Conifers I’m trying in Central Florida
Palms And Pines
last year
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (27)
Palms And Pines
last yearRelated Discussions
Central Florida Trees Dying
Comments (44)Please forgive my recent absence. Due to recent personal issues I've been been unable to participate and am now slowly trying to catch up on things. I still reject all ideas about chemicals, herbicides, salt water intrusion, etc. The distribution pattern does not correlate. To recap slightly, what I'm seeing (though I've not been out much lately) is vast normal areas of seemingly healthy trees in which one comes across single dead trees widely spaced--mostly oaks, but other species, too--and most alarmingly, groups (4-7) of dead trees. As anyone who lives around here knows, Oaks are the vast majority of existing trees in central Florida so it's no surprise that even if multiple species are uniformly affected, it would be Oaks that bear the brunt of the effect and suffer in greater numbers. (As soon as I get a chance I will try to make and post a video and will put a notice about it here.) Sometimes, the group will have other nearby individual dead trees very close around it... such as 4 adjacent dead trees, and within 500' of them, 4 or 5 more. Recently, of a group of a dozen or so palms, I noticed 3 adjacent ones, fresh dead. Another symptom that may or may not be related... I'm seeing many trees that from a distance look healthy, but have tip sections (approx. 3'-6') of branches that are flat dead. Some of these trees may have 3 such dead branches (as viewed from one side). Some may have a dozen. I'm in eastern Hillsborough County. Yesterday, I went to Brandon (a more urban/suburban area) and over there I did not see as many dead trees and dead branch tips. But there were some. Also, recently, I happened upon a land owner who was affected by dead trees so inquired as to what he knew. He was adamant that the death was caused by beetles. He claimed to obtain this information from someone who would know about such things, but our conversation was hectic as he was in the middle of work activity requiring his focus. And I had little time then, too, so was not able to get more information. However, I can believe that such a theory is far more likely than any chemical-based theory. I could imagine how beetles could move into an area and quickly distribute themselves on an adjacent group of trees. And on some other nearby trees. And then fly off to trees one-quarter mile away and do it all again. I can imagine, too, that they could do this in concert with some weather/climate phenomenon and seemingly "burst" upon the scene as a sudden catastrophe... such as the periodic "herds of locusts." They could do damage directly or be the carrier of disease a la the well known Dutch Elm Disease. However, I'm not in a position to research this information first-hand and there seems to be a lack of it coming through official channels. When I fist reported it here it was extremely new (to this area) so stood a good chance of not yet being noticed or having anyone ascertain its degree of impact. The overall distribution of this condition... what may or may not exist beyond my area, is unknown to me. Maybe we are the "epicenter." Or maybe this is just old stuff finally working its way through this area from other parts of Florida. I'm surprised that it is does not yet seem to be a major local news story or that definitive information is not coming forth via official channels. Then again, I've been out of commission for more than two weeks....See MoreCan't find Pine Bark Fines in Central Florida :(
Comments (18)I bought some garden soil from Wal-Mart recently that is 55-65% pine fines. Can't find my glasses, so can't read the ingredients to you right now, but it's made in Georgia, where they grow a lot of timber pine, so probably mostly loblolly fines. It's less than $5 a bag here, and comes with or without fertilizer. I've been using it with great success as a potting soil. The name is "Expert Gardener". This might work for you....See MoreHydrangeas in Central Florida
Comments (36)Amending the soil in pots in easier but watering is more of a problem as you have to water more frequently than in the ground and the sides of the pots can heat up enough to dry soil and roots near the walls. Some people put potted hydrangeas in hot location inside wooden square containers so the outside wooden shell will absorb the direct sunlight and the inner pot will not heat up as much. Of course, you ncan also take care of sunlight issues by moving the pot around anytime you see it getting being hit by sunlight after 11am (ie, I mean the 11am in the hot summer months, not the weak 11am sunlight we have now). Water absorbing small roots are in the top 4" so keep these as evenly moist as possible. Potting mix without aluminum or without aluminum & acidic conditions will produce pink blooms. That is all I get over here too but I am playing around with the amendments. After adding some in Spring, I have to add more again in the early Fall. I let the plant tell me (ie, if it gets iron chlorosis and the leaves go from dark to light green or if the leaves turn light yellow except for the leaf veins that remain dark green). But one Nikko Blue that turned out to be some lacecap get a little more and its bloomage has been purple the last two years. I added still more amendments this year and should notice the results soon as that lacecap is in the broccoli stage and should have open blooms soon....See MoreAnyone grow any DAhlias in Central/ North Florida??!
