As we transition from the dog days of summer into (hopefully) the cool weather of fall, it is a great time to consider the nutrient levels of your garden soil. One of the best things you can give your garden is the foundation of healthy soil, ... READ MORE
Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Horticulture, UF/IFAS Extension
Breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis) is a tropical tree that produces a large starchy fruit with flavor similar to baked bread, potato or plantain. Its origin is from the South Pacific where it has many names including 'ulu in Hawaiian, uto in ... READ MORE
Category: , Crops, Fruits & Vegetables, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS Extension
Recently, our Master Gardener Volunteers and I had the wonderful opportunity to visit Sun Grove Montessori School. We introduced students to the joys of vegetable gardening. Gardening is more than planting seeds. It’s a hands-on way to learn ... READ MORE
Category: 4-H & Youth, Agriculture, Community Volunteers, Fruits & Vegetables, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Recreation, UF/IFAS Extension
With the increase in population, the increase of reclaimed water use and the potential for an upcoming dry summer, comes the need to understand the use of salt and drought-tolerant plants. This is what I’ll cover during a free lecture ... READ MORE
Category: Events, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Lawn
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is an approach that uses methods that prioritize the least harmful methods to control insects, plant diseases and weeds. Through this approach, you can learn to manage, not eliminate, insects in the garden without ... READ MORE
Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Horticulture
Growing a Garden with Purpose: Teaching, Sustaining, Inspiring Join us as we share real stories from local gardeners and homeowners who are changing their yards into Florida-Friendly landscapes. Learn helpful tips, successes, and challenges ... READ MORE
Category: Community Volunteers, Conservation, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Invasive Species, Natural Resources, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, , Water, Wildlife
Most people know Florida’s citrus industry is struggling with citrus greening. The threat, however, doesn’t exist in a silo, and residential trees – where the plant disease was first detected in the state – can serve as reservoirs for ... READ MORE
Category: Agribusiness, Agriculture, Crops, Fruits & Vegetables, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension
Florida has long held a special place in America's fruit bowl. With its subtropical climate, the state remains one of the few parts of the continental United States where exotic fruits -- from mangoes and avocados to papayas and dragon fruit ... READ MORE
Category: Agribusiness, Agriculture, Crops, Farm Management, Fruits & Vegetables, Health & Nutrition, Horticulture, Pests & Disease, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Research
The introduction of Dutch elm disease in the 1930s marked a turning point in American urban forestry. Millions of the once iconic elm trees across the U.S. were lost. The disease originated in Asia, where native elm species show some natural ... READ MORE
Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Forests, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension,
Many, many years ago, the Schefflera actinophylla (now known as Heptapleurum actinophylla) – aka schefflera tree, Queensland umbrella-tree, or octopus’ tree - was a staple local plant for indoor containers, dish gardens, and sometimes ... READ MORE
Category: Home Landscapes