Category: Home Landscapes

synthetic turf

Considering synthetic turf? What homeowners should know before installation

by Megan Winslow
July 15, 2025

A new Florida law that prohibits local governments from banning synthetic turf installation on some single-family residential properties could make it easier for homeowners to replace grass lawns with green plastic. (more…) READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Lawn, Turf
Tags: Cost, Fertilizer, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Grass, HB 683, House Bill 683, Hypoallergenic, IFAS, Institute Of Food And Agricultural Sciences, Irrigation, Jason Kruse, Landscape, Law, Lawn, Legislation, Maintenance, Outdoors, Plastic, Research, Sod, Synthetic Turf, Turf, Turfgrass Science, UF, UF-IFAS, University Of Florida, Weeding

Exploring Florida’s Natives: Star Anise

by Julia Sirchia
July 15, 2025

Star anise (Illicium parviflorum), also known as Anise or Yellow Anisetree, is a low maintenance, fragrant, native shrub that could be the perfect addition to your landscape. Origins of the Florida Star Anise The evergreen star anise is native ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Horticulture
Tags: Exploring Florida's Natives Series, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Flowering, Garden, Gardening, Horticulture, Illicium Parviflorum, Landscape, Landscaping, Native Gardens, Resilient Landscaping, Star Anise, Water Wise, Yellow Anisetree
Sunflowers

Plant Survival in Hardee County: Understanding Water, Nutrients, and Smart Plant Choices

by Jonael Bosques
July 14, 2025

Welcome to the summer rainy season in Hardee County! Geographically, your home sits on a unique blend environmental zones with a diverse subtropical weather puzzle —hot, humid summers with frequent thunderstorms punctuated by dry spells ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Crops, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Livestock, Natural Resources, Turf, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension,
Tags: Biology, Crops, Extension, Farm, Fertilizer, Florida, IFAS, Nutrients, Plants, Water

Invasive Plants–Root Them Out, Quickly

by Jeff Wasielewski
July 14, 2025

A weed is any plant growing where you don’t want it to grow. An invasive is a weed that grows at a rapid rate, spreads easily, and crowds out desired or native plants in landscapes and natural areas. Native plants are plants that occur in ... READ MORE

Category: Agribusiness, Agriculture, , Crops, Farm Management, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Fruits & Vegetables, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension
Common pruning tools

Clean Your Pruning Tools

by Duval MGV
July 14, 2025

There are diseases in the landscape that are spread by the very tools that we use to take care of them. When we prune out diseased limbs and branches we could be moving the disease from sick plants and spreading it to healthy plants. In this ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Forests, Fruits & Vegetables, Home Landscapes, Lawn, Natural Resources, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Disease, Duval, Florida Gardening, Gardening, Landscape, Management, Pruning
Gordon_at micoscope analyzing termite specimens banner.

From itchy bites to asthma triggers: Why one scientist studies what’s bugging us

by Lourdes Mederos
July 14, 2025

From bed bugs in bedrooms and cockroaches in kitchens to the latest invasive pests spreading into new communities, the uninvited guests that sneak into our homes are more than just nuisances—they can be public health threats, economic ... READ MORE

Category: Crops, Disaster Preparation, Home Landscapes, Invasive Species, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research, Work & Life
Tags: Allergenic Proteins, Allergens, Bd Bugs, Bites, Bugs, Cockroaches, Data-driven, Entomology, Extension Outreach, Fort Lauderdale Research And Education Center, Health Risk, Histamine, Homes, Households, Human Immune Response, Insects, Invasive Pests, Johnalyn Gordon, Lourdes Mederos, Pest-management Solutions, Pests, Species, Structural Pests, Threats, Tropical Climate, Urban Pests
Florida with magnifying glass and insect

July 2025 First Friday with Florida First Detector

by Morgan Pinkerton
July 14, 2025

Recap of July 2025 First Friday with Florida First Detector Oak trees play a vital role in our ecosystems, providing food, shelter, and beauty across the globe. In the United States, there are about 90 native oak species, with 24 found right ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Conservation, Crops, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Forests, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Invasive Species, Natural Resources, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS Extension, Wildlife
Tags: Biosecurity, Early Detection, Eradication, FFD24-25, FloridaFirstDetector, Oaks, Quarantine, SeminoleCountyAg

Florida Pesticide Licenses: Aquatic

by Luis Rodriguez Rosado
July 10, 2025

Florida is among the most highly regulated states when it comes to pesticide applications, offering 13 different types of pesticide licenses across more than 20 categories. This complex structure can make it challenging for applicators to determine ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Coasts & Marine, Invasive Species, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, Water
Tags: Applying Pesticides Correctly, Aquatic License, Aquatic Pesticides, Aquatic Plants, Herbicide, Pesticide License, Pest_control, UF-IFAS, UF/IFAS Polk County

Licencias de Plaguicidas de Florida: Acuática (“Aquatic”)

by Luis Rodriguez Rosado
July 10, 2025

Florida es uno de los estados con mayor regulación en cuanto a la aplicación de plaguicidas, ofreciendo 13 diferentes tipos de licencias de plaguicidas con más de 20 categorías. Esta compleja estructura puede dificultar que los aplicadores ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Coasts & Marine, Invasive Species, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, Water
Tags: Applying Pesticides Correctly, Aquatic License, Aquatic Pesticides, Aquatic Plants, En Espanol, Español, Herbicide, Pesticide License, Pest_control, UF-IFAS, UF/IFAS Polk County

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