Late to mid-February usually marks the end of frost danger in South Florida and signals a new beginning as plants slowly begin to wake from their cool-weather slumber. Oaks will soon drop their old leaves and quickly produce a new coat of glossy green splendor. Gumbos, native tamarinds, bulnesias and many others will also put forth new leaves to replace the ones they shed in December.

Trees will awaken across South Florida, but don’t look for your grass to return to the greens of summer until our rainy season begins in early June. Large trees store a great amount of energy in their roots and trunks that allows them to grow when everything else is still dormant. Grass has very shallow roots and needs the humidity, heat, and rains of June and July to return to glory. If you choose to irrigate your lawn, make sure to adhere to the watering restrictions put in place to conserve this precious resource.

This time of year, it is important to keep an eye on any newly planted shrubs that have not yet developed the extended root systems that will carry them through our dry season (late October to early June). A good soaking with a garden hose once a month should be enough to keep your new plants happy.

Bromeliads may also need a hand as our dry and hot March will dry out the water they store in their center vases. Simply filling up the center vases will keep them fat and happy until the summer rains begin. Bromeliads are typically epiphytic so they do not rely on their roots for anything more than support. They take in most of their water and nutrients through their center vase.

While many plants in your garden are still dormant, most weeds are thriving. They should be dealt with now before rain causes them to explode with growth. It is best to hand pull or hoe out weeds rather then using herbicides. Hand-pulled weeds can be put in a composter with kitchen scraps and will slowly turn to rich organic matter that can be added to your vegetable garden in the fall. After you pull your weeds, put down a thick layer of mulch (six to eight inches) to keep new weeds at bay. Mulch is also beneficial because it decomposes and adds organic matter to South Florida’s nutrient-poor limestone-based soil.

South Florida’s spring is very subtle and nothing like the dramatic dance that goes on with our neighbors to the north, but it is ours and we should cherish it nonetheless. New growth and warmer temperatures signal a change and is a prelude to the humid, wet weather of summer. Watch your garden for signs of growth or thirsty plants and get ready for another lovely season of gardening.

Jeff Wasielewski is the multimedia specialist at Fairchild, an expert in South Florida horticulture and a professor of horticulture at Miami Dade College.