Weekend Gardening: February Tips
February 21, 2015
Here are gardening tips for the month of February from your local Extension Service:
Flowers
- Re-fertilize cool season flowerbeds, using a liquid or granular form of fertilizer. Be careful not to apply excessive amounts and keep granules away from the base of stems.
- Prepare flowerbeds for spring planting by adding and incorporating soil amendments like mushroom compost, manure or homemade compost. Till or spade the bed to incorporate the amendments with the existing soil to a depth of 6 to 8 inches. Allow the prepared bed to lie undisturbed for 3 to 4 weeks before planting. This provides time for some important biological activity to take place, and new plants are less likely to suffer from stem and root rots as a result. Have a soil test done. Sometimes lime is needed. However, a lime application should be made only if the need is revealed by the test.
- Replenish mulch in flowerbeds.
- Prune rose bushes.
Trees and Shrubs
- February is possible the best month for rejuvenation of old, overgrown shrubs. When pruned now, plants have an entire growing season to recover.
- Prune summer flowering deciduous shrubs such as Althea and Hibiscus. Since they flower on current season’s growth, flowering can actually be enhanced by proper pruning
- Do NOT prune the spring flowering shrubs yet. Azaleas, Spiraeas and Forsythia flower during early spring because buds were formed last summer and fall. Pruning in February would therefore remove most of the flower buds.
- Cold damaged trees and shrubs should NOT be pruned until new growth appears. You want to preserve as much healthy plant material as possible.
- Replenish mulch in shrub beds
- Finish planting ornamental and fruit trees.
Fruits and Nuts
- Fertilize established pecan trees. Use a “special pecan fertilizer” that contains zinc. Use 2 lbs. for every year of age of the tree up to a maximum of 55 lbs. Broadcast the fertilizer evenly beneath the tree.
- Fertilize established peach, plum, pear, persimmon, apple and fig. Apply about 1 ½ lbs of a 10-10-10 (or similar) fertilizer for each year of age of the tree until a maximum of 10 to 15 lbs. per tree is reached.
- Blueberries are very sensitive to nitrogen and can be killed easily, particularly when they are young. Fertilize only if your goal is to increase yield or berry size. An annual application of 2 ounces of a special “azalea/camellia” or “special blueberry” type fertilizer per plant in February is ample fertilizer on 2-year-old plants.
- Prune muscadine grapes between mid-February to mid-March. A standard method is to allow 2 to 4 node spurs spaced every 6 inches of cordon. You may notice that pruning cuts bleed, but there is no evidence that this is injurious to the vine.
- Grapes (bunch and muscadine) should be fertilized at the rate of 1 ½ lbs of 10-10-10 for each year of age with a maximum of 5 lbs per plant applied in late February.
- Last call for planting fruit trees! Most fruit trees such as pecans, plums, persimmons, figs, peaches and nectarines are shipped bare roots and should be planted during the dormant season.
- Apply a spray containing horticultural oils emulsion to dormant fruit trees and ornamental shrubs. Follow label directions carefully.
Vegetable Garden
- Several winter vegetables can still be successfully grown by starting them this month. Plant beets, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, Chinese cabbage, collards, endive/escarole, kale, kohlrabi, leek, lettuce, mustard, parsley, English peas, radish and turnips.
- Plant Irish potatoes. Purchase certified seed potatoes rather than using the grocery store kinds. Use 2-ounce seed pieces with eyes and plant them 3 to 4 inches deep.
- Prepare spring vegetable and herb beds for planting by adding and incorporating soil amendments like mushroom compost, manure or homemade compost. Wait 3 to 4 weeks before planting.
Lawns
- Hold off on fertilizing the lawn. It is still too early for an application of nitrogen containing product. Cold temperatures and lack of plant response would likely result in wasted fertilizer. However, your winter weeds would benefit greatly.
Tate Shuts Out West Florida (With Gallery)
February 21, 2015
The Tate Lady Aggies shut out the West Florida Jaguars Friday night 4-0.
Tate senior Tori Perkins struck out 14, recorded no walks and allowed only one hit. For the Lady Jags, Farrah Nicholas pitched seven, allowing four runs and striking out nine. For the Lady Aggies, Casey McCrakin went 2-4, with two doubles and two runs; Perkins was 1-4 with a run and an RBI.
The Lady Aggies will host Navarre on Tuesday. JV play begins at 4:30 followed the varsity at 6:30. West Florida will be at Washington on Thursday.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Gary Carnley, click to enlarge.
Lady Chiefs Split Games With Chipley (With Gallery)
February 21, 2015
The Northview Lady Chiefs lost to Chipley 4-1 Friday night at home in Bratt. Senior pitcher Mallory Ryan struck out 12 and allowed only two walks for the Lady Chiefs.
