Even though hurricane season and afternoon storms are about a month out, now is the time to be thinking about the trees around our homes. There is no “risk free” tree however; there are strategies that we can undertake that can create ... READ MORE
Category: , Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, UF/IFAS Extension
Is your lawn burning a hole in your wallet? Think about this: the average home in Florida uses 991 gallons of water every irrigation cycle! That's like running your dishwasher 50 times or keeping the bathroom faucet running for more than 8 hours...and ... READ MORE
Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, UF/IFAS Extension
By now you may have heard that this February, a Phase II Severe Water Shortage was declared in Duval County. We also had some unusually cold temperatures through the winter months that killed many of our landscape plants. But what do those ... READ MORE
Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, 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
Recently Rhonda Gracie, the University of North Florida Botanical Garden Horticulturalist and mastermind behind the gardens for the last decade plus, received the Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ (FFL) Ambassador award. An FFL Ambassador is ... READ MORE
Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, UF/IFAS Extension
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
You've started to feel that welcomed North Florida cool-down, but your monthly water bill might still be reflecting the brutal summer heat. Many warm-weather grasses found locally, such as St. Augustine, Zoysia, and Bahia, will go dormant ... READ MORE
Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, UF/IFAS Extension
The term “invasive species” has been getting a lot of press lately. We hear about invasive animals such as the Burmese Python, Lionfish, and Cuban treefrogs. Invasive plants like kudzu, air potato, and Brazilian pepper. Even invasive ... READ MORE
Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Fruits & Vegetables, Home Landscapes, Horticulture
One of the most popular topics for our presentations is how to create a garden that attracts pollinators. Typically, a sunny area is the best choice for establishing this type of garden, which can leave those with shady yards feeling overlooked. ... READ MORE
Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping