Seasonal Surprises

Pumpkin Patch Protest

Pumpkins have unexpectedly sprouted in my burn pile, behaving like rebellious gourds determined to stage a fall-themed protest. Despite the lack of soil and planning, this rogue squash colony is thriving in the ashes. Their presence seems to mock my composting skills, transforming what should be waste into a festive Fall miracle. It’s as if nature itself has a sense of humor and enjoys playing tricks-and-treats on me.

Tom Turkey Transfers

I recently rehomed two of my tom turkeys, as their daily antics had begun to resemble a WWE wrestling match. Each morning turned into a feather-flying escapade, and even my attempts at peace talks failed to calm the chaos. Ultimately, both turkeys have moved to a new home where they can hopefully find tranquility.

These experiences serve as a reminder that life is a joyful journey. It’s up to each of us to embrace and enjoy all the moments, big and small.

For more updates, follow me through “Lizzie Said What” on social media.

Challenges come frequently when talking about pruning crape myrtles.: “I cut my crape myrtles every year and they are just fine.” “Crape myrtles need to be cut to bloom.” “The HOA tells me to cut the crape myrtles and I try to stop them, but they say, ‘Cut them!”.

If you prune your crape myrtles this way every year and they are fine, you’re fortunate. It’s not a best management practice and it may only be a matter of time when the cut is the one that kills your tree.

Crape myrtles, if located correctly, shouldn’t need pruning except for cutting off suckers at the bottom, cleaning the trunk of sprouting shoots during spring, or trimming off the spent seed heads. Crape myrtles that are hacked off bloom later or don’t bloom as much, and cutting the trees incorrectly causes more suckering.

Don’t kill your crape myrtle. Read the University of Florida’s pruning instructions.

Proper way to prune palms.

Proper way to prune shrubs and trees.

Mahonia ‘Soft Caress’ can be found in your local nurseries and online.

What To Do In Your Backyard in October

Halloween decorations Photo credit: Teresa Watkins

Average temperatures High 85 Low 65

Average rainfall is 2.73 inches

October plantings

Vegetables: Beet, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrot, cauliflower, celery, collards, kohlrabi, lettuce, mustard, onion, peas, potato, radicchio, radish, rhubarb, roquette, rutabaga, spinach, strawberry, Swiss chard and turnip

Flowers: African daisy, alyssum, angelonia, ageratum, begonia, black-eyed Susan, blue daze, calendula, candytuft, celosia, chrysanthemums, cleome, coleus, cornflower, cosmos, dianthus, dusty miller, gaillardia, gazania, geraniums, gerbera, heliotrope, hollyhock, impatiens, larkspur, lobelia, nicotiana, pentas, petunia, salvia, snapdragon, sunflower, sweet pea, verbena and zinnia.

Herbs: Anise, basil, bay laurel, borage, cardamom, chervil, chives, coriander, dill, fennel, garlic, lavender, lemon balm, lovage, mint, nasturtium, oregano, rosemary, sage, sweet marjoram, tarragon, thyme and water cress.

Bulbs: African lily, agapanthus, amaryllis, anemone, bulbine, calla, crinum, day lily, gingers, gladiolus, pineapple lily, rain lily, society garlic, spider lilies, walking iris, watsonia. Refrigerate crocus, daffodils, hyacinth, narcissus, and tulips for forcing.

Grasses: Lomandra Breeze, Miscanthus ‘Adagio’, Muhly Grass, Dwarf Fakahatchee, White Fountain Grass, Lemon Grass.

 Lawn care

• Get a soil test from the UF Soil Laboratory before fertilizing to know what nutrients to apply.

• Have the soil acidity tested.

• Apply lawn fertilizer to regreen the turf.

• When applying fertilizer, follow label instructions.

• October is the last feeding for Bahiagrass, centipede, and zoysia lawns this year.

• Apply fertilizer and herbicides separately.

• Regreen lawns that continually have a yellow look with an iron or minor-nutrient application.

• Herbicide-only products may be used following label instructions for your lawn type.

• Herbicides may not control all weeds; pull, dig or use non-selective spot sprays as labeled.

