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Timely Tendings: Time to feed your citrus trees

 
Published Oct. 2, 2014

Citrus trees are ripe for fertilizer

Fertilize citrus trees this month using a formulation of 6-6-6 or 8-8-8. (The Pinellas County Fertilizer Ordinance exempts fruit trees and vegetable gardens.)

Apply fertilizer to the entire root area, which usually extends well beyond the drip line of the tree. If the tree is surrounded by turf and the turf is fertilized, this additional fertilizer is not needed.

The amount of fertilizer varies according to the age of the tree. Fertilizer should be applied three times a year in February, June and October. For additional information on home citrus culture, go to edis.ifas.ufl.edu/topic_citrus_home_citrus_culture.

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October is also a great time to plant some cool-season vegetables such as beets, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, kale, lettuce, onion, radish and strawberry. For more information on vegetable gardening in Florida, go to edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/VH/VH02100.pdf.