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[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Section” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_color=”rgba(255,255,255,0.62)” background_enable_image=”off” background_blend=”screen” custom_padding=”14px||54px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ width=”100%” max_width=”1400px” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.19.5″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”16px” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
After hard freezes in December 2022 and numerous frost events during January in Jacksonville, we continue to encourage clients to protect tender plants as we transition into Spring with these February lawn, garden, and landscaping tips.<\/span><\/p>\n 1)\u00a0<\/span><\/strong>Continue protecting plants from freeze and frost damage. Where you live significantly affects the risk of frost and freezing temperatures. While the threat of frost and freezing temperatures vary on average, the last freeze day in Jacksonville is February 15 and January 23 in coastal Jacksonville Beach.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Understand that frost can occur at as high as 37F air temperature when the dew point is 32F or below. Dew point is part of the forecasting available at the National Weather Service.<\/span><\/p>\n “When the dew point is below 32 degrees Fahrenheit (0 degrees Celsius), it is known as the “frost point,” referencing the fact that frost will form rather than dew because the temperature is so low,” according to All the Science.\u00a0<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.earthworksjax.com\/landscape\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/frost-1.jpg” alt=”Frost” title_text=”Frost” force_fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”4.19.5″ _module_preset=”default” animation_style=”slide” animation_direction=”right” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.19.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.19.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.earthworksjax.com\/landscape\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/organic-matter.jpg” alt=”organic matter” title_text=”organic matter” _builder_version=”4.19.5″ _module_preset=”default” animation_style=”slide” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.19.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.19.5″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”16px” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n 2) Sharpen your mower blades for the new season. Use the mower on its mulch setting, which feeds your soil with organic matter that typically constitutes less than 5% of soil composition and is crucial for biological activity. Feeding the soil with organic matter reduces the need for fertilization by increasing microbial activity and soil structure. Top dressing supplementation for the lawn is an excellent approach to increasing organic matter in your soil. Top dressing is available by bag or truckload. And Earth Works Lawn Care offers a combination of aeration and top-dressing services.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.19.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.19.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.19.5″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”16px” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n 3)<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0Keep weeds in your lawn under control by hand pulling or using a pre-emergent herbicide before average temperatures reach 65-70F. As temperatures warm heading into Spring, the threat from the Winter weeds diminishes and is replaced by the emergence of warm-season weeds. In our temperate climate, there is some crossover in the seasonal varieties of lawn weeds.<\/span><\/p>\n -Florida perennial weeds include buttonweed, clover, dallisgrass, dandelion, nutsedge, and dollarweed.<\/span><\/p>\n -Florida annual weeds include chickweed, crabgrass, beggarweed, pulsey, goosegrass, and spurge.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.19.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.earthworksjax.com\/landscape\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/pulling-weeds.jpg” alt=”pulling weeds” title_text=”pulling weeds” _builder_version=”4.19.5″ _module_preset=”default” animation_style=”fade” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.19.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.19.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.earthworksjax.com\/landscape\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/pre-emergent-weed-control.jpg” alt=”pre emergent weed control” title_text=”pre emergent weed control” _builder_version=”4.19.5″ _module_preset=”default” animation_style=”zoom” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.19.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.19.5″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”16px” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Weed And Feed products typically include pre-emergents. UF recommends March 1 for the earliest Weed and Feed applications in North Florida. “You will not injure your lawn by waiting to fertilize, but you can certainly injure your lawn by fertilizing too early,” writes\u00a0<\/span>Larry Williams<\/span><\/a>, the Residential Horticulture Agent for the UF\/IFAS Extension Office in Okaloosa County. Difficulties in avoiding too late applications of pre-emergent herbicides and too early fertilization give some credence to using herbicides and fertilizers separately.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Earth Works Lawn Care division eliminates these concerns for clients with weed spraying and fertilization services.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.19.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.19.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.19.5″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”16px” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n 4)<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0Remember to water your lawn throughout February when receiving less than two weekly rain events. We are under once-per-week irrigation restrictions in Duval County until the second Sunday in March, according to Chapter 366 of the City’s Ordinance Code. However, there are exceptions for new landscaping and no restrictions on hand watering.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The three-year trend of drier-than-normal weather associated with La Nina is forecast to end this year. The<\/span>\u00a0latest weather forecast for the ENSO cycle predicts a shift to El Nino, bringing increased rain and flooding in SE USA and a weaker average hurricane season. Address any drainage issues on your property ahead of time.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.19.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.earthworksjax.com\/landscape\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/lawn-watering.jpg” alt=”lawn watering” title_text=”lawn watering” _builder_version=”4.19.5″ _module_preset=”default” animation_style=”fade” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.19.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.19.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.earthworksjax.com\/landscape\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/annuals.jpeg” alt=”annuals” title_text=”annuals” _builder_version=”4.19.5″ _module_preset=”default” animation_style=”slide” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.19.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.19.5″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”16px” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n 5)<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0Throughout the Winter months, including February, we continue to encourage the planting of\u00a0<\/span>cold-hardy annuals<\/span><\/a>\u00a0such as alyssum, delphinium, dusty millers, ornamental kale, and cabbage, along with violas that hold up to our coldest temperatures. “Trees and shrubs that will be in bloom include red maple, star magnolia, and spirea,” according to the\u00a0<\/span>University of Florida<\/span><\/a>. “Despite the cooler weather, some gardeners can begin to plant warm-season crops, while others should stick to plants that can survive the cold.” Areas around the St. Johns River, its tributaries, and the beaches stay significantly warmer than other inland areas.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.19.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.19.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.19.5″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”16px” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
The biological Benefits of Organic Matter<\/a> in Soil:
– Provides food for the living organisms in the soil.
– Enhances soil microbial biodiversity and activity which can help in the suppression of diseases and pests.
– Enhances pore space through the actions of soil microorganisms. This helps to increase infiltration and reduce runoff.<\/p>\n