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Making Lakeland gardens bloom all winter long
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Winter is almost upon us but that doesn't mean Lakeland will cease to have lovely flowers. Since Florida enjoys a climate that stays warm all winter (well, at least warmer than most of the country), Lakeland residents get to enjoy blooming plants throughout the year.
To give winter plantings a good start this season, be sure to use organic matter to build the soil up so plants will stay healthy. A good slow-release fertilizer added to flower beds will help winter plants thrive and bloom all season.
Regular watering is also a must, since the winter is Florida's dry season. The best way to accomplish this is to use a soaker hose, which allows the water to get right at the roots of the plants rather than evaporating in the air as it may do when using a sprinkler.
Winter Blooming Flowers
If petunias are already in place, by all means let them stay, but be sure to give them a nice trim. Gentle pruning will give petunias a new lease on life so they can grow to bloom again.
A perennial that adds lots of blooms to cool-weather flower beds is the Johnny Jump-up. If protected from hard freezes, the Johnny Jump-up should bloom all winter long. It's happy in sun or partial shade and doesn't even require a lot of extra watering.
Another plant that is considered a perennial in Florida although it is only an annual in colder areas, is the Nemesia. Its foliage will stay green all winter and it will continue to bloom in the colder months, especially with regular watering and sunshine.
With a little bit of extra care, a Lakeland flower bed should provide lovely blooms all winter long.
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