Amaryllis thrives outdoors in the right conditions

I have several amaryllis plants in pots. I would like to transplant them outdoors. Is that a difficult undertaking?

Transplanting Amaryllis Hippeastrum x hybridum from pots to the garden is not a difficult undertaking at all, and this is the time to do it. In Florida, amaryllis are grown outdoors all year long. The lighter colored flowers provide spectacular color with a dark background from shrubs or a dark house wall. The darker colors display better against light backgrounds.

In choosing your site for the transplant, be sure to consider the cultural requirements of the plants. They flower best in light shade, such as under pine trees. In full sun, the leaves may yellow. See https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep060 for lots of good information on planting sites. Well-drained soil is necessary and can be easily achieved by a slightly raised bed.

Lay your amaryllis bulbs out the way you want to plant them, either in rows or more random spacing for a more informal look. Space them 12 to 15 inches apart with the neck clearly above ground. Water the planting and keep it moist but not wet until the plants are well-established.

My air conditioner sits on the south side of my house in the afternoon. My neighbor, whose air conditioner is shaded by a tree, said I can save money by shading my unit. Is that true?

Yes, it is true. When the compressor sits in the sun during the hottest part of the day, it must work harder, therefore it takes more electricity. We often don’t think of the a/c unit when planning our garden, but we should. A spreading tree that shades the unit in the afternoon is an electricity saver.

While we are talking about your air conditioning compressor cooler, there are other considerations. The unit needs good air circulation around it. Therefore plantings near the air conditioner should allow at least 2 feet clearance around it and 5 feet above it. Sometimes we ignore spreading plants until they are cutting off sufficient air supply from the unit. For more information, see https://homeguides.sfgate.com/shade-air-conditioners-35751.html.

I have a Japanese Privet hedge and, for decorative purposes, I would like to allow the plant on the end of the hedge grow into a tree. Would that be a problem for the rest of the hedge?

Japanese Privet, Ligustrum japonicum, will make a lovely, softening addition to a good space in your garden or lawn. Unfortunately, I am not sure I have enough information to fully answer your question. Here’s why; a Japanese Privet tree will grow 8 to 12 feet tall and often considerably wider. Therefore, once your tree starts growing, it will shade part or all of your hedge. Since Japanese Privets require full sun, partial sun or partial shade, it is unlikely your hedge will be happy with the light left for it under the tree.

The tree will spread 10 to 15 feet, so you can see it will shade a lot of your hedge. That could mean transplanting a good portion of the hedge near the tree. See https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/st352 for more information. You do not mention how much space you have to work with, but it is important to give attention to the cultural considerations in the referenced document.

It feels like spring, so It is time to fertilize my St. Augustine lawn, right?

It has been feeling a lot like spring lately, but in North Florida it is best to wait until the middle of April for that spring fertilizer application. April 15 fertilization will also assure no surprise frosts or freezes. Such events can damage the root system of St. Augustine turf so it will not be ready to assimilate the nutrients. Also, the 15th will allow a proper three-month period before your summer fertilizer application. For much more information on this issue, see http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/lh010.

Karl Zedell Sr. is a master gardener with the Duval County Extension Service and the University of Florida/IFAS. If you have gardening questions, you can speak to a master gardener from 9:30 a.m. to noon and 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday at the Duval extension office at (904) 255-7450.