Do the professional landscapers know how to maintain native landscapes?
Often the person doing the work is not knowledgeable, they just mow, edge and go.
Get a certified arborist for tree work.
Hire a horticulturist to consult (example: Amanda Martin).
Carol Spears had one service during her one month vacation trip away. Steve had two hours of help once a week to control weeds and to trim beach sunflower and vines.
How can I keep up with maintenance?
Keep a small pruning tool with you when you are out in the yard.
Use 2 to 4 inches of organic mulch (pine straw or pine bark fines) to control weeds and retain moisture and nutrients.
Our newly planted Florida privets are having problems.
Even native shrubs need to be given adequate water during establishment. UF lists forestiera segregrata as “No pests or diseases are of major concern”. Don’t confuse Florida Privet with the ligustrum japanicum which is subject to the olive shoot worm. Bring cutting and picture of any problems to the Master Gardener Plant Clinic on Mondays, Health Dept. building (441 / Morse Blvd) or Pinellas Annex on Fridays.
Our liatris flowers are lying down. What should I do?
You can stake them.You can prune the stalks before flowering. Plant them among other plants like
muhly grass. Second year stalks may be more stable.
My calamint turned brown and died.
Perhaps it had too little water, or had a high nitrogen fertilizer. The cause of yellowing might be too much water.
I have ants in my ground cover; what should I do?
It is OK if they are native pyramid ants.If they are fire ants in a mound, use bait.
I have weeds in my lawn that are spreading.
Take the weed to the Plant Clinic for identification, and proper treatment.
My ten foot wide strip of frog fruit not doing well on property line with neighbor, but it is now recovering.
Perhaps it had too much water or chemical runoff, yellowing might be too much water.
