Best Practices
How to Properly Prune Crape Myrtles
It is that time of year when you start thinking about pruning your crape myrtles. Unfortunately, for many folks that involves “topping” the tree (topping: a misguided pruning practice commonly called “crape murder” or “hat-racking”*). Topping requires less skill, and time than other pruning methods, but it also results in delayed 
flowering, weak growth, and unattractive sprouting. Not only is topping crape myrtles ugly, it increases maintenance requirements on an otherwise low-maintenance plant.
In the past, it was true that you pruned crape myrtles to reduce powdery mildew infestations. With today’s resistant cultivars, crape myrtles require very little pruning. In fact, a crape myrtle planted in full sun with plenty of space to grow needs little to no pruning at all.
If you find yourself in the position to prune crape myrtles, here are a few simple steps to follow. First, prune sucker sprouts and basal sprouts. If left to grow, these sprouts may form woody stems that eventually compete with 
existing main stems. Second, prune any rubbing or crossing branches, as well as, dead branches. This may include branches that are crossing through the canopy from one side to another. As always make the pruning cuts at the branch collar.
Third, (this one is optional) tip prune the branches to remove spent flower buds. This is also called pencil pruning because the branches removed are no thicker than a pencil. This type of pruning is the most labor intensive, but it also results in a more aesthetically attractive tree.
Recent research from the University of Florida has demonstrated that the number of crape myrtle blooms decrease in direct correlation to the size of the branch removed. In other words the larger the branch removed, the fewer the blooms. However, blooms on pruned trees were a larger than blooms on un-pruned trees. To receive the benefit of larger flowers from pruning, prune just pencil sized branches without jeopardizing overall tree health caused by topping the tree.
For more information refer to: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/EP/EP39900.pdf.
Article by Larry Figart, UF/Duval County Urban Forester
* not part of original article
Preparing for a Freeze – Dos and Don’t in Northeast Florida
A Hard Freeze is described as a 5 hour period of time with the temperatures below freezing. While this is certainly not unheard of in Jacksonville, it does catch many by surprise and often raises the question of what to do to protect precious plants.
What should you do if a Hard Freeze or Freezing temperatures are forecast? The first thing I would suggest is in the afternoon turn on your irrigation and water your landscape. Why? The drying process of the wet ground and roots of your plants produce heat which keeps your plants a little warmer.
You only need to cover your tropical plants – Bougainville, Birds of Paradise, Hibiscus, Queen Palms, Robeline Palms and other palms not native to northeast Florida, and Ginger Plants just to name a few. If you choose to cover your plants DO NOT COVER THEM WITH PLASTIC BAGS. Cover your plants with either frost cloth which can be purchased at your hardware store, a nursery, Lowes or Home Depot Garden area. If you don’t have frost cloth, use sheets. When you cover the plant it is best to use stakes to keep the cloth from touching the plant and also the cloth should come completely down to the ground. You can use Landscape Cloth staples or large nails to hold the cloth down so that the plants is completely covered. Simply put the landscape staples or large nail (8” to 10”) through the cloth and into the ground so that the material is secure. You want to keep the cold air from blowing in under your covers. IMPORTANT – remove the covers the next day. Do not leave them on your plants for days or weeks.
If you want, you can also put a rope of miniature Christmas lights around a plant before covering it. With the plant covered and the lights on and the plant covered the environment will be nice and cozy.
Of course, if you are using lights make sure they are the miniature outdoor lights and that there are no frayed cords or wires. Safety is important.
What flowers will bloom all winter and can tolerate the cold?
What flowers will bloom all winter and can tolerate the cold? Here’s a short list:
- Pansies
- Supertunias
- Petunia
- Verbena
- Superbena
- Snapdragen
- Snowprincess
- Hybrid Tea Roses
- Drift Roses & Knockout Roses
Supertunias
The Supertunias should bloom until around July. You can replant them as early as October. The Verbena and Superbena will grow all year round and bloom. They may have to be cut back if they get to leggy. The Snowprincess will grow and bloom year round but does not like to dry out. Be sure to give it enough water. To have Snapdragons bloom all winter you need to plant them early in the fall. They need to be established early before the days shorten to blossom all winter. Roses actually like the cooler weather better than the hot summer. The biggest mistake I see with Roses is that they are planted in the shade – they like full sun. Be sure to cut back your roses February 14th each year and give them a good feeding. Roses should be fed monthly from February through Fall.
Your more formal flowers that bloom in the cooler weather are Camellia both Japonica and Sasanqua, and Shi-Shi Camellia.
Read MoreMaintaining Your Lawn Through Winter
When the temperatures drop to freezing your St. Augustine grass will become brown. This is normal as you grass goes into a dormant state. When the weather warms the soil the roots will begin to grow again and the grass will turn green again.
How do you know if your grass has died from the freezing temperatures? Take a piece of grass with the roots and plant it in a container and set it on your window ceil giving it the appropriate amount of water. If it grows and turns green it is fine. If not, then the dead area should be cleaned out and replaced.
Remember that a lush thick stand of grass will choke out weeds. If your yard had bald areas, it is important to fill them with either sod or plugs early spring before the weeds awaken below the soil.
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