Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping

A Landscape Guide for New Florida Residents

by Maggie Gaughan

November 8, 2022

Florida is an unique and special place. No wonder why so many folks from other states move here! If you've recently moved to Florida and are struggling to understand your yard, use the resources outlined in this guide to help you get acquainted ... READ MORE

Category: , Conservation, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Fruits & Vegetables, Home Landscapes, Home Management, Lawn, Pests & Disease, Recreation, Turf, UF/IFAS, Water, Welcome, Work & Life
Tags: Florida Friendly Landscape, Home Landscapes, Homeowner Resources, Irrigation, Save Water, Water Conservaton

Tree Series: Pruning (Hardwood and Palms)

by Michelle Atkinson

October 6, 2022

Pruning trees can be tricky. These factsheets can help! The information below can help you with your palm pruning and pruning hardwood trees. For more information contact MichelleAtkinson@ufl.edu or call 941-722-4824 x1818 New Tree Series ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, UF/IFAS
Tags: Palm, Prohort, Pruning, Swprohort, Tree

Palm Seedling Invasion – How to Manage this Pesky Problem

by Christine Russo

September 13, 2022

The Palm Tree: A Florida Icon Palm trees can be found in every corner of the Sunshine State, as they are a great landscape plant, are easy to maintain, and are hardy when planted in the right environment. There are over 30 types of palms ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Farm Management, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Lawn, Natural Resources, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, Wildlife
Tags: IPM, Palm Trees

Does your Irrigation Make Sense, WaterSense?

by Maggie Gaughan

September 12, 2022

Does your irrigation system make sense? Are your sprinklers working for you or against you in your mission to irrigate efficiently? Luckily, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has created a label to distinguish water-efficient products ... READ MORE

Category: Conservation, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Home Management, Lawn, UF/IFAS Extension, Water
Tags: EPA, Irrigation, Landscape, Save Water, Smart Irrigation, Sprinklers, Water Conservation, Water Pressure, Watersense

The Rain Sensor: Is your Rainy Season Hero Alive and Well?

by Maggie Gaughan

June 14, 2022

Over here in Southwest Florida, rainy season has officially begun! The unsung hero of the rainy season is none-other than the rain sensor! Rain sensors interrupt your irrigation system controller's programmed schedule when adequate rainfall ... READ MORE

Category: Conservation, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Home Management, Lawn, UF/IFAS Extension, Water
Tags: Irrigation, Mobile Irrigation Lab, Rain, Rain Sensor, Save Water, Sprinklers, Water Conservation

Raining Fall Color

by Alyssa Vinson

October 27, 2021

Raining Fall Color It is fall in southwest Florida. Pumpkins have arrived on doorsteps and jackets are emerging from the depths of closets to meet the chill of early morning. Marking the turn of the seasons in Florida takes careful observation. ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes
Tags: Colorful, Environment, Fall Gardening, Florida Friendly Landscape, Gardening, IFAS, Landscape, Manatee County, Manatee County Extension, UF/IFAS Extension, Wildflowers

Recognition Beyond Boundaries

by Alyssa Vinson

September 3, 2021

UF/IFAS Extension Manatee County Master Gardener Volunteers were recognized for excellence during the 2021 International Master Gardener Conference, hosted by the Virginia Extension Master Gardener Program. The conference is attended by more ... READ MORE

Category: Community Volunteers, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Award, Featured Hot Topic, International Award, Master Gardener Volunteers

From The Garden Bench: Swamp Sunflower

by Alyssa Vinson

August 23, 2021

A Native Fall Winner: Swamp Sunflower by: Norma Kisida, Master Gardener Volunteer As summer flowers fade, we still have many later blooming native plants to bring us color and provide food for wildlife. One that may not be as common in the ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Fall Gardening, Master Gardener, Pollinator Gardening, Pollinators, Sunflower, Swamp Sunflower, Wildflowers

Winging our Way to Reading Success

by Alyssa Vinson

June 30, 2021

“If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need”. -Cicero On June 5th, 2021 a group of Manatee County Master Gardener Volunteers came together with community members and library staff to install a pollinator garden at ... READ MORE