Obviously there is no point in fertilizing when it rains daily. I was just wondering if we fertilize in Sept & Oct around here since the temps are what I think of as summer temps even though the photoperiod is shorter.

No later than October, according to some. Fertilizing after that is risky as you might get lots of new grow, only to watch it turn black at the first frost.

I just spent the day putting down 3 bags of 6-6-6 granular fertilizer on all my shrubs and plants. I then put down a bag of Palm fertilizer on all my palms. I have only lived here for 3 years but I could see everything needed some food after the long, hot summer. I use a low 6-6-6 to not add so much nitrogen. I don't want to encourage growth but give the plants some strength to grow through the winter. I've done that each year here. The heavy rains leach nutrients out of the soil. The plants need food.

In NY I wouldn't fertilize shrubs this late as they need to go to sleep. In Florida, the shrubs and most trees don't sleep.

Jane

Hi Bea

I have a service for the garden, everything except the edibles, those I do it myself. This week they fertilized all the shrubs and the lawn. The edibles fruit trees and veggies have different needs.

I went to see Wallisadi's garden and is gorgeous! he is in zone 9a and I remember him saying that he uses Lesco palm fertilizer with micro nutrients for everything in his garden.

Silvia

I have also been using Lesco palm fertilizer on everything. In addition to the micro nutrients, it has magnesium, which is lacking in most central Florida soils.

Have you checked the UF's recommendations yet? The extension agency offers .pdf calendars for every month...

http://solutionsforyourlife.ufl.edu/lawn_and_garden/calendar/

Michael and Jane the main reason for my post was because I too was concerned over encouraging new growth because we have a semi-format period during the winter months. And of course I am also concerned because all this more than usual rain is leaching out more than usual nutrients. Carol yes on ufl. They have a ton of good info but I still prefer gardeners' personal experience. So I think this weekend should be the last fertilizing around here. Thanks everybody.

Bea, you are right to be careful. I realize you are in the Jacksonville area and I think you might get frost. I'm in Sarasota and we haven't gotten frost so the shrubs continue to grow throughout the year.

When I lived in NY, I never fertilized shrubs in the fall. I did not want to encourage growth. I think you need more opinions from people living in Northern Florida where I believe you get colder temperatures.

Jane