It is clear that spring has arrived, regardless of what the calendar says! Some of our cool season crops, like cilantro, mustard and radishes are bolting and flowering. We often let them do this so our honey bees and native bees have a ready ... READ MORE
Category: Agriculture, Fruits & Vegetables, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, UF/IFAS Extension
Early March has been so warm, it seems like we went straight from winter to summer, doesn't it? And another cool spell is on the way. March is often a weather roller coaster, and it's a transition time in the garden. Cool season crops ... READ MORE
Category: Home Landscapes, Horticulture
A "fencepost mentality"? We don’t often think about the roots of trees until there is a problem. A forester friend of mine called it a “fencepost mentality”. Being underground, they are often out of sight out of mind. However, ... READ MORE
Category: Home Landscapes, Horticulture, UF/IFAS Extension
When should I fertilize? Don’t jump the gun and fertilize the lawn too early. Mid April is the target date to apply the first fertilizer application to warm season lawns in north Florida. What fertilizer should I use? Find a fertilizer ... READ MORE
Category: Agriculture, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Lawn, UF/IFAS Extension
Many people are still unaware that the USDA (U.S. Department of Agriculture) released an updated Plant Hardiness Zone Map in 2023. The most recent edition of the map until now was published in 2012 and put Duval County in Zone 9A. The average ... READ MORE
Category: Home Landscapes, Horticulture, UF/IFAS Extension
Spring is here, and with it comes a flurry of growth and activity in our gardens. Our native bees who are responsible for a large portion of pollination duties are emerging and looking for flowers to forage. It’s only early March, and we ... READ MORE
Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, UF/IFAS Extension
Spring has returned and now is the time to start planting your warm season vegetables Part of the fun of gardening is trying new methods like companion planting. In the past, gardening wisdom would just declare that certain vegetables did not ... READ MORE
Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, UF/IFAS Extension
For many people, mistletoe is a pest, while for others, it is a symbol of Christmas cheer. The origin of mistletoe as a Yuletide symbol came from the Norse and the Druids. Both had traditions that equated mistletoe with forgiveness and reconciliation. ... READ MORE
Category: Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Pests & Disease
Many of us reach out to veterans we know each November and thank them for their service. In September, 2023 a group of nurses at the Veterans' Affairs Outpatient Clinic on Jefferson Street in Jacksonville went beyond that. Noticing that ... READ MORE
Category: , Horticulture
They are small but mighty. A new species of air potato beetle is being reared and released in Florida to wage war against the invasive air potato vine. First, a little background on the enemy. The air potato vine was introduced in Florida ... READ MORE
Category: , Conservation, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Forests, Invasive Species, Natural Resources, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease