Category: Pests & Disease

Reviving Elms: Lessons from Dutch Elm Disease and Strategies for Healthy Urban Forests


August 27, 2025

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,
Tags: Tree Disease, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Extension Sumter County, Urban Forestry, Urban Forestry Extension
Mosquito sucking blood

Florida’s Flying Menace: What You Need to Know About Mosquitoes and the Diseases They Spread Series 4


August 27, 2025

Florida’s warm, humid climate makes it a paradise not just for people—but also for mosquitoes. These tiny pests are more than just a nuisance; they can carry serious diseases that affect humans, pets, and wildlife. Understanding which species ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, , Coasts & Marine, Farm Management, Home Landscapes, Natural Resources, Pests & Disease, Water
Tags: #FloridaHealth, #MosquitoAwareness, #MosquitoSeason, #PublicHealthFlorida, #VectorControl, #WestNileVirus, #ZikaPrevention
green palms trees against a blue sky

9/18/25 Palms Workshop–In Person in Orange Co.


August 26, 2025

BEWARE! AFTER THIS CLASS, YOU WILL NEVER LOOK AT PALMS THE SAME AGAIN! Palms are popular plants that represent a slice of Florida paradise! There is a science to growing pretty palms that will thrive in Florida, from wild places to managed ... READ MORE

Category: Events, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Pests & Disease, Professional Development, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Central Florida, CEU, CEUs, Cflandscapes, Commercial Horticulture, Commercial Lawn And Ornamental, Continuing Education, Continuing Education Unit, Cpo, Education, Florida, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Garden, Gardening, Gardening Class, Hkalaman, Hwooten, Landscape, Landscape Architect, Landscape Design, Landscapes, Lawn And Ornamental, Limited Commercial Landscape Maintenance, Limited Lawn And Ornamental, Nutrient Deficiencies, Ocextension, Orlando Events, Ornamental And Turf, OT, Pa, Palm, Palm Diagnostics, Palm Fertilizer, Palm Problems, Palms, PCO, Planning, Plant Diseases, Plant Pests, Pruning, Right-of-Way, Row, Streetscape, Sustainable Landscaping

Florida’s Hidden Invaders: Invasive Plants in Our Yards Part 2


August 21, 2025

In Part 1 of this series we explored several popular but invasive plants often found in Florida yards, including Mother of Millions, Wandering Dude, Mimosa Tree, Chinese Wisteria, and Common Lantana. These species may look beautiful, but their ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease
Tags: Florida Friendly, Florida Gardening, Florida Wildlife, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Floridas-hidden-invaders, Garden, Gardening, Horticulture, Invasive Species, Invasives, Landscape, Landscape Management, Native Plants, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Extension Orange County
Monarch butterfly caterpillar feeding on a leaf

Which Milkweeds Are Truly Safe for Monarchs?


August 18, 2025

Over the past few weeks, I’ve been hearing the same question repeatedly: “Which milkweeds should I plant to help monarch butterflies?” It’s a great question, but the answer isn’t simple. Many gardeners want to do the right thing. Yet, ... READ MORE

Category: , Conservation, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Invasive Species, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: #ufbugs, Extension, Florida Friendly Landscape, Invasive Species, Master Gardener
Butterflies on a shrub.

Grow Your Green Expertise with the Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Professional Certification


August 12, 2025

Florida’s landscapes are more than just beautiful; they’re vital to protecting our water, supporting wildlife, and maintaining our state’s natural charm. But keeping them thriving requires more than a good eye for plants. It takes science-based, ... READ MORE

Category: , Conservation, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Lawn, Natural Resources, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS Extension, Wildlife
Tags: Florida Friendly Landscape, Native Plants Florida, Pollinator Friendly, UF/IFAS Extension, Water Conservation Landscaping
photo of candles and other insect repelling plants

Florida experts break down the buzz on the myth of mosquito-repelling plants


August 6, 2025

As we enter the heart of Florida’s summer in July and August, we’re at the peak of both rainy season and mosquito season, with daily downpours creating ideal breeding grounds for mosquitoes across the state. If you’ve ever wondered ... READ MORE

Category: , Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Home Management, Horticulture, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research, Wildlife
Tags: Basil, Beach Sunflowers, Beneficial Wildlife, Birds, Candles, Citronella, Dragonflies, Entomology And Nematology, Environmental Horticulture, Eucalyptus, Eva Buckner, Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Horticultural Sciences, Insects, Jennifer Pelham, Ladybugs, Lavender, Liah Continentino, Marigolds, Mint, Mosquito, Mosquito Control, Mosquito Season, Natural Predators, News, Rain, UF-IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension Broward County, UF/IFAS Extension Monroe County, University Of Florida

Chinch bug challenges continue in 2025


August 6, 2025

2024 was arguably the most challenging year in the past decade for Florida chinch bug management. Phone call after email after meeting, I was hearing pest control professionals describe their struggles to control chinch bugs in lawns. None of ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Lawn, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, Turf, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Lawn, Pest Control, Resistance, Southern Chinch Bug, St. Augustinegrass, Turf

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