• October through Spring is a good time to install sod.

• Fill bare spots in lawns left from summer pests with sod or plugs.

• Seeding time for bahiagrass is over; delay rye seedings until temperature highs are in the low to mid-70’s.

• Chinch bugs and sod webworms can linger into Fall; control as needed

• Water turf when it shows signs of moisture stress.

• Use soil aeration in older, compacted, and poorly-drained soils to encourage better root growth.

• Continue mowing to maintain proper turf height; keep mowing height the same year-round.

• Sharpen & balance mower blades to give a smooth cut to leaf blades.

• Change the oil and air filters of gas-powered equipment for Fall.

• Use mulch or ornamental ground covers in areas where turf won’t grow.

 Vegetable and fruit tree care

•  Harvest pumpkins this month. Look for dying leaves and vines, deep color, and hardened stem and rind.   

• Use large transplants of tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants to get a Fall crop.

• Stake or trellis tall or vining crops to keep the edible portions off the ground.

• Feed gardens every 3 to 4 weeks with a traditional fertilizer or use a slow-release product.

• Tomatoes begin setting and holding their fruits early to mid-month.

• Add flowers to vegetable gardens to attract pollinators.

• Prevent spray damage to pollinators; apply sprays when they are not active.

• Caterpillars feed on cucumbers, melons and tomatoes; control with a natural spray.

• Begin plantings of cool season vegetables around mid-month.

• Gardeners cramped for space can grow vegetables in containers.

• Start seeds for transplants of broccoli, cauliflower, and similar vegetables in containers.

• Add a mulch to the surface of the soil to conserve moisture and keep vegetables dirt free.

• Groom summer weary herb plantings and start new ones that prefer the cooler weather.

• Most vegetables & herbs need a moist soil; water when the surface begins to dry to the touch.

• Fruit splitting on citrus trees is normal and may continue into the Fall.

• Help prevent citrus fruit drop and splitting, water once or twice a week during dry weather.

• Give citrus the final feeding of the year during early October.

• Till new garden sites and enrich sandy soils with garden soil, organic matter and manure.

• Remove offshoots from pineapple plants to start new beds.

• Start papaya seedlings for late winter transplants.

• Add strawberry plants to a garden or build a pyramid for planting.

• Delay pruning all fruit plantings until mid to late winter.

• Speed up the composting process by turning the piles monthly.

• Harvest maturing chayote, cocoyam, dasheen, and gourds.

• Dig in the soil to check sweet potato plantings; most have roots ready to harvest.

  Landscape chores

•  Recycle dead shrubs and branches in your Halloween landscape.

• Many plants produced late summer growth; prune to remove out of bounds shoots.

• Major pruning time is over for azaleas, bougainvillea, camellias, gardenias, and poinsettias.

• Shield poinsettias and holiday cactuses from nighttime light starting mid-month.

• Shrubs, ground covers, and perennials, are ready for a final Fall feeding.

• Use a slow-release fertilizer that can feed in-ground and container planting for months.

• Most ornamental and shade trees do not need a special feeding

• Give palms a final feeding of the year with an 8-0-12-4mg fertilizer or similar product.

• Palm diseases are prevalent; clean and sterilize pruners between palms.

• Be smart and only remove the brown fronds and flower stems from palms.

• Give hedges a final trimming.

• Remove suckers and low limbs from trees.

• Weeds are plentiful in ornamental plantings; hand pull or spot kill to prevent seeding.

• Whiteflies and mealy bugs are major pest; systemic insecticides offer good control.

• Drier weather lies ahead; water when the surface soil begins to dry.

• Most established trees and shrubs can go a week or more between waterings.

• Trim away limbs and weeds affecting the operation of sprinkler systems.

• Check container plantings for plugged drainage holes; repotting may be needed.

• Maintain mulch under trees and shrubs; start the mulch several inches from trunks.

• Determine tree needs and plant smaller growing wind resistant species.

• Check tree and palm supports to make sure they are secure but not damaging the plants.

• Add Fall plants to hanging baskets and container gardens.

• Edge sidewalks and plant beds.

