Category: UF/IFAS Extension

FFL Plants WITH Florida Natives

Native Plants Play Key Role in Wildlife Gardens

by Maria Quirico
August 9, 2026

 Native plants are increasingly promoted as a cornerstone of wildlife-friendly gardening, but experts say gardeners do not need to limit themselves exclusively to native species to support pollinators and other wildlife. What are Native ... READ MORE

Category: Agribusiness, AGRICULTURE, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, HOME LANDSCAPES, Horticulture, Lawn, Natural Resources, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research, UF/IFAS Teaching, Wildlife
Tags: Ecological Value, Florida Friendly Plants, Florida Native Plants, Low-maintenance, Non-invasive
Dandelion_Sedge01

Florida Lawn Weed Control

by Maria Quirico
August 6, 2026

How do we control Florida Lawn Weeds? We begin by identifying the weeds into three groups: Broadleaf Weeds, Grass Weeds and Sedge Weeds. To control common Florida lawn weeds, use a combination of proper lawn care practices, targeted chemical ... READ MORE

Category: Agribusiness, Agribusiness, AGRICULTURE, Crops, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, HOME LANDSCAPES, Horticulture, Lawn, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, Turf, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research, UF/IFAS Teaching
Tags: Chemical Control, Cultural Control, Dollarweed, Integrated Pest Manangement, Nonselective Herbicide, Preventative Control, Selective Herbicide, Torpedo Grass, Yellow Nutsedge
Broadleaf vs sedge weeds

Identifying Florida Lawn Weeds

by Maria Quirico
August 6, 2026

The definition of a weed is any plant that is unwanted in your yard or garden.  There are three types of weeds: broadleaf, grasses, and sedges. Identifying the weed type will assist in weed control methods. Broadleaf Weeds Broadleaf Weeds ... READ MORE

Category: Agribusiness, AGRICULTURE, HOME LANDSCAPES, Home Management, Horticulture, Lawn, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, Turf, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research, UF/IFAS Teaching
Tags: Broadleaf Weed, Crabgrass, Dandelions, Florida Lawn Weeds, Grass Weed, Sedge Weed, Yellow Nutsedge
Buttonwood with Butterfly

Florida Weeds to Grow (Some are Great Butterfly Plants)

by Maria Quirico
August 6, 2026

A weed is a plant in an unwanted place. However, this depends on your point of view! Sometimes we are surprised that these weeds are host plants for butterflies. Host plants provide food for the caterpillars of these butterflies. Here are ... READ MORE

Category: AGRICULTURE, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, HOME LANDSCAPES, Home Management, Horticulture, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Butterfly Host Plants, Checkered White Butterfly, Dainty Sulphur Butterfly, Frogfruit, Great Southern White Butterfly, Porterweed, Spanish Needle, Tropical Buckeye Butterfly, Virginia Pepperweed, White Peacock Butterfly
Cochineal scale insects

Independence Day & Prickly Pear Cactus

by Maria Quirico
July 20, 2026

The Role of Opuntia and the Revolutionary War “The Redcoats are coming, the redcoats are coming!” This famous historical warning from the American Revolutionary War refers to the approach of the British Army. In addition, British officers ... READ MORE

Category: 4-H & Youth, AGRICULTURE, Crops, Curriculum, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, HOME LANDSCAPES, Horticulture, Invasive Species, Natural Resources, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research, Wildlife
Tags: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Insects Affecting Plants, Mealy Bugs, Red Dye, Residential Horticulture
Lake County MGVs

FIELD TRIP: Nehrling Gardens in Gotha, FL

by Maria Quirico
May 31, 2026

Fourteen Master Gardener Volunteers (and family) toured Nehrling Gardens in May 2026. Theresa Schretzmann-Myers (Board of Directors Vice President) was our excellent tour guide. Ms. Theresa fed us history, facts, stories, and anecdotes in ... READ MORE

Category: AGRICULTURE, Conservation, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Forests, Fruits & Vegetables, HOME LANDSCAPES, Home Management, Horticulture, Invasive Species, Natural Resources, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Teaching, Water, Wildlife, WORK & LIFE
Tags: Attract Wildlife, Botanical Garden, Conservation, FFL, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Native Plants, Sustainability

The Florida Lubber Grasshopper

by Maria Quirico
April 21, 2026

The Eastern Lubber Grasshopper, Romalea microptera, is a destructive pest in FL. The large, 2-3" yellow-tawny adults have short wings (microptera) making them unable to fly. Their common name, “lubber” comes from the old English word ... READ MORE

Category: AGRICULTURE, Conservation, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Management, Horticulture, Invasive Species, Natural Resources, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Teaching, Wildlife, WORK & LIFE
Tags: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Gardening, Insects Affecting Plants, Invasive Species, Residential Horticulture
Landscape Fabric w Weeds & Yard Litter

Landscape Fabric was a Garden Mishap!

by Maria Quirico
March 29, 2026

Landscape fabric is called weed barrier or garden cloth. It is a textile typically made from synthetic polypropylene or polyester. I put landscape fabric in all of the beds around my house at the recommendation of the landscape service I was ... READ MORE

Category: AGRICULTURE, Conservation, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, HOME LANDSCAPES, Home Management, Horticulture, Lawn, Natural Resources, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Teaching, WORK & LIFE
Tags: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Gardening, Landscape Fabric, Mulch, Residential Horticulture
Pollinator Garden

Good Natives for a Butterfly Garden

by Maria Quirico
March 4, 2026

As spring approaches, gardeners often rush to buy whatever they can find to fill a butterfly garden with color. But the best butterfly gardens contain as many native plants as possible to attract butterflies and other pollinators.Butterflies ... READ MORE

Category: AGRICULTURE, Conservation, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, HOME LANDSCAPES, Horticulture, Natural Resources, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Teaching, Wildlife
Tags: Attract Wildlife, Butterfly Gardening, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Native Florida Plants, Pollinator Garden, Residential Horticulture

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