Monthly Landscape Maintenance:
January:
Cut back freeze-damaged perennials. Mulch over tender perennials before hard freezes (using harvested pine straw). Blow leaves and straw off tops of groundcover areas. Trim liriope, as needed (especially if sun-damaged). Remulch beds and tree rings (after leaf drop).
Apply amendments to correct soil deficiencies. Scout for diseases: -Root / Stem rot on annuals and perennials; -Leaf spot on pansies.
Scout for slug and snail damage on daylilies, annuals (apply iron-phosphate bait). Transplant/divide perennials (for propagation or if overgrown). Transplant trees and shrubs (especially if planting in non-irrigated areas). Harvest any remaining pine straw from turf under groves. Ideal time for landscape installations.
February:
Prune roses, prune evergreen shrubs, as needed, complete application of soil amendments, fertilize deciduous shrubs and young trees.
Finish any liriope trimming (prior to new growth). Scout for Insects: -Aphids on daylilies (spray acephate promptly); -Lacebugs on azaleas. Scout for slug and snail damage on daylilies, annuals. -(apply iron-phosphate bait promptly). Complete transplanting of trees and shrubs. Apply pre-emergent herbicide to groundcover areas with annual weeds
March:
Complete pre-emergent herbicide applications for Spring. Continue pruning evergreen shrubs. Fertilize bed areas. Trim established Asian jasmine, as needed. Prune back over-sized tropicals (after mild winter). Reprogram irrigation systems. Inspect irrigation for leaks and damaged heads. Scout for aphids on daylilies (spray acephate promptly). Start preventative insecticide applications:
-Aphids(all crepe myrtles) apply acephate paste to trunks, avoiding rains; -Lacebugs (all azaleas) spray imidacloprid, or a rotation ; -Scale (on infested hollies, camellias, hawthornes, banana shrubs); -Drench with imidacloprid; Scout for scale as crawlers / spray contact insecticide (malathion). Check for largepatch inResidence turf ( reduce irrigation, if necessary).
April:
Continue fertilizing bed areas. Check irrigation settings. Complete preventative insecticide applications (see March). -Scale (hawthornes, camellias, hollies), -Aphids (crepes) , Lacebugs (azaleas), Remulch beds under live oaks (after leaf drop). Remove spent cool-season annuals.
May:
Prune Spring-blooming shrubs after they bloom -azaleas, hawthornes, loropetalums, etc. Total irrigation inspection (including coverage). Apply sethoxydim to suppress torpedograss/bermudagrass in broadleaf. ornamentals / groundcovers. Apply imazaquin to control select weeds in tolerant landscapes -dollarweed/nutsedge in Asian Jasmine, liriope, junipers. Monitor insect pest thresholds: -scale (hawthornes, camellias, hollies), -aphids (crepes) , -lacebugs (azaleas), Scout for lacebugs on lantana (spray acephate). Remulch beds under live oaks (after leaf drop).
June:
Complete pruning of Spring-blooming shrubs. Check irrigation settings . Trim established Asian jasmine, as needed . Scout for insects/monitor thresholds:-whiteflies (gardenias, perennials), -aphids (gardenias, perennials), -lacebugs (azaleas, lantana), -scale (hawthornes, camellias, hollies, banana shrubs), -spider mites (roses, perennials). Watch for leafspot (hawthornes, roses). Mulch areas not previously re-mulched.
July:
Remove spent daylily stalks. Review irrigation coverage and settings. Prune any tree growth from against eaves or walls (to minimize hurricane damages).Re-apply sethoxdim, if needed, to suppress torpedo grass / bermudagrass. Re-apply imazaquin, if needed, to control select weeds in beds. Scout for insects. Mulch areas not previously re-mulched .
August:
Prune oversized/straggly evergreens. Re-fertilize priority trees and shrubs. Inspect irrigation (including coverage). Scout for red-headed azalea caterpillars often (spray carbaryl promptly). Scout for other insects: -Whiteflies (gardenias, perennials) , -Lacebugs (azaleas, lantana), -Scale (hawthornes, camellias).
September:
Complete pruning of evergreens before autumn. Check irrigation settings.Scout for red-headed azalea caterpillars often (spray carbaryl promptly). Scout for other insects (same as August). Harvest pine straw from turf areas if drought causes early drop.
October :
Reduce irrigation settings. Apply pre-emergent herbicides to weedy groundcovers (especially for vetch and beggar's lice). Scout for lacebugs (azaleas). Harvest pine straw from turf areas under groves. Plant cool-season annual color at campus entries. Add hardy spring-blooming bulbs (daffodils, snowdrops) to groundcover areas. Soil sample areas with problems or prior to landscape renovations/ installations.
November:
Turn off irrigation systems. Scout for lacebugs (azaleas). Soil sample problem areas. Harvest pine straw from turf areas under groves. Double check UC prior to commencement. Ideal time for landscape installation.
December :
Cut back freeze damaged perennials. Mulch over tender perennials (with harvested pine straw).Blow leaves and straw from tops of groundcover areas. Trim liriope, as needed (especially if sun damaged). Remulch beds and tree rings (after leaf drop). Scout for diseases: -root / stem rot on annuals and perennials, -leaf spot on annuals, Scout for slug and snail damage on daylilies, annuals (apply iron-phosphate bait promptly). Transplant / divide perennials. Propagate groundcovers. Transplant trees and shrubs (especially if planting in non-irrigated areas). Harvest pine straw from turf areas under groves. Ideal time for landscape installation.