In junior varsity action, the JV Lady Chiefs beat Chipley 9-3.
Next week, the Lady Chiefs will be at home Monday night Washington, home Tuesday night against Baker and home Friday night against Baker. Junior varsity games begin at 4:00 with varsity games following at 6:00 each evening.
Photos by Gary Amerson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Charles Edward Byrd
February 21, 2015
Mr. Charles Edward Byrd, 65, passed away Thursday, February 19, 2015, in Pensacola.
Mr. Byrd was a native of Atmore and a lifetime resident of McDavid. Mr. Byrd was an US Army Veteran, Vietnam Veteran, loving father and grandfather.
Survivors include his son, Jeremy (Melessa) Byrd of Pensacola; daughter, Miranda Byrd of Monroeville; sister, Faye (Hollis) Dortch of Cantonment; cousin, Thomas “Buddy” (Gayle) Byrd of McDavid; and two grandchildren, Brandon Byrd and Tyra Watkins.
Funeral services will be held Monday, February 23, 2015, at 11 a.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
Burial will follow at the Pine Barren Cemetery.
Visitation will be held Monday, February 23, 2015, from 9 a.m. until service time at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes is in charge of all arrangements.
Walnut Hill Brush Fire Extinguished
February 20, 2015
A half-acre brush fire in Walnut Hill was quickly extinguished on North Cypress Street in Walnut Hill Friday afternoon. The fire posed no serious threat to any structures. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Fire Destroys Large, Two Story Escambia County Home
February 20, 2015
Fire destroyed a large two story home just off Scenic Highway Thursday night, leaving an elderly couple unharmed, but homeless.
The fire was reported just before 8 p.m. in the 4500 block of Baybrook Drive. The two-story, 5,100 square foot house was fully involved when firefighters arrived on scene. Within a short period of time, three of four sides of the home had collapsed.
The exact cause of the fire is under investigation by the Florida State Fire Marshal’s Office.
Firefighters were forced to keep water flowing on a neighboring home to protect it from the original blaze. There were no other injuries reported.
Escambia Fire Rescue stations from as far north as Cantonment responded to the blaze. Many firefighters were on scene for hours.
For more photos, click to enlarge.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Price, click to enlarge.
Escambia County To Hold Job Opportunity Fairs
February 20, 2015
The Escambia County Human Resource Department will host a series of Job Opportunity Fairs for a total of 28 positions. These positions include Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) workers, maintenance workers and maintenance technicians, both for summer employment and temporary positions.
Below is a listing of the dates and times for the Job Opportunity Fairs:
Tuesday, February 24, from 9 to 11 a.m., Woodlands Heights, 111 Berkley Drive, Pensacola
Tuesday, February 24, from 1 to 3 p.m., Lexington Terrace, 700 South Old Corry Field Road, Pensacola
Wednesday, February 25, from 9 to 11 a.m., Ebonwood Comm. Center, 3511 West Scott Street, Pensacola
Thursday, February 26, from 9 to 11 a.m., Molino Community Center , 6450 Highway 95-A, North, Molino
Thursday, February 26, from 1 to 3 p.m., Beulah Sr. Citizen Center, 7425 Woodside Drive, Pensacola
Governor Appoints Cantonment Man To Early Learning Coalition
February 20, 2015
Thursday, Gov. Rick Scott announced the appointment of Drew Hardgrave of Cantonment to the Early Learning Coalition of Escambia County.
Hardgrave, 31, is an insurance agent with Hiles McLeod Insurance. He fills a vacant seat and is appointed for a term beginning February 19, 2015, and ending April 30, 2016.
The Early Learning Coalition of Escambia County works to identify and meet the needs of children and families to lay the foundation for lifetime success by maximizing each child’s potential, preparing children to enter school ready to learn, and helping families achieve economic self-sufficiency.
Tate Aggies To Open 2015 Football Season In Biloxi
February 20, 2015
The Tate High School Aggies first football game of 2015 will be on the road at Biloxi High School.
In making the announcement, the Tate Quarterback club said the Showband of the South with join the team on the road trip. The date, times, student buses and a contract rate hotel are expected to be announced soon.
International Paper Again Named One Of ‘America’s Most Admired Companies’
February 20, 2015
International Paper has been named by FORTUNE magazine once again as one of “America’s Most Admired Companies” for the 12th time in the past 13 years.
“This is a tremendous accomplishment for our more than 430 dedicated employees here at the Pensacola Mill, who come to work every day looking to make a difference”, said Brett De Jong, Pensacola mill manager. “Congratulations to all of our employees for achieving this recognition once again and making a difference for all of us here in Northwest Florida.”
Out of the nine key attributes on which companies are judged, International Paper took the top spot in four of those categories within its industry. Those categories included, people management, use of corporate assets, financial soundness and global competitiveness.