[Rons Landscaping]

If you have a Crape Mrytle in your yard now is the time to trim it back. Depending on how big and how many flowers you want on it late this spring and early summer depends on how far back you trim it. Normally you would trim it late January or the first half of February when the sap is at the lowest point in the plant. I like to trim them back hard usually where I can still reach it from the ground, that way the plant doesn't get to big for these small lots that we live on here in The Villages. If you have more room in your yard, then maybe you would want it to grow bigger. Remember, the harder you trim it back you will have less flowers on it when it blooms, but they will be much bigger. And if you trim it less, you will have more flowers but much smaller. As for other things to trim, plants that are "deciduous" ( that loose there leaves ) you can trim now while they are dormant, but this year some are already starting to bring out new growth. As for most other plants I would wait until the 1st week in March. As for fertilizer I use Lesco 8-2-12 on my own property for all my bushes and palms, I know there are a lot of different fertilizers out there we can use, but this feed is very good for the type of soil amenities that we have here in The Villages. You can purchase this feed from John Deere Landscaping on hyw. 301 just north of cty. 466 in Oxford, it is on the left side of the road about a mile north of 466 (Hope this helps.)

Thanks, Ron