By: Southeastern Louisiana University
January:
Cut back freeze-damaged perennials. Mulch over tender perennials before hard freezes (using harvested pine straw). Blow leaves and straw off tops of groundcover areas. Trim liriope, as needed (especially if sun-damaged). Remulch beds and tree rings (after leaf drop).
Apply amendments to correct soil deficiencies. Scout for diseases: -Root / Stem rot on annuals and perennials; -Leaf spot on pansies.
Scout for slug and snail damage on daylilies, annuals (apply iron-phosphate bait). Transplant/divide perennials (for propagation or if overgrown). Transplant trees and shrubs (especially if planting in non-irrigated areas). Harvest any remaining pine straw from turf under groves. Ideal time for landscape installations.
February:
Prune roses, prune evergreen shrubs, as needed, complete application of soil amendments, fertilize deciduous shrubs and young trees.
Finish any liriope trimming (prior to new growth). Scout for Insects: -Aphids on daylilies (spray acephate promptly); -Lacebugs on azaleas. Scout for slug and snail damage on daylilies, annuals. -(apply iron-phosphate bait promptly). Complete transplanting of trees and shrubs. Apply pre-emergent herbicide to groundcover areas with annual weeds
March:
Complete pre-emergent herbicide applications for Spring. Continue pruning evergreen shrubs. Fertilize bed areas. Trim established Asian jasmine, as needed. Prune back over-sized tropicals (after mild winter). Reprogram irrigation systems. Inspect irrigation for leaks and damaged heads. Scout for aphids on daylilies (spray acephate promptly). Start preventative insecticide applications:
-Aphids(all crepe myrtles) apply acephate paste to trunks, avoiding rains; -Lacebugs (all azaleas) spray imidacloprid, or a rotation ; -Scale (on infested hollies, camellias, hawthornes, banana shrubs); -Drench with imidacloprid; Scout for scale as crawlers / spray contact insecticide (malathion). Check for largepatch inResidence turf ( reduce irrigation, if necessary).
April:
Continue fertilizing bed areas. Check irrigation settings. Complete preventative insecticide applications (see March). -Scale (hawthornes, camellias, hollies), -Aphids (crepes) , Lacebugs (azaleas), Remulch beds under live oaks (after leaf drop). Remove spent cool-season annuals.
May:
Prune Spring-blooming shrubs after they bloom -azaleas, hawthornes, loropetalums, etc. Total irrigation inspection (including coverage). Apply sethoxydim to suppress torpedograss/bermudagrass in broadleaf. ornamentals / groundcovers. Apply imazaquin to control select weeds in tolerant landscapes -dollarweed/nutsedge in Asian Jasmine, liriope, junipers. Monitor insect pest thresholds: -scale (hawthornes, camellias, hollies), -aphids (crepes) , -lacebugs (azaleas), Scout for lacebugs on lantana (spray acephate). Remulch beds under live oaks (after leaf drop).
June:
Complete pruning of Spring-blooming shrubs. Check irrigation settings . Trim established Asian jasmine, as needed . Scout for insects/monitor thresholds:-whiteflies (gardenias, perennials), -aphids (gardenias, perennials), -lacebugs (azaleas, lantana), -scale (hawthornes, camellias, hollies, banana shrubs), -spider mites (roses, perennials). Watch for leafspot (hawthornes, roses). Mulch areas not previously re-mulched.
July:
Remove spent daylily stalks. Review irrigation coverage and settings. Prune any tree growth from against eaves or walls (to minimize hurricane damages).Re-apply sethoxdim, if needed, to suppress torpedo grass / bermudagrass. Re-apply imazaquin, if needed, to control select weeds in beds. Scout for insects. Mulch areas not previously re-mulched .
August:
Prune oversized/straggly evergreens. Re-fertilize priority trees and shrubs. Inspect irrigation (including coverage). Scout for red-headed azalea caterpillars often (spray carbaryl promptly). Scout for other insects: -Whiteflies (gardenias, perennials) , -Lacebugs (azaleas, lantana), -Scale (hawthornes, camellias).
September:
Complete pruning of evergreens before autumn. Check irrigation settings.Scout for red-headed azalea caterpillars often (spray carbaryl promptly). Scout for other insects (same as August). Harvest pine straw from turf areas if drought causes early drop.
October :
Reduce irrigation settings. Apply pre-emergent herbicides to weedy groundcovers (especially for vetch and beggar's lice). Scout for lacebugs (azaleas). Harvest pine straw from turf areas under groves. Plant cool-season annual color at campus entries. Add hardy spring-blooming bulbs (daffodils, snowdrops) to groundcover areas. Soil sample areas with problems or prior to landscape renovations/ installations.
November:
Turn off irrigation systems. Scout for lacebugs (azaleas). Soil sample problem areas. Harvest pine straw from turf areas under groves. Double check UC prior to commencement. Ideal time for landscape installation.
December :
Cut back freeze damaged perennials. Mulch over tender perennials (with harvested pine straw).Blow leaves and straw from tops of groundcover areas. Trim liriope, as needed (especially if sun damaged). Remulch beds and tree rings (after leaf drop). Scout for diseases: -root / stem rot on annuals and perennials, -leaf spot on annuals, Scout for slug and snail damage on daylilies, annuals (apply iron-phosphate bait promptly). Transplant / divide perennials. Propagate groundcovers. Transplant trees and shrubs (especially if planting in non-irrigated areas). Harvest pine straw from turf areas under groves. Ideal time for landscape installation.
By: Southeastern Louisiana University