• Replace soil in problem flower beds and planters.

• Replant flower beds with cool season annuals and perennials; delay pansies until November.

• Start Pansy and other winter annual seeds now for planting in November and December.

• Divide perennial and bulb plantings.

• Give water lilies and bog plants a monthly feeding.

 House & foliage plant care

•  Order gift amaryllis to be delivered in December for Xmas.

• Plants reduce pollutants and create a pleasing atmosphere when added to homes and offices.

• Foliage plants are often a good buy at garden centers during Fall; replace declining plants.

• Many foliage plants have grown too large for their containers; repot as needed.

• Groom outdoor foliage plants and begin moving them to a warm location.

• Most foliage plants need a bright light location but out of the direct sun.

• Feed plants in bright light monthly; less often in low light.

• Control insects on plants before moving them indoors.

• Water holiday cactuses only when the surface soil dries

• Begin forcing amaryllis and paper white narcissus for indoor displays and discontinue feedings.

• Make sure indoor poinsettia, holiday cactuses and kalanchoes receive no nighttime light.

In Your Backyard for August 2025

Photo credit: Teresa Watkins, Art in Bloom Garden Tours at Niagara Falls Botanical Garden, Canada.

It’s heating up this month. I can’t remember a hotter summer. But I’m glad to live in Florida. We are lucky to live on a peninsula that is surrounded by the Gulf and the Atlantic Ocean. We don’t reach 100 º. In fact, as Matt Devitt’s, weatherman at WINK, graphic shows, it’s very rare. While we may have hot temperatures, it’s been hotter around the country.

Graphic credit: Matt Devitt WINK

I have seen a lot of large patch disease in yards this summer. Large patch is caused by overwatering grass. It is a practice that is meant to be kind and attentive but it’s the worst thing a homeowner can do to their grass. That and using herbicides in this heat. Don’t.

Large Patch Disease

No matter the variety, established turfgrass only needs 1.5” a week at the most. Check your rain gauge, we have been getting enough rain in most parts of Central Florida although the South is seeing drought conditions.

How can you keep your grass unstressed in these dog-days of summer?

1. ·  Keep your grass mowed high at 3” – 4”.

2. ·  Make sure lawn mower blades are sharp.

3. Water deeply but infrequently.  Add 15 mins to your timer 2x a week   

4. Do not fertilize.

I have posted What to Do In Your Backyard for August.  Lots of pointers, but don’t overdo. It’s too hot!

Speaking of hot times. Check out my Landscape Design Tips and Landscape Malpractice Tip #39.  Both feature the same subject: Hellstrips.

My Plant of the Month is a pretty tropical with a fun name. Great for tropical gardens.

The scheduled tours for Art in Bloom Garden Tours for 2026 is up on our website. We have fantastic gardens for garden enthusiasts next year.  We are just finalizing up details to ensure the best prices and services. We already have waiting lists for most of our Spring destinations, so let us know if you want to be notified before the final itinerary get posted.  Email:  artinbloomgardentours@gmail.com

Have lots of photos to upload from our Garden Walk Buffalo, Niagara Falls, and the Newport Flower Show, and will include our trip this month from Scotland.

Let us hear from you about what you are doing to stay cool this summer!

Turning a Hellstrip Into a Pollinator’s Heaven.

Beyond our home’s property easement is a space owned by the city or county.  Property owners are required to maintain this area. The typical landscape choice is grass. It is easy to mow, and it is green, right? But it is also an opportunity to create a little bit of heaven.

This rectangular space along the front of your home is used for entering your yard, deliveries, and by the mailman to reach into your mailbox. But can it be useful for something else?

Depending on your landscaping style, and if you are not in an HOA-ruled community, what about turning that small strip into a pollinator garden?

Benefits of a Florida pollinator strip include colorful flowers seasonally and no need for mowing or pesticide use. A selection of native and non-native annuals and perennials will provide ample diverse resources for butterflies, birds, and other pollinators. The cons will be a need for rainfall or another water source and more oversight to catch weeds as they germinate (and they will come). Pollinator gardens are not “no maintenance.”  

