Category: Natural Resources

How to Care for a Fresh Christmas Tree

by Susan Haddock
December 2, 2025

Nothing brings holiday spirit into your home quite like the scent and beauty of a fresh Christmas tree. After choosing the perfect one, it’s important to care for it properly so it stays healthy, fragrant, and safe throughout the season. Here ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, , Conservation, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Home Management, Horticulture, Natural Resources, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Christmas Tree, Christmas Tree Care, Florida-friendly Landscaping, Fresh Tree, Holiday Tree, ProHort, SW ProHort

Turfgrass Replacement

by Susan Haddock
November 13, 2025

If 30% or more of your lawn is covered with weeds, bare spots, or other damage, it’s usually more practical to replace it with new sod. In many cases, the time, cost, and effort needed to repair the area are greater than simply starting ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Home Management, Horticulture, Lawn, Turf, UF/IFAS Extension, Water
Tags: Florida-friendly Landscaping, Grass, Landscape, Lawn Replacement, Laying Sod, Turfgrass

Winter Landscape Care: Fertilizer and Watering Tips

by Susan Haddock
November 13, 2025

Plants use sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide (CO₂) to make food through photosynthesis. In fall and winter, less sunlight, cooler temperatures, and less rain cause photosynthesis and growth to slow down. Because of this, plants need very ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Home Management, Horticulture, Lawn, Turf, UF/IFAS Extension, Water
Tags: Fall_lawn_care, Fertilization, Fertilizer, Florida-friendly Landscaping, Irrigation, Landscape, Lawn, ProHort, SWProHort, Turfgrass, Water, Watering Efficiently, Winter Landscape

Plant Status Change – Tropical Milkweed is Now Listed as a Category II Invasive

by Tia Silvasy
November 5, 2025

Tropical Milkweed is now Invasive! Tropical milkweed (Asclepias curassavica) was once a go to larval host plant for monarch butterflies. As of June 2025 the plant status has changed. It is now listed as invasive in the entire state ... READ MORE

Category: , Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Invasive Species, Natural Resources, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Asclepias, Butterfly, Invasive Species, Native Plants, Tropical Milkweed, Tsilvasy

Whispering of the Pines

by Alyssa Vinson
October 30, 2025

The Unexpected Pine Decline While most of us have moved on from the 2024 hurricane season, many of our trees are only now beginning to reveal the true extent of the damage they endured. Wind can shake trees violently, twisting and breaking ... READ MORE

Category: Home Landscapes, Natural Resources
Tags: Dead Pines, Pines, Urban Forestry, Urban Forestry Extension

Unlocking the Forest: A High-Tech Nature Walk at Alafia State Park

by ambernorris
October 15, 2025

Equipped with binoculars, field guides, and AI technology, we set out for a crisp fall morning adventure at Alafia State Park. We discovered that today’s nature walk isn't just about what you can see, but what technology can help you hear, ... READ MORE

Category: 4-H & Youth, , Conservation, Forests, Invasive Species, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, Wildlife
Tags: 4-H, AI, Anorris, Central Florida, Hillsborough County, State Parks, Technology, Uf/ifas Extension, Wildlife, Youth

Silent Sentinels: The Enduring Legacy of Trees

by Alyssa Vinson
October 15, 2025

October brings a gentle change in rhythm. The air cools at dawn, the light lingers differently, and the plants around us begin to slow. In this quiet transition, trees stand steady, silent sentinels that have watched over seasons, centuries, ... READ MORE

Category: Forests, Home Landscapes, Natural Resources, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Old Trees, Trees Are Cool, Uf/ifas Extension, Urban Forestry Extension

Chinese Crown Orchid – An Invasive Species you Need to Know

by Tia Silvasy
September 30, 2025

Introduction Chinese crown orchid, Eulophia graminea, is a relatively new invasive species spreading through the state of Florida. It was first found in mulch in Miami, FL in 2007 and is now listed as a Category II invasive species by the ... READ MORE

Category: , Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Home Management, Invasive Species, Natural Resources, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Central Florida, Crown Orchid, Invasive Species, Tampa Bay, Tsilvasy

The Dirt behind the Data

by Alyssa Vinson
September 22, 2025

During the first week of September, a week marked by surprisingly brisk morning air, the Koeser Lab team gathered to perform some necessary and challenging tasks. In previous Show Us the Data! posts, we gave you a glimpse into the world of field ... READ MORE

Category: Forests, Home Landscapes, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Rooted In Tree Research, Show Us The Data!, UF/IFAS Research, Urban Forestry Extension

Groundcovers for an Alternative Lawn

by Tia Silvasy
September 9, 2025

Lawns planted with turfgrass can require a lot of maintenance. Bahia grass is a drought-tolerant turfgrass with minimal pest and disease problems and a low nitrogen requirement. St. Augustinegrass has a high demand for water and fertilizer and ... READ MORE

Category: , Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Lawn, UF/IFAS Extension, Wildlife
Tags: Alternative Lawns, Groundcover, Hillsborough, Native, No Mow Lawns, Pollinator, Silvasy, Tampa

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