Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping
April is Water Conservation Month!
April 1, 2020
April is often very dry in terms of rainfall here is Central Florida. In an effort to help and encourage you to save water this month, below are some tips you can use to save water in the landscape. Maintain Your Irrigation System Many lawns ... READ MORE
Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home LandscapesTags: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Florida-Friendly Plants, Jschelb, Master Gardener Volunteer, Polkgardening, Water Conservation, Water Efficiently
The perennial peanut as a turf alternative groundcover
April 1, 2020
By Ralph E. Mitchell Why would anyone want to plant peanuts in their landscape? I'm not recommending that you plant regular peanuts as a landscape groundcover alternative to turf, but rather perennial peanuts which feature butter-yellow ... READ MORE
Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, LawnTags: Arblick, Drought Tolerant, Ecoturf, Groundcover, Perennial Peanut
Florida Atala Butterflies Back from the Brink?
April 1, 2020
The Florida atala butterfly (Eumaeus atala Poey) is a rare hairstreak butterfly characterized by satiny black wings featuring an iridescent turquois shimmer. It was thought to be extinct due to overharvest of its host plant, Zamia integrifolia ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Conservation, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Lawn, Natural Resources, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS Extension, WildlifeTags: #ufbugs, Atala, Butterfly
The Garden Awaits: April Gardening in Alachua County
April 1, 2020
April is Almost Here Bees are buzzing, flowers blooming, and many plants are awaking from their winter-time slumber. Although many of us are cooped-up and getting a little stir-crazy, the garden awaits. Gardening is one of our most powerful ... READ MORE
Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Fruits & Vegetables, Home Landscapes, Lawn, Pests & DiseaseTags: Environment, FFL, Florida Friendly, Florida-Friendly Landscapes, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Food, Fruits, Fruits And Vegetables, Gardening, Landscape, Landscape Management, Management, Plant Selection, Vegetable Gardening, Vegetables
April Checklist
March 31, 2020
Citrus: Depending on citrus fertilizer label, apply fertilizer every six weeks or as directed. If using a slow release fertilizer apply March, June, and September. Check for citrus insects; apply insecticidal soap before 10am or after 6pm if ... READ MORE
Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Fruits & Vegetables, Home Landscapes, Lawn, Pests & DiseaseTags: April Check-list, Checklist
Lubbers! They’re Back !
March 28, 2020
Strolling through my spring garden, enjoying the beautiful azaleas and Virginia spider wort. I panicked a bit when I realized covering my pink pineapple Bromeliads (Ananas comosus) were hundreds of eastern lubber grasshopper nymphs (Romalea ... READ MORE
Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Pests & Disease
Vinegar vs Glyphosate for Weed Control
March 26, 2020
Many organic vegetable growers find weed control a problem. There are few registered organic herbicides and many are not very effective and are expensive. One chemical that has been discussed as an organic herbicide is acetic acid – vinegar. ... READ MORE
Category: Agriculture, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, HorticultureTags: Glyphosate, Herbicide, Organic, Vinegar
Pesticides-Not always the Answer
March 26, 2020
Pesticides can be referred to any chemical such as herbicides, insecticides and fungicides that control or kill pests in the landscape. Pests can be defined as are any organism that invade the landscape. There are two common misconceptions when ... READ MORE
Category: Agriculture, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Horticulture, Lawn, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, Turf,Tags: Pesticides