Designing a pollinator garden always starts off with soil testing, assessing sunlight, and a clean palette. Do not be apathetic and halfhearted about ensuring that your garden is weedless before you start. No need for landscape fabric. It is worthless keeping weeds out and will be a source of frustration in the future.

Owner: Ellie Dorritie, Hellstrip in Buffalo, NY. July 2025.

Once you know what you are working with, then you can select your plant palette and whether you want to start with seeds or plants. It is up to you. Planting seeds is less expensive; just remember that planting seeds will require monitoring and mulch to reduce the weed factor. (they will come.)

If you can afford it, planting annuals and perennials provides an instant effect that will give you satisfaction. I like to go with a combination of two-thirds plants and one-third seeds. Mark your seed areas with signs so that you do not pull sprouts up thinking they are weeds.

Start off with clearing a small area and as you have success, each season you can continue to remove your grass and substitute flowers and shrubs. Planting a heavenly area in your Hellstrip will be divine for pollinators. They will come.

August in Florida is always as hot as Hell. When it is hot, the area between sidewalks and streetside curbs can be a difficult area to landscape. Hellstrips are five-foot-wide rectangles considered common areas, often left unirrigated with stressed turf and abundant weeds.  

The main point to consider is who will be maintaining it. Residential communities may require these common areas to be grass but also maintained with the homeowners’ landscape. In town, along the streets and highways, these municipal Hellstrips can be turf, landscape beds, or just weeds. Planting shrubs, flowers, or ornamental grasses is not always the best idea, if there is no irrigation or someone to maintain it on a regular basis. The Hellstrip pictured below is an attempt to beautify this area but paraphrasing the 18th century James Boswell saying, “the road to Hell is paved with good intentions” it will not work. Why? Because the area is not wide enough for both ornamental grass and turf. Someone will be required to mow the turf with commercial mowers. This will mean when they mow the grass, they will invertedly decapitate or cut the foliage. It cannot be helped. If they attempt to go around the foliage as it grows to a mature width of five,’ they will not be able to mow underneath the ornamental grass, allowing weeds to become established. It is destined for failure within two years.

Solution? The Hellstrip should either be planted with turf or ornamental grass (or another drought-tolerant shrub). It does not need to be irrigated but if not, should be planted during the rainy season with either Bahiagrass or Zoysiagrass, (not St. Augustine grass) or ornamental grass like Muhly grass or Fakahatchee. I would prefer Lomandra ‘Breeze’ or ‘Lime Tuff’ as it does not need trimmed in the springtime and looks great year-round.

There are many ways to have a beautiful front strip to your home or a landscaped sidewalk along a highway. But the size of the area, the plant’s future mature size, and maintenance need to be taken into consideration.

What To Do In Your Backyard in August.

Hell Strip with late summer perennials.

Average Temperatures: High 92   Low 73

Monthly Average Rainfall 6.25 inches

 Plant in August 

Vegetables: Cantaloupe, collard, corn, cucumber, eggplant, lima bean, okra, pepper, pumpkin, snap bean, southern pea, squash, tomato and watermelon

Flowers: Angelonia, begonia, black-eyed Susan vine, blue daze, butterfly weed, bush daisy, cat's whiskers, chrysanthemums, coleus, coreopsis,  crossandra, fire spike, gaura, golden globe, heliconia, jacobinia, impatiens, lantana, marigold, melampodium, moon flower, pentas, periwinkle, porter weed, portulaca, purslane, salvia, Stokes aster, sunflower, torenia and zinnia.

Herbs: Anise, basil, bay laurel, chive, dill, ginger, lemon balm, Mexican tarragon, mint, oregano, rosemary, sage, sweet marjoram and thyme.

Bulbs type plants: African iris, agapanthus, amaryllis, bulbine, canna, crinum, crocosmia, day lily, gladiolus, gloriosa lily, kaffir lily, Louisiana iris, society garlic, rain lily and walking iris. 

Lawn Care

• Lawns appearing yellow can have an iron treatment instead of fertilizing.

• Sod webworms have been feeding in lawns; apply Summit Caterpillar and Webworm Control.

