MARION COUNTY GOVERNMNT
March 2013
Table of Contents:
Old Garden Roses-A
Good Choice
Timely Gardening Tips
Yippee! It’s Time to Shop for
Plants
March Madness
Planning and Designing My Shade
Garden
What’s Bugging You
Amaryllis in the Morning
Upcoming Events
Published by Norma Samuel
UF/IFAS Extension Marion County
Timely Gardening Tips for
MARION COUNTY
by Aneash Tiwari, , UF/IFAS Extension
Marion County Master Gardener
On my drive to the office this
morning, I was distressed to hear
the WUFT meteorologist lament
about the cold weekend we just
experienced and he went on to
warn us that we are still not done
with the cold weather. We may still
get another frost and as I look out
the windows at the landscape, I am
distressed. The freezes did a lot of
damage.
The only bright show of color for
the past month has been the
daffodils. Yes, we do have daffodils
that grow in our climate;
CARLTON, ERLICHEER, EARLY
PEARL and SOLEIL d’OR. If you
wish to grow them, plant them
among your other evergreen
perennials so their spent leaves can
remain to break down. This process
is necessary to feed the bulb for the
next bloom. Very soon our azaleas
will burst into bloom, some had
already bloomed earlier. Whatever
you do, do not prune azaleas except
for those wild branches that shoot
out because flower buds were set
last summer. Do not fertilize azaleas
until they finish blooming.
Old Garden Roses- A Good Choice
by Anne Lambrecht, Master Gardener
Like most people, I love roses in my garden. However, any plant in the garden must be low
maintenance and able to play well with others. Over the years I have discovered that the
easiest roses for our area are the “antiques” or Old Garden Roses.
There are three main groups of roses, according to the American Rose Society: Species
Roses which are wild roses (some of the oldest on the earth), Old Garden Roses (roses in
existence before 1867) and Modern Roses (roses NOT in existence before 1867). I like the
idea of Old Garden Roses. They’ve been around for a while, they’re really fragrant, they’re
very pretty and they have cool names.
Old Garden Rose bushes are generally larger than Modern Roses and require more space.
They are known for their resilience and ability to survive with minimal care. Many have been
discovered on old homesteads and in cemeteries where they have had little or no care for
decades. Within the group are classes and the most common in the southeastern US are
called China, Tea, Noisette, and Bourbon. These are all fragrant and are repeat bloomers.
China roses are usually smaller than the other Old Garden Roses and range from 3 – 5’.
China colors and blends include red, yellow, pink and white. White blends are common but
Ducher is considered to be the only true white China rose. China roses have thin, branching
canes covered by clusters of roses. Many are “phototropic” which means the flowers change
color with the daylight. Archduke Charles is a good example as his pink flower changes to a
deep wine red color as the bloom ages. Bloom forms range from singles like Mutabilis to
pom-pom shaped Pink Pet to cupped globular blooms like Louis Phillippe. Some have a spicy
fragrance and nearly all are low maintenance, tolerant of hot weather and pruning.
Tea roses are the forerunners of the modern Hybrid Teas and their bushes are taller than 5’
with long, weak canes supporting drooping large cupped blooms. Marie van Houtte, a pink
rose, is a good example of a tea rose that performs well in Florida. Most tea roses have
17-25 petals with a full range of colors and color blends: reds, yellows, pinks and whites. Tea
roses do not like to be pruned severely.
Noisette is the only Old Garden Rose originating in the United States. Many Noisettes are
large, sprawling, repeat blooming roses that can easily reach 20 feet tall and are excellent for
growing on structures as climbers. The most common colors are red, pink and white.
Damask and China roses were crossed to produce repeat blooming Bourbon roses. Many
Bourbon roses like Souvenir de la Malmaison have quarter cupped blooms and are super
fragrant.
Page 2
Timely Gardening Tips for
MARION COUNTY
Old Garden Roses- A Good Choice
by Anne Lambrecht, Master Gardener
by Aneash Tiwari,,
UF/IFAS Extension Marion County
Master Gardener,
(continued from Page 1)
If you are getting ready to start your
garden here are some tips:
* Cut back and remove the dead
material and prune your landscape
plants in preparation for spring
growth.