Comments (15)That's so awesome to hear!! Born & raised in St.pete, I lived there my entire life. I Moved to brooksville 2 yrs ago- I'm in a cold pocket considered 9a-9b but didn't do any research b4 moving :( apparently, Fla gets 30% more rain than the US & brooksville gets 30% more rain than fla ?? last rainy season killed many of my plants :( they rotted. The thought of this rainy season scares me to death! Last year it rained weeks at a time. only a few min here or there of sunlight. I dread the rain now :( I potted up a bunch of dahlia tubers from Walmart. All growing well but still small -I'd like to start a dahlia garden for the heat tolerant varieties I just purchased from swanIsland but there are no trees on the 3 acres we live, so it's brutally hot, all direct sun! I compare brooksvilles temps to St Pete often. Even tho we're farther north, it gets hotter here than in st Pete. Maybe bc st petes a peninsula & brooksville's inland? I bought a chaste tree & rose of Sharon to plant for shade but they're still small :( I'm half tempted to c if i can find two 10-15' trees to have planted in the yard for shade- the heat here is brutal!! Even now in spring- yesterday was 95• don't know the humidity but it had to be somewhat high bc it felt much hotter than 95 outside especially without shade :( thankyou joey ! Anyone else is welcome to post their experience with dahlias in Florida - I would greatly appreciate it !! Thanks :)...See MorePalms And Pines
last yearPalms And Pines
last yearJurassic Park
last yeardavidrt28 (zone 7)
last yearlast modified: last yearPalms And Pines
last yearlast modified: last yeardavidrt28 (zone 7)
last yearPalms And Pines
last yearAxel
last yearPalms And Pines
last yearPalms And Pines
last yearPalms And Pines
last yearPalms And Pines
last yearlast modified: last yearHenry Z6(OH Zone 6b)
3 months ago41 North (Zone 7a/b, NE, coastal)
3 months agolast modified: 3 months agoHenry Z6(OH Zone 6b)
3 months ago41 North (Zone 7a/b, NE, coastal)
3 months agodavidrt28 (zone 7)
3 months agoHenry Z6(OH Zone 6b)
3 months agoBillMN-z-2-3-4
3 months agoHenry Z6(OH Zone 6b)
3 months agoBillMN-z-2-3-4
3 months agobengz6westmd
3 months agolast modified: 3 months agoHenry Z6(OH Zone 6b)
last month
Related Stories
WINTER GARDENING6 Reasons I’m Not Looking Forward to Spring
Not kicking up your heels anticipating rushes of spring color and garden catalogs? You’re not alone
Full StoryGARDENING GUIDESGreat Design Plant: Try Penstemon Digitalis for Showy White Blooms
Bees gather nectar from this North American native while you’ll appreciate its unthirsty nature and soil tolerance
Full StoryCOFFEE WITH AN ARCHITECTA Few Things I Would Like to Ask Frank Lloyd Wright
It could take a lifetime to understand Frank Lloyd Wright's work — less if we had answers to a few simple questions
Full StoryREGIONAL GARDEN GUIDESCentral Plains Gardener's October Checklist
Fall foliage color and crisp mornings, plus mulching beds and planting spring bulbs, make October a gardener's heaven
Full StoryCOLORChoosing Color: 1 Bedroom Tries On 5 Different Palettes
White is all right, but check out what you can do with a bolder hue
Full StorySMALL HOMESHouzz Tour: An Accessible Tiny-ish House in the Florida Palms
A builder creates a 600-square-foot dream home on the Gulf Coast for his father
Full StoryLIFEThe Polite House: How Can I Kindly Get Party Guests to Use Coasters?
Here’s how to handle the age-old entertaining conundrum to protect your furniture — and friendships
Full StoryPLANTING IDEASDesigning With Conifers: Personality and Form in the Garden
Unique and full of interest, well-shaped conifers await a place your yard
Full StoryKITCHEN COUNTERTOPSWhy I Chose Quartz Countertops in My Kitchen Remodel
Budget, style and family needs all were taken into account in this important design decision
Full StoryFLOWERS10 Spring Wildflowers for the Central Plains
These blooming native perennials thrive in dry locations and help welcome early-season pollinators
Full Story
Palms And PinesOriginal Author