Tag: Gardens

Close-up of a colorful grasshopper on a rocky surface.

UF/IFAS experts give tips to manage the eastern lubber grasshopper, which can damage plants, citrus and vegetables

by Brad Buck
May 13, 2026

Eastern lubber grasshoppers are out in force throughout the Southeast, including some parts of Florida. They’re munching away on landscape plants, citrus and vegetable crops, while gardeners and growers are trying to minimize the damage. These ... READ MORE

Category: Fruits & Vegetables, Lawn, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS
Tags: Citrus, Crop Damage, Eastern Lubber Grasshopper, Gardens, Norm Leppla, Pest Management, Tia Silvasy, UF/IFAS Extension Hillsborough County, Vegetables
Photo of papaya open on a table.

Better mangoes, papayas and other tropical fruit: Breeding fruits consumers love, growers need

by Lourdes Mederos
May 13, 2026

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
Tags: Avocado, Consumers, Crops, Cultivars, Diseases, DNA, Dragon Fruit, Exotic Fruits, Flavor, Florida, Gardens, Genetic Markers, Genetic Tools, Growers, Health, Jugpreet Singh, Laurel Wilt, Mango, Nutrition, Papaya, Papaya Ringspot, Pests, Production, Shelf Life, Subtropical Climate, Tropical Fruit, Tropical Research And Education Center
Small seedling sprouting out of a seed starting kit.

Have a passion for plants but lack a green thumb? Dig into the UF/IFAS Environmental Horticulture Management Certificate Program

by Lourdes Mederos
May 13, 2026

Consumers are digging into gardening now more than ever. Several factors account for the increasing popularity, including growing food, relaxation, therapy and sprucing up your green areas and patios, according to a survey by the National ... READ MORE

Category: Agribusiness, Conservation, Crops, Events, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: #accessibility, Air-layering Plants, Certified Horticulture Professional, Environmental Horticulture, Environmental Horticulture Department, Environmental Horticulture Management Certificate, Fertilizers, Florida Nursery, Florida Nursery Growers And Landscape Association, FNGLA, Food, Fort Lauderdale Research And Education Center, Gardens, Green Areas, Growers, Horticulture, Horticulture Department, Horticulture Therapy, Industry, Institute Of Food And Agricultural Sciences, Native Plant Habitats, News, School Gardens, Training, UF-IFAS, Water Conservation
Close-up of two bees on a decaying fruit amidst a blurred green and yellow background.

App helps consumers find pollinator-friendly plants for their landscape

by Brad Buck
May 13, 2026

Florida is home to over 315 species of native wild bees, which thrive on flowers for survival. But some bees are in critical decline. While the public is increasingly interested in conserving pollinators and in pollinator-friendly gardening, ... READ MORE

Category: UF/IFAS
Tags: App, BeeGardens App, Bees, Environmental Horticulture, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Gardens, Identification, Pollinators, Sandra Wilson, Students
Hibiscus rosa-sinensis is a genus of flowering plants.

Pivotal study unlocks secrets of the invasive short-spined thrips

by Lourdes Mederos
May 13, 2026

Highlights Short-spined thrips are devastating ornamentals and crops worldwide, thriving in South Florida’s warm climate and spreading fast. In a novel study, UF/IFAS researchers mapped the pest’s biology life cycle, reproduction ... READ MORE

Category: Agribusiness, Agriculture, Blog Community, , Crops, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Invasive Species, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Acarology, Alexandra Revynthi, Beans, Beneficial, Beneficial Bugs, Beneficial Nematodes, Department Of Entomology And Nematology, Eggplants, Entomology And Nematology, Gardenias, Gardens, Growers, Hibiscus, Homeowners, Integrated Pes Management, Invasive, Invasive Insect, IPM, Mandevillas, Nematodes, News, Nurseries, Ornamental, Ornamental Entomology, Ornamental Plants, Peppers, Plant Pathology, Sanitation, Sanitation Practices, Short-spined Thrips, Thrips, Thrips Parvispinus, Tropical Research And Education Center, UF-IFAS, University Of Florida

Ways to Water: Hand watering

by Julia Sirchia
April 24, 2026

What is the go-to way you water your garden? In this series we will explore the importance of watering your plants, or irrigation. There are several methods of watering the garden, one of these methods is hand watering. What is hand watering? Hand ... READ MORE

Category: Crops, Home Landscapes, Horticulture
Tags: #RightPlantRightPlace, #SaveWaterFL, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Garden, Gardening, Gardens, Handwatering, Horticulture, Irrigation, Landscape, Landscaping, Overhead Irrigation, Resilient Landscaping, Saving Water, Smart Irrigation, UF/IFAS Pasco Extension Office, Water Conservation, Water Wise, Ways To Water

Appreciating Pollinators Year-Round

by Julia Sirchia
March 19, 2026

June is Pollinator Month! Pollinators are crucial for the reproduction of all kinds of plants. You’ve thought about where a baby comes from, but have you ever thought where a peach comes from? Let's explore why June is dedicated to these ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Crops, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Fruits & Vegetables, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Botany, Fruit, Garden, Gardening, Gardens, Guardians Of The Garden, Horticulture, Pollen, PolliNATION, Pollinator Gardens, Pollinators

Exploring Florida’s Natives: Carolina Jessamine

by Julia Sirchia
March 13, 2026

This bright and fragrant evergreen vine is often overlooked but can be easily recognized by its charming yellow flowers. And yes, it is a great addition to your landscape! In this series, we will uncover the origins, growing conditions, and ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: #RightPlantRightPlace, #SaveWaterFL, Central Florida, Community Garden, Community Gardens, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Garden, Gardening, Gardens, Goals, Horticulture, Irrigation, Landscape, Landscaping, Resilient Landscaping, Right Place, Right Plant, Saving Water, UF/IFAS Pasco Extension Office, Water Wise

Exploring Florida’s Natives: Chickasaw Plum

by Julia Sirchia
March 13, 2026

The Chickasaw Plum is another Florida native that will catch your eye. This small, deciduous, multi-branched tree has delicate white blossoms and small, flavorful plums. Let's talk about the origins, growing conditions, and ecological significance ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Fruits & Vegetables, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: #RightPlantRightPlace, #SaveWaterFL, Central Florida, Community Garden, Community Gardens, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Gardens, Goals, Horticulture, Irrigation, Landscape, Landscaping, Nutrition, Produce, Resilient Landscaping, Right Place, Right Plant, Smart Irrigation, Soil, UF/IFAS Pasco Extension Office, Water Conservation, Water Wise

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