* Fertilize lawns with 15-0-15 using a
well calibrated spreader. Please read
the label for directions for proper
application. The March application
works best if you use a combination
of half controlled release and half
water soluble fertilizers. The water
soluble will help in the growth and
the controlled release will feed the
turf for 3-6 months. Be careful! Try
not to use excess fertilizer
* The addition of a pre-emergent in
this application will prevent most
weed seeds in the ground from
germinating. This will help eliminate
many early weeds.
CAUTION! Check the label for the
safety of the pre-emergent for your
particular grass, if not you take a
chance on killing your whole lawn.
* While fertilizing your annual and
perennial beds, be sure to move the
mulch, pull emerging weeds, work in
the fertilizer, and add fresh mulch at
least two inches deep. Do not pile
mulch under trees in a volcano shape.
It may look pretty but it can destroy
the root system.
Your spring vegetable garden should
be ready for warm weather crops
such as transplants of tomato, pepper,
squash, lettuce, cucumber, endive and
parsley, but be prepared to cover
them if it gets cold.
* Continue making compost with
leaves, dead plants, kitchen scraps,
coffee grounds, egg shells, and grass
clippings.
Do you have gardening questions?
Please call the UF/IFAS Extension
Marion County Master Gardener
Plant Clinic Monday to Friday from
9:00am – noon and from 1:00 - 4:00
p.m.
(continued from page 1)
Old Garden Roses need sunlight, air circulation, water, and premiere soil.
Sun: at least six hours of full sun daily with morning sun being the best. Try to keep them from too
much of the hot afternoon sun.
Air Circulation: to discourage fungal diseases and insects, space Old Garden Roses at least six feet
apart.
Roses love water. They need two to three inches of water a week. If it is hot and dry, in addition
to regular irrigation, it is good to hand water rose bushes so that they are refreshed and any insects
are washed away. It is important that the leaves dry off before nightfall when fungus can set in. The
soil they are in must provide adequate drainage.
Soil: Amend the soil by mixing 1/3 good soil mix, 1/3 part sand (soil from your yard is good), and
1/3 organic matter such as cow manure, mushroom compost, peat moss, pine bark nuggets, etc. and
fill it into a deep, wide hole. This mixture should provide adequate drainage also.
Roses are heavy feeders so during the growing season give them plenty of slow release fertilizers
and organics three or four times during the growing season. Soluble fertilizers should be used from
time to time so that the roots may drink up the nutrients right away. I also like fish emulsion. It
stinks to the heavens (temporarily) but it does wondrous things in the garden. If you have your
roses in pots, you will need to feed them more often but with less strength.
Prune at Valentine’s Day (Feb 14) but wait until the new growth is approximately 3” long before you
fertilize unless you use an organic which will not burn the roots. Stop all pruning and feeding by
Halloween.
I am not a fan of chemicals in the garden and Old Garden Roses do not need any spray as long as
they are adequately fed and watered with their roots in good, organic soil. I do notice that circles
are cut from the leaves of my roses by a leaf cutter bee. These bees use the leaf circle as a baby
blanket in their nest. They do not harm the rose bush and are beneficial pollinators.
The above borrowed from: Growing Great Roses in Central Florida presented by the Marion
County Rose Society, Nelson McAfee, Editor
www.ifas.ufl.edu/ep339 Growing Roses in Florida by Sydney Park Brown
Sources:
Angel Gardens Rose Nursery in Alachua www.angelgardens.com
Seminole Springs Antique Rose & Herb Farm in Eustis www.rosesandherbs.com
The Weed Patch Vineyard & Rose Garden Fairfield, FL 352-591-2145 [email protected]
Marion County Rose Society www.marioncountyroses.org Consulting Rosarians
American Rose Society www.ars.org
.
Page 3
Yippee! It’s Time to Shop for Plants
by Norma Samuel, Urban Horticulture Agent
UF/IFAS Extension Marion County
Some people get really excited about shopping for plants in the spring. I guess the
excitement builds after being tired of looking at dormant or dead plants for weeks.
Before you dash out to the store to purchase plants, take a few minutes to see what you
need to consider, so you avoid throwing money down the drain.
1. Know Your United State Department of Agriculture (USDA) Hardiness
Zone. The USDA Hardiness Zone map separates the country into zones based on the
average annual minimum temperatures of the area. Marion County falls in Zone 9a with
20 – 25oF minimum temperatures. This means that if you purchase a plant that is rated
for Zone 11 there is a possibility that plant may be damaged by frost. For a more detailed
explanation of the USDA Hardiness Zone Map visit: http://www.usna.usda.gov/Hardzone/
ushzmap.html.
