Category: Lawn

How to Apply: Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Home Recognition, Hillsborough County

by Michael J. Masucci
July 1, 2025

Are you proud of your Florida-Friendly yard? Want to inspire others and get recognition for your hard work? The Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ (FFL) Home Recognition program is your chance to shine! Here’s how you can participate, what ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Lawn, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Florida-friendly Landscaping, Hillsborough County, Hoa, Home Landscapes, Home Recognition, Landscape, Lawn

Protecting Your Community: Hurricane-Ready Landscape Tips, Rain Season, Tropical Season.

by Michael J. Masucci
June 24, 2025

As summer ends, Hillsborough County should prepare for peak hurricane season. Historical data from 1944 to 2020 shows a sharp rise in storm activity after August, peaking through September and October. The graph below highlights this trend, ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Lawn
Tags: Community, Conservation, Disaster Preparation, Florida-friendly Landscaping, Hillsborough, Landscaping, Rain, Stormwater, Tropical, Water & Sewer, Weather

Drought Tolerant Native Plants for Central Florida

by Tia Silvasy
May 5, 2025

In the late spring when it starts to get hot and dry in Central Florida you may notice some plants wilting and others thriving. This is a good time to consider remove plants that are not well suited for your landscape and replace with drought ... READ MORE

Category: , Conservation, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Lawn, Natural Resources, UF/IFAS Extension, Wildlife
Tags: Central Florida, Drought, Hillsborough County, Hurricane, Native Plants, Salt, Tsilvasy

Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas for Gardeners

by Lynn Barber
February 10, 2025

Whether you are gifting a significant other, relative, friend or casual acquaintance, it’s time to think outside of the box. The classic Valentine’s Day plant is the rose, whether fresh cut and in a vase or the bush itself. A few other ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Lawn, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Florida-friendly Landscaping, Garden, Hillsborough County, Landscape

Lawn Care Made Simple: Smart Design Ideas for Easy Upkeep

by Michael J. Masucci
January 22, 2025

Maintaining a beautiful lawn doesn't have to be a constant struggle or time sink. With some smart landscape design choices, you can create a yard that's not only attractive but also easier to mow and maintain. By implementing these ideas, ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Lawn, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Central Florida, FFL, Florida-friendly Landscaping, Hillsborough, Landscape, Landscape Management, Lawncare, Mowing, Mulch

Understanding Plant Status: Native, Florida-Friendly, and Invasive Species

by Tia Silvasy
December 5, 2024

There is a lot of confusion about plant status and it's important to know the plant status so you can make the best decisions about selecting the right plants for your landscape. Let's start with some definitions! What is a Florida native ... READ MORE

Category: , Conservation, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Fruits & Vegetables, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Invasive Species, Lawn, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Central Florida, Florida Native Plants, Florida-friendly Landscaping, Invasive Plants, Plant Status

Green Industries Best Management Practices Certification aka Fertilizer License Training

by Susan Haddock
September 5, 2024

Click here to register for GI-BMP Certification training at UF/IFAS Extension Hillsborough County. GI-BMP Certification (Green Industries Best Management Practices) is required in Florida to obtain an FDACS Limited Urban Fertilizer Certification ... READ MORE

Category: Home Management, Horticulture, Lawn, Professional Development, Turf, UF/IFAS Teaching, Water
Tags: Fertilizer, Fertilizer Applicator, Fertilizer License, GI-BMP, GI-BMP Certification, Landscape, Nutrition, ProHort, SWProHort

Healthy Landscapes: The Micronutrient Advantage

by Michael J. Masucci
August 27, 2024

With summer in full swing, it's important to remember Hillsborough County's fertilizer ordinance. From June 1st to September 30th, you can't apply fertilizers containing nitrogen (N) or phosphorous (P) to landscapes and lawns ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Lawn, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Fertilizer, Florida-friendly Landscaping, Gardening, Hillsborough County, Home Landscape, Micronutrients, Soil Fertility

Native Plants to Protect the Tampa Bay Watershed

by Tia Silvasy
July 11, 2024

Thanks to a $5,000 bay-mini-grant from the Tampa Bay Estuary Program, UF/IFAS Extension Hillsborough County was able to develop a Bay Friendly Landscaping program. Educational classes were offered to teach residents about protecting the environment ... READ MORE

Category: , Coasts & Marine, Conservation, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Lawn, Natural Resources, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Central Florida, Florida-friendly Landscaping, Gardening, Native Plants, Tampa Bay, Tampa Riverwalk, Tsilvasy, Urban Wildlife, Video, Water, Water Quality, Watershed, Webinar, Wildlife

Know Your Rights and Responsibilities: Trees on Property Lines

by Michael J. Masucci
July 9, 2024

Trees can be a beautiful addition to any property, but they can also be a source of conflict between neighbors. It's important to understand your rights and responsibilities when it comes to trees on or near property lines. Let's break down ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Lawn, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Florida-friendly Landscaping, Hillsborough County, Hoa, Landscape, Master Gardener, Trees

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