You might create a barrier of brick, concrete or plastic edging along the areas you want to keep free of zoysia. Then you can edge them as needed to sever the above- and below-ground shoots creeping into the beds. If this is done, you can spot-treat the shoots in the beds with Roundup, Ortho Grass-B-Gon or a similar product for use among growing plants without harming the nearby turf. Follow the label carefully to properly use these products.
Q. I have a screened porch with filtered sunlight and a sunny yard; I would hate to give up tomatoes for the winter. What is the best way to keep them growing?
A. Florida gardeners can grow great tomatoes during the winter if it stays warm. Cooler temperatures slow growth and keep the flowers from setting fruits. Select the warmest, sunniest spot in your landscape for a winter crop. A porch with limited light is only of value as a place to keep the plants warm during cold days and nights. Even so, some coverings and a heat source may be needed. A few tomato varieties are marketed as cold tolerant. These can probably better tolerate a little chilly weather and keep producing. During the cooler weather, reduce feedings to every three to four weeks and water when the soil starts to dry to the touch.
Q. We sodded our lawn with Bahia about two months ago and we are seeing some yellowing in spots. After two months, should we apply fertilizer?
A. Feeding time is usually over for Bahia grass this late in the season. The cooler weather and shorter days cause slower growth and the beginning of dormancy for this turf. Since this is a new lawn, it is likely running out of nutrients due to frequent watering and an extended rainy season. In this case you could apply a light feeding of a lawn fertilizer or an iron-only product to try to regreen the grass a bit as it heads into the cooler months. The next scheduled feeding time is March.
Q. My lemon and orange trees here in Orlando are dropping fruit before ripening. What is happening, and what should I do?
A. Maybe you can blame the heavy fruit drop on the weather, but it is also quite common at this time of the year. Early fall is a time the trees drop what they cannot support. It is often called a "September fruit drop," which may occur over a period of many weeks. Growing conditions can affect the fruit drop, and most likely the rains have caused root problems that weaken the trees and encourage the excessive drop. All you can do is keep up normal care. Water when the soil is dry and feed the trees in March, May, August and early October with a citrus fertilizer. Also, check for pests that affect foliage growth and could weaken the trees too.
Q. A friend gave me several clippings from a plumeria tree. Can I plant them in a container and then put them in the ground in the spring?
A. You have a great idea, because winter can be quite brutal for plumerias, also called frangipanis. You have a month or two to get them rooted before they go dormant for the winter. Stick the bottom few inches of each cutting into a container filled with potting soil. Only limited watering is needed until the plants start to grow. Keep them in a warm, sunny spot to encourage the rooting. Wait until you see good spring growth before adding them to the landscape.Copyright © 2015, Sun Sentinel