Fertilization & Watering Tips

During November in the South there aren't too many plants that require fertilization however, if there is drought, some plants may require some supplemental irrigation.

Apply winterizer fertilizer to your Bermuda or zoysia lawn.

If you have yet to do so, broadcast a fall feed / winterizer fertilizer on your Bermuda or Zoysia lawn. Make sure it is a "fall feed" or "winterizer" fertilizer the contains little or no nitrogen (the first number in fertilizer).

Fertilize pansies

If you planted your pansies a month or more ago they might appreciate a dose of fertilizer now. When fertilizing pansies, make sure to use a flower food that contains "nitrate" form of Nitrogen (the first number in fertilizer).

Fertilize the fall vegetable garden.

Many of the leafy greens you might be growing in your fall vegetable garden are heavy feeders. Feed them once every 4 to 6 weeks with an organic vegetable plant food.

Apply pelletized lime if necessary to Fescue, Bermuda, or Zoysia lawns.

Lime is not a fertilizer, however, you may notice after applying it that your lawn greens up quickly. This is due to the correction of the soil pH. fescue, Bermuda and zoysia lawns require a neutral soil pH (6.7-7) in order to sufficiently uptake nutrients through their root systems. If your soil is acid (below 6.5) it will be necessay to apply pelletized lime to make the soil more alkaline. You can test the pH of your soil with a Soil pH Test Kit purchased from your local nursery and garden center or have it tested by your local county extension service. In the absence of a soil test, and if you have never applied lime to your lawn, and soil pH in your area tends to be acid, a one-time application of 4pounds standard pelletized lime per 500 -1,000 square feet, or 40 pounds of Green N Grow lime per 5,000 square feet, usually corrects soil pH to a level sufficient for these grasses to absorb nutrients and thrive. Make sure to use "pellitized" lime as it activates instantly.

Water plants and the lawn if necessary

Even though temperatures are cooling and many plants and lawn grasses are entering their dormant state it is important to provide supplemental irrigation when there has been little or no rainfall and the soil is dry. If there has been no rain for several weeks, and the soil becomes very dry, the roots of plants can literally be "freeze dried" in the event there are freezing temperatures. However, if you make sure to provide enough water to keep the soil around the roots moist, the roots will be encapsulated with ice, which serves as insulation.