2. Conduct a Site Analysis. Is the area in full sun or part sun, does it get morning or
afternoon sun? Is it a low lying area that usually stays wet or is the area dry? Knowing
these things will help you determine your plant selection based on water or light
requirements.
UPCOMING
LECTURES/EVENTS:
Educational seminars and events
are presented by UF/IFAS
Extension Agents and or
Master Gardeners.
Unless otherwise indicated, to
pre-register, please call
671-8400 or e-mail
[email protected]
Ask An Expert Booths
Master Gardeners will be
available at Lowes, and Walmart
to answer gardening questions
from residents between
10 a.m.—1 p.m. on the dates
below:
March 23
3. Research, Research and Research. Do not shop for plants on impulse. Before
you visit the garden center take some time to research the plants that are of interest to
you to make sure they are appropriate for your growing conditions. You can find a
wealth of information at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu, in gardening catalogues (most of them are
now online), or you can stop by the Master Gardener Plant Clinic at 2232 NE Jacksonville
Road to purchase one of our many University of Florida gardening publications. Make
note of the plants and the varieties or cultivars of each that you like and take that list with
you to the garden center.
4. Read the Plant Label. The label gives you information on the name of the plant, the
variety, growing conditions and care. Be sure to cross check that information with your
notes.
5. Select Healthy Plants. Select plants that are free of insects and diseases. An
unhealthy plant will require a lot more work to keep it alive and you also run the risk of
those insects on your new plant moving on to other plants in your garden.
By doing some leg work on the front end you will save valuable time and money.
Remember, you will be successful if you purchase the right plant and put it in the right
place.
Lowe’s
4600 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala
Lowe’s
3535 SW 36th Ave., Ocala
Lowe’s
7575 SW 90th Ave., Ocala
March 30
Walmart
9570 SW Highway 200, Ocala
Walmart
11012 N. Williams St., Dunnellon
Walmart
2600 SW 19th Ave. Road, Ocala
Walmart
4980 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala
Walmart
17961 S. US Highway 441,
Summerfield
Page 4
UPCOMING LECTURES/
EVENTS:
March Madness
Dunnellon Public Library
Master Gardener Series
Now is the time for all good men (and women) to come to the aid of their gardens. It’s March Plant
Festival time. Here is a listing of places where you can purchase all kinds of plants for your garden:
Container Gardening
March 19, 2013
2 p.m.—3 p.m.
Dunnellon Public Library
March 16-17 9:00 – 5:00 Spring Plant Sale. Over 50 growers, experts. Free Admission. Bring a
wagon. Leu Gardens, 1920 N Forest Ave, Orlando 407-246-2620 www.leugardens.org
(continued from page 3)
Marion Oaks Public
Library Master Gardener
Series
Right Plant, Right Place
March 21
10:30—11:30 a.m.
Marion Oaks Public Library
Demonstration
Garden Tour
April 3
10—11 a.m.
UF/IFAS Extension Marion County
Master Gardeners Demonstration
Gardens
Belleview Public Library
Master Gardener Series
Growing Roses in Florida
April 4
10:30 a.m.—Noon
Belleview Public Library
Tuesday Gardening Series
Drought Tolerant Plants
April 9
10 a.m.—Noon
UF/IFAS Extension Marion
County Auditorium
Dunnellon Public Library
Master Gardener Series
Pests in the Florida Landscape
April 16, 2013
2 p.m.—3 p.m.
Dunnellon Public Library
Marion Oaks Public
Library Master Gardener
Series
Growing Roses in Florida
April 18
10:30—11:30 a.m.
Marion Oaks Public Library
by Anne Lambrecht, Master Gardener
March 23 9:00 – 1:00 Lake County Master Gardener’s Spring Plant Sale. Bargain prices, big
selection. Bring a wagon or cart. Tour Discovery Gardens. Free. Ag Center, 1951 Woodlea Rd,
Tavares 352-343-4101.