• Turn off irrigation systems during rainy periods; turf only needs 1.5” of rainfall or water a week.

• Overwatered lawns should be weaned off irrigation with the summer rains. They may decline and wilt for a few weeks, but will recover.

• Allowing your lawn to wilt a little between waterings helps deepen the root system.

• Raise or replace pop-up sprinkler heads that don’t reach far enough above the sod.

• Mow frequently and at the recommended height; sharpen dull mower blades.

• Fill bare areas with sod, plugs or seed to take advantage of the good growing weather.

• Wait until Fall to sod shady areas to prevent decline due to excessive moisture.

• New lawns are susceptible to fungal problems; apply fungicide to help reduce decline.

• Have problem turf samples diagnosed at your local University of Florida Extension Office.

• Mushrooms are common in lawns after rains. Removal is not necessary but can be done.

• Smelly mushrooms are often called stinkhorns; they are poisonous.

• Control weeds that are filling bare spots and over growing the good grass by hand removal.

• Consider another ground cover for hard to maintain and problem turf areas

• Weed killers should not be used when temperatures are above 85 degrees.

Landscape Care

•  Landscape plantings make lots of growth during summer; prune to keep in bounds.

• Springtime flowering shrubs like azaleas, camellias, gardenias, hydrangeas, loropetalums, should not be pruned.

• Thinning out excessive growth can help many shrubs avoid disease problems. 

• Many shrubs & flowers need a summer feeding; fertilize where permitted.

• Renew mulch layers to control weeds: keep them back a few inches from stems and trunks.

• Summer rains can cause container plants to decline, check for proper drainage.

• Do not count on summer rains to water new plantings; most need daily hand watering.

• Use a slow-release fertilizer that feeds the plantings for several months.

• Don’t let vines climb trees and shrubs; train them to arbors and trellises.

• Give palms a break; only remove the dead fronds and old flower heads.

• Complete pruning of poinsettias, bougainvillea, and wisteria by month’s end.

• Edge walkways and driveways to keep the landscape attractive.

• Summer rains normally provide adequate moisture for established plants; water as needed.

• Use foliage plants in shady gardens during the warmer months.

• Avoid trimming sheared plants back to the same height; allow a little new growth to remain.

• Stake newly planted small trees and shrubs that might be affected by wind.

• Feed crape myrtles where permitted and remove seed heads to continue summer blooms.

• Yellowing and leaf drop of crape myrtles are often due to a fungus. The leaves will drop anyway in Fall, no need to treat.

• Caladiums may start to decline by month’s end which is normal.

• Trim both declining flowers and foliage from perennial beds.

• Divide bromeliads, Shasta daisies, day lilies and other landscape perennials.

• Gladiolus can be left in ground if soil is dry.

• Transplant palms and sagos.

• Start poinsettia cuttings in early August.

• Pinch the tips of chrysanthemums in early August to grow well-branched compact plants.

• Feed water lilies and bog plantings in home water gardens monthly.

Foliage & House Plant Care 

• Time to prepare foliage plants for Fall; reshape and trim to encourage new growth.

• Transplant root bound and poorly drained foliage plants, add new soiol.

• Check for mealy bugs, scales and mites; control with natural soap or oil insecticides.

• Make cuttings of your favorite plants.

• Feed all foliage plants with a slow-release fertilizer where permitted.

• Look for new plants to add to the collection.

• Indoor plants accumulate dust like furniture; rise with water or a mild soapy solution.

• Move light starved plants outdoors to a shady location.

• Enjoy orchids and bromeliads indoors when in bloom, then move outside to the shade.

• Divide clump forming foliage plants like Spathiphyllum and Sansevieria.

Vegetable & Fruit Care  

• Prune mangoes and lychee after harvesting fruit.

• Check pineapples – fruits are ready when fragrant and turn yellow to orange.

• Feed bananas and figs monthly but lightly; keep moist and mulched.

• Many gardens are filled with summer weeds; remove by hand.

• Enrich sandy soils and old garden sites with organic amendments and manure.

• Test soil acidity and adjust the pH if needed before planting in ground and in containers.

