The Kerby's E-Newsletter
October 19, 2017
 |
| Building a fire pit. |
Last week, I told you that since I couldn't go hunt for a lost plane in Idaho, I was going to build a fire pit. And since I had two really great helpers, I was able to get it finished. (Okay, the helpers may have been bribed with the prospect of roasted marshmallows. . .) We used an assortment of leftover rocks from various projects, and ended up with a really nifty fire pit. Perfect for autumn and winter nights. At least that's
 |
| We are prepared for cool evenings! |
But, since the weather wants to stay warm, I am going to get out in my garden and keep planting away. Why not? We are lucky to live in Florida where gardening can happen any day of the year. I've got a couple of fruit trees that need to get in the ground soon, but I haven't quite figured out where to plant them. But I'll find a spot.
 |
| A starfruit in full flower. |
If you share my excitement about fruit trees, then come out this weekend to Kerby's. At 10am on Saturday morning, I'll be hosting our Fall Fruit Workshop, where you'll learn all about growing fruit trees in Florida. If the temperatures won't cool down, let's make the most of it and keep having fun in our gardens.
|
Happy Gardening, The Kerby's Nursery Family 
 |
 |
| Tasty and pretty too! |
Star Fruit
There are so many different fruit trees to grow in Florida, how do you choose? The star fruit makes itself stand out by fruiting early and abundantly. Trees as young as one year old can begin producing harvests, and within a few years, you will have more starfruit than you know what to do with. As if that weren't enough, it's a delicious, nutritious fruit that is refreshing eaten fresh off the tree as well as great for cutting up in salads. The tree can even take part shade, so if you don't have tons of sun in your yard, you can give this tasty fruit tree a try.
 |
|
Chelated Liquid Iron 16oz. - $6.99 |
Liquid Iron
When fruit trees arrive at the nursery, they often have big bursts of growth, no matter what time of year. We asked our growers how they do it, and they said they use a micronutrient spray. Especially in Florida soils, micronutrients are hard to come by, so a spray with the nutrients iron, copper, manganese and zinc give trees a boost they are often missing. Try it today on your trees to get a fresh burst of healthy green growth.
 |
| Pruning keeps plants growing the way you want them to. |
Garden Tip
Fruit Tree Pruning
Chances are, if you love fruit trees, your backyard is not nearly as large as you would like it to be. So sometimes, you've got to prune your fruit trees to keep them from overtaking each other and your yard. A few rules of thumb for fruit tree pruning are:
- Prune after harvest - For many trees, the best time to prune is right after harvest. After pruning, the tree will have nearly a year to recover for the next harvest.
- Light pruning can be done any time of the year.
- To keep trees compact, prune the terminal buds (the end of brnaches where new growth comes out). Even just pinching back the terminal buds on a regular basis can help limit the size of a tree.
- For cold-sensitive trees, don't prune close to winter. You don't want flushes of new growth when cold temperatures may come our way.
- Prune on a regular basis. The more you keep up with pruning (even if it is just a few times per year), the less severe any individual prune has to be, which is much better for your trees.
|
Just In |
||
Delight your Eyes With a Wind Spinner |
Let's Make Fall Happen Mum's the Word |
Enjoy the Sound
Corinthian Bells
Windchimes
|