March 23 9:00 – 3:00 Florida Wildflower & Garden Festival. Speakers, demos, plants, gardening
supplies, kids’ art zone, music, more. Free admission, parking. W. Indiana Ave, Deland.
www.floridawildflowerfestival.com
March 23 – 24 9:00 – 5:00 Spring Garden Festival. Huge selection of plants, landscape
displays, garden accessories, arts & crafts, educational exhibits, food. Butterfly conservatory,
children’s activities, live entertainment, auctions. Free parking. Admission $8. Kanapaha Botanical
Gardens, 4700 SW 58th Dr, Gainesville 352-372-4981 www.kanapaha.org
April 5-7 Tropiflora’s Spring Festival. Bamboo, bougainvillea, crotons, aroids, ferns, orchids,
succulents, shrubs, annuals, fruit trees, palms. Great variety, prices. Food, music. Free parking and
admission. 3530 Tallevast Rd, Sarasota 941-351-2267 www.tropiflora.com
These festivals are all within a couple hours driving time and well worth it.
And now that you have all these plants, what should you do?
Amend your soil. Our sandy-clay soil is pretty bad and needs some amending in order for it to retain
moisture and add nutrition to your plant’s root system. The easiest way to do this is to throw some
oak leaves into the mix and add some Black Kow manure either into the mix or top dress after
planting. If you use containers, refresh the soil in them using a good basic potting mix like Jungle
Growth or Miracle Grow. Healthy soil makes for healthy plants which are disease and insect free.
Trim back dead or leggy growth from winter freezes or after flowering has occurred and cut ¼” above
a node (where the leaves would come out) at a 45 degree angle on the green part. Now is the time to
trim crape myrtles: remove seed pods and do not cut more stem than a pencil thick. Remember--do
not commit crape “murder” by hacking off evenly at the top or cutting down too far. This causes the
plant to become weak and require much more water than usual.
Use a good basic all-purpose, slow release fertilizer, preferably with minor elements including
manganese, copper, zinc, iron. Try to get a low middle number, phosphorus, of which our soil has
plenty. Fertilize palms now using a palm specific fertilizer. However, if palms are near turf, the turf
fertilizer should be enough. Fertilize citrus now with citrus fertilizer. Fertilize acid lovers like azaleas
and camellias with acidic fertilizer.
Refresh your mulch with pine needles, pine bark. The pine adds acid back into the soil. Rocks are not
mulch but many people prefer rocks.
Attract wildlife: if you want birds and butterflies to visit, do not use insecticides and other chemicals in
your garden. Try a bird bath this year.
Aphids will show up on new growth. Use insecticidal soap. Horticultural spray under the “Safer”
brand can be found in the big store. Or you can make your own: in a water-filled spray bottle put 1
Tablespoon non-antibacterial, non-grease soap and 1 Tablespoon vegetable oil. Mix and spray both
tops and bottoms and into the ground. Repeat every week (to check the lifecycle).
Keep Calm and Plant On.
Page 5
Planning and Designing My Shade Garden
by Peter Collins, UF/IFAS Extension Marion County Master Gardener in Training
I wrote this article last fall as I neared completion of the Master Gardener Course.
The northeast corner of my lot is predominantly shade. I have a large water oak in
the corner of the lot that prevents my St. Augustine grass from growing well there or
any plants that require full sun. Since being exposed to the Taylor Gardens on the
UF/IFAS Extension Marion County campus, I decided that is what I will do with that
part of my back yard....make it into a shade garden.
My modus operandi (MO) in the past was that my wife and I would see a plant or
plants we like at the nursery or a big box store and buy it and bring it home, saying
we will worry about where to put it when we get home. The plant(s) would languish
on the driveway for several days up to several weeks while we discussed where to put
it. The plants I bought at the fall plant sale were on the driveway for quite some time,
as a matter of fact, the firebush I bought just got planted over the weekend. This time
it is going to be different.
The first thing I am going to do is review the BASIC PRINCIPLES OF LANDSCAPE
DESIGN document we were given at the beginning of our Master Gardener
class. You can find that document here: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/mgmg08600.pdf.
It provides information on the elements and principles of design.........plant forms, line,
texture, color on the elements side and unity, repetition, etc., on the principle
side. In other words, I am putting a little organization into my project.
Secondly, I want to incorporate some hardscape into my layout. I really like working
with stone, brick, gravel and other materials to incorporate into the design. I really
like the way it looks with hardscape mixed in with the plant material. I plan on making
a “crucifix” type design with the stone and organize the plants around it, with the plan
to keep the foliage off of the stone area as a walkway within the garden. I will arrange
the larger plants to the back, gradually moving to the front, or west with the smaller
plants. My soil tested at a pH of 5.97, so it is suitable for what I intend to plant.