• Remove plastic from solarization after treatments and plant immediately.

• Transplants started in July should be ready for the garden during mid to late August.

• Plant quick growing warm season vegetables mid-August through early September.

• Seeds of melons and pumpkins must be planted during early August.

• Grow vegetables in large containers with good potting soil if you have limited space.

• Give tomatoes an extra-large container and keep moist to prevent blossom-end rot.

• Groom and feed herbs monthly; shelter container-grown herbs from the daily rains.

• Mints in containers that stop growing may only need dividing and more fertilizer.

• Clean containers between crops and add fresh potting soil.

• Plant flowers that attract pollinators among vegetables to obtain better fruit set.

• Where possible plant nematode resistant tomato and other vegetable varieties.

• Open wide, 8 inch or deeper holes in nematode infested sties and fill with fresh pest free soil.

• Begin staking or trellising taller growing crops when young.

• Mulch new plantings to conserve water and promote better plant growth.

• Feed sweet potatoes monthly and check dates of planting to harvest potatoes in 100 days.

• Feed citrus with one-quarter pound of citrus fertilizer per inch of trunk circumference.

• Apply a minor nutrient spray and insecticide to citrus at each flush of new growth.

In Your Backyard for June 2025

Gardening is proving to be a challenge this month with the lack of rainfall during the Spring, temperatures near record highs, and then a deluge of over 13” of rain in May.  Luckily, I was able to take a garden trip to the Chelsea Flower Show and the most exquisite English private homes where I inhaled the beauty of the natural landscapes and colorful border gardens, luxuriated in temperatures between 45 and 65 degrees, and able to ooh and ah, and gush with other garden aficionados.  One of my favorite find during my garden tour was a variegated Lily of the Nile in one of the most popular Royal Horticultural Society’s Wisely gardens. I want one! (or three).

Variegated Lily of the Nile. Agapanthus africanus.

The English rose gardens were outstanding!  Hundreds of blooming roses from garden to garden.

From top to bottom, left to right. ‘My Valentine’, ‘The Lady Gardener’, ‘Lagerfield’, ‘Aphrodite’, ‘Lyda’ Rose, ‘Lady of Shalott’.

The wide expanses of lawns to wander through, with dandelions and wildflowers popping up in the meadows. Very soothing to see all the various shades of verdant grass, under your feet and across the patch-work of hills.  It was just what I needed.

Returning home, I was pleased to see landscapes full of beautiful impatiens blooming everywhere, hardworking periwinkles showing off their pink and white petals. Pinwheel jasmines climbing to the sky. The Tuscarora crapemyrtles are going gang-busters and even turfgrass is responding to the heavy rainfalls.  Those of you who work in your yard to make them look amazing, kudos to you! I love seeing the benefits of your hard work.

Check out what to do in your landscapes for June (and even into July).  Make sure to drink lots of water, at least a cup of water every 15 to 20 minutes. Wear a hat. Have a towel handy and I even like to use those moist towels that stay wet and cold at the same time to wear around your neck.

My plant of the month is a full sun perennial from Proven Winners. Looks great as a groundcover, in hanging baskets, and as the spiller in containers.

The producer of my gardening show, Better Lawns and Gardens, Lizzie has had a great Spring vegetable garden! I was the beneficiary of her onions, okra, and brown turkey eggs. Delish! Turkey eggs make great omelets and quiches. Lizzie shows them off in Lizzie’s Garden Adventures!

You know you love your work when it means playing in the backyard. I had a fun landscape renovation for a young family who had no place to play. Thinking creatively helped me on this project. Read Teresa’s Design Tips here.

As always, Landscape Malpractice can be disappointing. It is even sadder when it is a commercial landscape with natives and approved by the architect and the building department. I do not approve!

It is just the beginning of summer, hang in there! We have four more months to get to Fall. If you are looking for a break, join Tony and I on a garden tour. You will come back refreshed, inspired, and full of garden ideas! We have room for a special few. Art in Bloom Garden Tours.

Royal Horticultural Society Chelsea Flower Show - Chelsea Pensioner Veteran with Teresa Watkins.