Embarking on a greenhouse or nursery venture in the Central Florida region can be both exciting and daunting. One of the most critical aspects of ensuring the health of your horticulture and greenhouse crops is effectively managing pests and ... READ MORE
Category: Horticulture, Pests & Disease
Good things are growing in Orange County, Florida! Let’s keep our minds as sharp as our tools and learn together in 2026. The exciting line-up of classes is designed to build upon topics from the basics to specifics of commercial horticulture ... READ MORE
Category: Agriculture, Events, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Horticulture, Lawn, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, Professional Development, Turf, UF/IFAS Extension, Water
Oak galls are one of my favorite examples of how complex plant–insect interactions can be. If you’ve ever walked past an oak tree and noticed odd growths (round, leafy, fuzzy, spiky, or shaped like little apples) you’ve seen the work of ... READ MORE
Category: Agriculture, , Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Horticulture, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension
Recap of December 2025 First Friday with Florida First Detector This month, we dove into the topic of invasive mites, specifically focusing on the ones that can damage plants. These tiny arachnids are everywhere: on plants, animals, humans, ... READ MORE
Category: Agriculture, Crops, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Fruits & Vegetables, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Invasive Species, Natural Resources, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, Professional Development, UF/IFAS Extension
When it comes to raising sheep in the warm, humid climate of Putnam County, Florida, Katahdin sheep stand out as an excellent option. These hardy animals are known for their adaptability, low-maintenance care, and high-quality meat production. ... READ MORE
Category: Agriculture, Livestock, Pests & Disease
Having the right garden tool is important but keeping them in good condition is just as important. Garden tools often get used hard and put away dirty or wet, which causes rust and damage. With a little maintenance, your tools can work well ... READ MORE
Category: Agriculture, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Home Management, Horticulture, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS Extension
Just in time for the holiday season — and the start of the iguana mating period — the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) has unwrapped a bilingual resource for living with one of Florida’s most ... READ MORE
Category: , Home Landscapes, Home Management, Invasive Species, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Research, Wildlife
When you establish a Wildlife-Friendly Landscape with Florida Native Plants, you will provide a natural food source for your birds, nesting opportunities, and a habitat that requires little maintenance. However, homeowners love to supplement ... READ MORE
Category: 4-H & Youth, Agriculture, Camp, Clubs & Volunteers, Conservation, Curriculum, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Forests, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Natural Resources, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Teaching,
Mangroves are among the most abundant and important plant species growing along Florida’s extensive coastline and associated estuaries. The three mangrove species found in Florida are the red (Rhizophora mangle), black (Avicennia germinans) ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Conservation, Forests, Natural Resources, Pests & Disease,
Fruit and vegetable growers across the Florida Panhandle, as well as Southern Alabama and Georgia, are invited to attend the 2026 Tri-State Fruit & Vegetable Annual Conference. This conference will be held Thursday, January 29th, 2026, at ... READ MORE
Category: Agriculture, Crops, Farm Management, Horticulture, Natural Resources, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS Extension