Category: Home Management

Garden Tool Care: Take Care of Your Tools and They’ll Take Care of You

by Susan Haddock
December 2, 2025

Having the right garden tool is important but keeping them in good condition is just as important. Garden tools often get used hard and put away dirty or wet, which causes rust and damage. With a little maintenance, your tools can work well ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Home Management, Horticulture, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Cleaning Tools, Florida-friendly Landscaping, Garden Tool Care, Gardening, Gardening Tools, Landscape, Landscape Tools, ProHort, Sharpening Tools, SW ProHort, Tool Care

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

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

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

Fall Lawn Care After the Fertilizer Restricted Period

by Susan Haddock
October 2, 2023

October marks the end of most fertilizer restrictions in the Tampa Bay area. Most “summer bans” restrict the application of nitrogen and phosphorous from June 1st through September 30 during the rainy season. During the summer ban other ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Home Management, Horticulture, Lawn, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, Turf, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Fall_lawn_care, Fertilizer, Fertilizer Ordinances, Fertilizer Restrictions, Lawn_care, SW ProHort, SWProHort, Turfgrass

Tips for Florida Homeowners on Fertilizing Plants

by Tia Silvasy
May 17, 2023

Fertilizer can help plants grow but can also have adverse effects on the environment. Be sure to apply best management practices when fertilizing to optimize your plant health without harming our water bodies. Watch the recording of our How ... READ MORE

Category: , Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Fruits & Vegetables, Home Landscapes, Home Management, Horticulture, Lawn, Turf, UF/IFAS Extension, Water
Tags: Fertilizer, Florida-friendly Landscaping, Fruit, Grass, Hillsborough County, Landscape, Lawn, Master Gardener Volunteer, Shrub, Tampa, Tree, Tsilvasy, Turf, Vegetables, Video, Youtube

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