Next up is selecting plants for my shade garden. Since I started the Master Gardener
class, I have kept a list of some of the shade tolerant plants I have come across. I also
spent about an hour walking around Taylor Gardens out here to note what is planted
there, and I also have spent some time on the internet searching for shade tolerant
plants I like. Some of the plants on my list are split leaf philodendron, coontie, coleus,
caladium, bromeliad, beauty berry, heat-tolerant hostas, lantanas, fan palms, saw
palmetto, ferns, and blue sage. Granted some of these need some sun, but there are
spots within my garden that have part shade/part sun.
I realize this will be a hit and miss proposition and I will have to move some plants
around if they appear to be doing poorly, but this is a good start and definitely an
improvement on my plant selection process of the past. So there you have it, my
shade garden plan.
Items below are
available for
purchase at the
UF/IFAS Extension Marion
County. Please come to
see these.
Page 6
What’s Bugging You?
by Urban Horticulture Agent Norma Samuel
Find out what local residents are calling in about.
I have tons of these red and black insects all over my yard. What are they and how can I get rid of
them?
This client brought in a bottle with numerous red and black insects. They were golden
raintree bugs or Jadera bugs. The host for these insects is the golden raintree (an invasive)
and a neighbor on each side of her had one. Jadera bugs do not cause any damage of
significance, but are nuisance pest because they occur in such large numbers. There is no
need for application of pesticides. For more information on Jadera bugs visit: http://
entnemdept.ufl.edu/Creatures/trees/jadera_bugs.htm.
Amaryllis in the morning…
by Kathleen Patterson, FYN Coordinator
The amaryllis {Amaryllidaceae spp} is in bloom. So many hues of reds, pinks, whites and pastels seem
to overwhelm the senses. Such pretty flowers borne on stalks of green really make me realize that it
is truly spring. In researching the amaryllis we found that typing amaryllis into the computer’s data
base shows over a million sites that offer some information about the showy amaryllis. Once you
wade past the ads for the super sized bulbs of Hippeastrum spp. and the others of the lily family you
can start to sort out the information needed to grow amaryllis.
Granted the amaryllis is part of the lily family and has been used in Florida landscape for many years.
Plant family Lilliaceae has more than 300 separate groups of flowering plants and many thousands of
species listed on most data bases. I like to use floridata.com for research as it highlights plants that
do well in Florida’s many temperate areas. Another good website devoted to plants is Hortiplex.com.
When using Hortiplex.com, it is helpful to know the plant’s common name and even the Latin name to
ensure you arrive at the spot you are seeking.
Riding around Ocala and in the Marion County countryside offers one a constant view of the amaryllis’
beautiful flowers. The massed displays along CR 475 and around many of the subdivisions and home
entrances truly reward one’s senses with their colors and form. Marion County is blessed with
citizens who care about the appearance of their landscapes and home sites. It shows every time we
ride through any area or down any street.
I am sure there is a lot to making the amaryllis grow and pollinate and deliver even more special
flowers and colors, but I can’t seem to find out that information. Working in a friend’s landscape, we
replanted several bags of bulbs that had been dug last fall and stored in a cardboard box on
someone’s back porch. After being told not to bury the bulbs more than two-thirds of its size deep,
we planted several beds with bulbs almost the size of softballs. Some were the size of softballs and a
few even larger. All we did was loosen the soil, stick the bulb in and pat the soil down. A little sun
and a little rain or irrigation and just a few weeks later we have a bed of many colors.
Amaryllis have few pests and the only downside to this plant is it can be toxic to small children and
pets that might consume parts of the stem and bulb. Although the flowers were not mentioned as
being toxic, I might shy away from eating one since the effects of ingestions can be quite gruesome.
The toxic principal LYCORINE is present in the bulb and upwards into the stem bearing the flowers.
This toxic property causes vomiting, diarrhea, severe abdominal pain, dizziness, tremors and
Page 7
Amaryllis in the morning…
by Kathleen Patterson, FYN Coordinator
(continued from page 6)
depression. I can testify that I too, would be depressed after suffering all of the above
mentioned problems. It may not kill you, but who wants to take that chance? The web site:
www.aspca.org/toxic plants; goes into great detail on the many home and garden plants that
may be found in our homes that may not be safe for children and pets.
A true Florida friendly plant that does well with little to no care is not a water “hog” and offers
bright spots of color in your Florida Friendly Landscape. To learn more about “Florida Friendly
Landscapes” you may contact Kathleen Patterson, FYN Program Coordinator at (352) 671-8400
or by e mail: [email protected].
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