A new pest has made its appearance in the United States. The Asian giant hornet, Vespa mandarinia was first seen in Blaine, Washington in the Fall of 2019. Originally from Japan, it has spread to many Asian countries and now to the United ... READ MORE
Category: Agriculture, Home Landscapes, Invasive Species, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS Extension
The very first plant I received when I moved to Charlotte County almost twenty-years ago was a desert rose given to me by Master Gardener volunteers as a welcome gift. It was a plant I had heard of, but never grown before. First in a pot ... READ MORE
Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes
Houseplants are becoming increasingly popular, and rightfully so—from unique plants to fun and quirky containers, they are a great addition to your home décor. How do you know what plants will grow well in your home? Follow these tips for ... READ MORE
Category: Home Landscapes
Our Extension office frequently receives questions about lawns, mostly about how to care for them and why do they look bad. Dead spots in lawns are caused by several different problems, which can range from insect pests to broken irrigation ... READ MORE
Category: Home Landscapes, Lawn
What can you do to prevent mosquitoes from inhabiting your bromeliad plants? The information below is courtesy of Dr. Roxanne Connelly formerly with the UF/IFAS Florida Medical Entomology Lab and currently with CDC. There are several options: ... READ MORE
Category: 4-H & Youth, Agriculture, , Disaster Preparation, Health & Nutrition, Home Landscapes, Home Management, Natural Resources, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS Extension, Water, Work & Life
One of the 9 Florida Friendly Landscaping principles is "Fertilize Appropriately". As a homeowner or landscaper, sometimes it's difficult to know what that means during fertilizer "black-out" periods. Fertilizer black-out times are when we ... READ MORE
Category: Agriculture, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Home Management, Horticulture, Lawn, Pests & Disease, Turf, UF/IFAS Extension, Water, Work & Life
As if we needed another reason to call Florida 'Special', what with our state hanging out into the water and located south of the rest of the nation. Here in Central Florida, we even seem to do our gardening backwards. We can grow edibles ... READ MORE
Category: Agriculture, Crops, Fruits & Vegetables, Home Landscapes, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research
In the Wilting Heat Many Floridians choose not to grow any edibles during the summer in order to let the garden beds rest. It is generally a hostile time of year to be doing very much in the landscape anyway. Often, the area is left without ... READ MORE
Category: Agriculture, Conservation, Crops, Fruits & Vegetables, Health & Nutrition, Home Landscapes, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research
During the pandemic, 4-H youth development professionals have had to think out-of-the-box to present educational programs to the youth of Florida. Hence, Florida 4-H Adventures (http://florida4h.org/programsandevents_/4-h-adventures/) – an ... READ MORE
Category: 4-H & Youth, Camp, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Horticulture
Are you ready to try a new technology that could conserve water and save money at no cost to you? The UF/IFAS Extension Hillsborough County is seeking study participants for installation of new irrigation technology. Soil moisture ... READ MORE
Category: , Conservation, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Horticulture, Lawn, Water