It’s difficult to believe that our state tree, Sabal palmetto, is presenting some difficulties. For me, Sabals are a bullet proof plant, until recently… What is the culprit? Lethal bronzing disease (LBD)! It used to be called Texas… Read More
Updated 03/15/20 As we continue to monitor COVID-19 in Florida, I wanted to take a moment to update our UF/IFAS Extension community about our current status, best practices and next steps. The personal health and safety of everyone… Read More
Incidence of Red Node Disease Miami-Dade is ranked the number one county growing beans in both the Florida state and accross the country. More than 11,000 acres per year were grown in the field. However, a severe outbreak… Read More
Did you know that United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service a.k.a. APHIS, restricts the movement of domestic soil from areas within the continental United States that are under quarantine for specific plant pests…. Read More
Recently in Miami-Dade County, several samples were diagnosed positive for a new disease called lethal viral necrosis (associated with sugarcane mosaic virus, SCMV) on Saint Augustinegrass, cultivar ‘Floratam’. The following are the most frequent questions that the… Read More
Lately have you been noticing something strange in your coconut palms, gumbo-limbo and other plants? It could be related to the reappearance of the Rugose Spiraling Whitefly, Aleurodicus rugioperculatus) (RSW). If you remember correctly, it was first reported… Read More
Are you noticing that the big and tall Washingtonia palm (Washingtonia robusta) are dying in the landscape? Lately, I am seeing a lot of damage in Miami-Dade and Broward counties. The cause of the problem is a disease… Read More
What do the following names have in common: Anthonomus testaceosquamosus, the hibiscus bud weevil; Fiorinia phantasma, the Phantasma Scale; Aceria litchii, the lychee erinose mite? All these pests were introduce or reintroduce to Florida during 2018 and were… Read More
On June 1st of 2018, a single male of the Oriental Fruit Fly (OFF), Bactrocera dorsalis , was captured in south Miami-Dade County. Two additional males were captured in nearby detection traps on June 3rd. There is an eradication program… Read More
I’ve practiced horticulture for 25 years, worked with tropical fruit for 20 of those years, and just recently I celebrated five years as a commercial tropical fruit extension agent for UF/IFAS Extension Miami-Dade County. It stands to reason… Read More
