Over the last couple days, parts of Jacksonville experienced urban flooding that had people in my neighborhood of Springfield moving their cars blocks away to higher ground. Drivers had to find alternate routes home as streets became impassable. ... READ MORE
Category: Disaster Preparation, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Lawn, UF/IFAS Extension, Water
New to Florida and lamenting the low maintenance lush green lawn you left behind? HOA breathing down your neck to fix your problem areas? You're not alone. Growing grass in Florida is not like growing grass in many other parts of the ... READ MORE
Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Lawn
As I wait in line at the garden center to pay for my new spring plant purchase, I see big stacks of “weed & feed” and other lawn fertilizers conveniently located to grab and go on the way out the door. The images of lush green grass ... READ MORE
Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Lawn
With the turn of the calendar into a new year comes the pressure to create and stick to a resolution. The topics of conservation and environmental impact are top of mind for many this time of year. Here are 5 easy environmentally friendly ... READ MORE
Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Lawn
Utilizing mulch in your yard is a cost-effective tool that is so often overlooked. It's surprising to see how many landscapes lack the benefits of mulch. (more…) READ MORE
Category: Agriculture, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Lawn
Early in my career as a forester I advised a homeowner to use a certain pesticide to treat an insect problem he was having. He called me back a week later to tell me that after he followed my advice, his plant was killed. How could that ... READ MORE
Category: Agriculture, , Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Fruits & Vegetables, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Lawn, Pests & Disease, Turf
As we prepare our yards for a fresh start in 2023, perhaps one of our New Year’s resolutions can be to be to make some changes in how we maintain our landscape. By doing so perhaps we can save some money and have a healthier landscape ... READ MORE
Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Lawn, Pests & Disease
It is mid-June. The weather in Jacksonville | northeast Florida continues to be hot and dry. However, the National Weather Service predicts above average precipitation for June through August. So, what should we homeowners in northeast Florida ... READ MORE
Category: Home Landscapes, Lawn
You may be seeing the Carolina Wild Petunia (Ruellia caroliniensis) popping up in your lawns in early spring. It is a pretty little plant native to Florida and endemic to the southeastern U.S. It is a herbaceous, long-lived perennial and ... READ MORE
Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Lawn
The state of NJ cultivated them on road sides, during a labor shortage in the 90s. Neighborhoods across Duval county have had them for years. Garden Clubs cultivate them. You probably had one yourself at one point or another. The Freedom Lawn A ... READ MORE
Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Lawn