❄️ December–January Maintenance Guide

🌿 Winter Tips for a Happy, Healthy Florida Garden

Winter is here, or at least our Florida version of it! While much of the country is bundling up and watching gardens go dormant, Central Florida enjoys mild days, cool nights, and some of the best gardening weather of the year. This “Florida winter” is the perfect time to refresh, replant, and set your landscape up for a strong spring.

Here are a few winter gardening tips to keep your yard thriving this season:

🌱 Plant Florida-Friendly Favorites

Winter is one of the easiest seasons for planting in Central Florida. Cooler temps reduce stress on new plants, and roots establish beautifully this time of year.

Try Florida-friendly options like firebush, coontie, coreopsis, muhly grass, bottlebrush, pentas, and sunshine mimosa. They thrive here year-round, support local wildlife, and make maintenance a breeze.

🥬 Winter Veggies Are at Their Best

Our winter season is prime time for growing cool-weather crops. With fewer pests and gentler weather, your garden will thank you.

Great winter picks include:
Lettuce, kale, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, radishes, beets, onions, cilantro, dill, parsley, and spinach.

💧 Water Wisely as Temps Cool

With dryer air and cooler nights, your watering routine may need adjusting. Plants don’t need as much water in winter, but they do still appreciate consistency.

Water early in the morning to prevent fungal growth.
Aim for deeper, less frequent watering.
Always check soil moisture a couple inches down before watering.

🍂 Refresh Mulch for the Cooler Season

A fresh layer of mulch helps protect roots from the occasional cold snap, keeps the soil moist, and prevents winter weeds from settling in.

Stick to 2–3 inches and keep mulch a few inches away from plant stems to prevent rot.

✂️ Light Pruning & Cleanup

Winter is a great time for gentle shaping and removing dead or damaged growth. Clean up leggy stems, tidy perennials, and remove spent annuals.

Save heavy pruning (especially for spring bloomers) for late winter or early spring so you don’t accidentally remove next season’s buds.

🐛 Monitor for Pests & Cold Damage

Yep, even in winter pests can roam! Keep an eye out for whiteflies, aphids, caterpillars, and fungal spots. Catching issues early keeps your garden healthy.

After cold nights, check tender plants for damage and trim only dead foliage — avoid major cutting until the threat of frost passes.