Category: Home Landscapes

Every Count Counts: Why Local Pollinator Observations Matter

by Lauren Spaduzzi
June 16, 2026

When people think of scientific research, they often picture Bunsen burners, beakers, and scientists in white lab coats hunched over microscopes. But some of the most valuable data comes from community members observing the world around ... READ MORE

Category: , Conservation, Events, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Natural Resources, Relationships & Family, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research, Wildlife
Tags: Central Florida, Citizen Science, Citizen Scientist, Florida, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Garden, Great Florida Pollinator Census, Greatsoutheastpollinatorcensus, Hillsborough, Hillsborough County, UF/IFAS Extension, Youth

UF/IFAS DIRT Project Looks Below Ground to Save Water Above

by Center for Land Use Efficiency
June 15, 2026

https://youtu.be/i4YKAZvzTzY GAINESVILLE, Fla. —A new collaborative research project led by the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is exploring how Florida's urban landscapes can remain attractive ... READ MORE

Category: Conservation, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Natural Resources, Water
Tags: Center For Land Use Efficiency, DIRT Project, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Land Development, SFFGS, UF/IFAS Extension, Water Conservation

Simply Sunflowers

by Julie McConnell
June 15, 2026

Nothing brightens up my day like a colorful flower and one of the simplest ones to grow is the sunflower! Standing tall in the garden, these sentinels of summer come in a wide range of sizes and colors that I had not realized until I started ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Horticulture
Tags: Florida Panhandle, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Panhandle Gardening

How to Water a Florida Lawn the Right Way

by Larry Williams
June 12, 2026

If your sprinkler system runs every day, every other day, or every third day, you may be watering too much. Too much water can cause problems for your lawn and plants. It can wash away fertilizer, increase plant diseases, and help weeds grow. ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Lawn
Tags: Lawn Watering, Panhandle Gardening, Turfgrass Irrigation

Your Garden’s Deadliest Allies

by Molly Jameson
June 11, 2026

Your Garden's Deadliest Allies As a gardener, summer can feel like it takes knightly status to grow fruits and vegetables. You strap on your metaphorical armor, raise your shield, and draw your sword to battle the stink bugs, squash ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Fruits & Vegetables, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease
Tags: Arilus Cristatus, Assassin Bugs, Beneficial Insects, Biological Pest Control, Garden Pests, Insect Identification, Integrated Pest Management, IPM, Milkweed Assassin Bug, Natural Pest Control, Panhandle Gardening, Predatory Insects, Wheel Bug, Zelus Longipes

For your groundcover consideration – the baby sun rose

by Ralph Mitchell
June 10, 2026

Changing up your plant palette selection is a good way to explore new plants and spruce up your landscape. One candidate that might appeal to you is called the baby sun rose. How can you resist a plant with a name like that? Low-growing, ... READ MORE

Category: Home Landscapes
Tags: Baby Sun Rose, Groundcover, Mesembryanthemum Cordifolium

Top 5 Mistakes when Managing Your Summer Lawn

by bhoffner
June 9, 2026

Summer is the season of freshly manicured lawns and the smell of freshly cut grass but if not managed correctly it could cause a decline in appearance and loss of money. Summertime in Florida can throw many challenges causing peak stress when ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Lawn, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Panhandle Gardening

Study finds robotic mowers improve Florida lawn health while reducing maintenance

by Jamie Groh
June 9, 2026

For many Florida homeowners, lawn mowing can feel like a never-ending chore, especially in the heat of summer. New guidance from experts suggests autonomous or robotic lawn mowers can ease that burden while effectively managing ... READ MORE

Category: Home Landscapes, Lawn, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Autonomous Mowers, Blog Community, Featured, Florida Homeowners, Florida Lawn Care, Lawn Maintenance Tips, Pest Resistant Lawns, Robotic Lawn Mowers, Smart Lawn Technology, St Augustine Grass, Sustainable Landscaping, Turfgrass Health, UF-IFAS, UF/IFAS Research, University Of Florida

What’s New on Ask IFAS: Food and Resource Economics (Mar. – Apr. 2026)

by Susan Gildersleeve
June 9, 2026

People and Ponds: How Can Homeowners Better Understand and Manage Stormwater Ponds? Samiul Haque, Hayk Khachatryan, Michelle K. Atkinson Stormwater ponds are integral to Florida’s landscape, with thousands in residential communities. ... READ MORE

Category: Home Landscapes, Natural Resources
Tags: Department Of Food And Resource Economics, Ponds, Retention Ponds, Stormwater, Stormwater Ponds

New on Ask IFAS: Entomology and Nematology (Mar. – Apr. 2026)

by Susan Gildersleeve
June 9, 2026

Effectiveness, Safety, and Use of Permethrin-Treated Clothing to Prevent Mosquito Bites Tyler Maire, Panpim Thongsripong Permethrin-treated clothing is an effective and safe tool for reducing mosquito bites and preventing mosquito-borne ... READ MORE

Category: Home Landscapes, Natural Resources, Pests & Disease
Tags: Department Of Entomology And Nematology, Insecticide, Mosquito Control, Panpim Thongsripong, PPE, Tyler Maire

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