UF/IFAS
Extension Okaloosa County

When and How to Prune Roses


February 16, 2017

Many of the roses grown in Florida require regular maintenance. