FLORIDA

Dependable Roses
Many roses are not easy to grow in Florida. The Knock Out Series, however, has proven to be a winner since being introduced. It likes heat and humidity and is also resistant to leaf diseases. It blooms practically year-round and is very dependable and carefree in the Florida landscape. The original 'Knock Out' rose has cherry red blooms. There is also a double flowering form of the original. 'Pink Knock Out' produces dark pink flowers, and 'Blushing Knock Out' has light pink flowers that turn even lighter with age. More recent introductions to the series include 'Rainbow Knock Out,' which has coral pink blossoms with a yellow center. Plant these shrubs en masse in an area that receives five or more hours of direct sunlight each day. Avoid poorly drained soil. These plants are fairly drought tolerant once established. --David W. Marshall

Entire State
Lawn care--To prepare your grass for cooler weather, apply a fertilizer that contains at least as much potassium (the last number) as nitrogen (the first number). Sta-Green Centipede Weed & Feed 15-0-15 or Lesco Professional Turf Fertilizer 15-0-15 are good examples. Apply no more than 6 pounds of the fertilizer per 1,000 square feet of lawn area.

North and Central
Fall flowers--Make the coming months more colorful by planting fall-blooming perennials such as Mexican bush sage (Salvia leucantha), Philippine violet (Barleria cristata), pineapple sage (Salvia elegans), and chrysanthemums. Cut back leggy annuals such as impatiens and sages now so they will sprout new growth and continue blooming through fall. Add new annuals such as marigolds, melampodiums, and torenias to provide easy color until the first freeze.

Tiny tomatoes--To have a continual harvest of salad tomatoes until the first frost, plant some of the small-fruited types such as 'Sweet 100,' 'Husky Cherry Red,' or 'Yellow Pear' now. Train the plants on a trellis or in tomato cages. Purchase them at your local nursery, or order seeds from Tomato Growers, www.tomatogrowers.com or 1-888-478-7333.

Central and South
Pruning palms--Many homeowners think removing all but a few of the upper fronds on their palms will make their plants more resistant to strong winds, particularly during hurricane season. However, a palm's open, feather-like leaf structure allows winds to pass through easily. You only need to remove the brown fronds if you dislike the look.

Citrus--Feed citrus again this month with a fertilizer such as Schultz Expert Gardener Citrus & Tropical Plant Food 10-4-10. If rains are frequent, you may experience fruit splitting on thin-skinned types of citrus such as lemons, limes, and tangerines. This problem should decrease as drier weather arrives, typically in late September. South

Bougainvilleas--If plants need a little pruning to keep them in bounds, do it now. Bougainvilleas will be forming buds soon, and later pruning will reduce winter bloom.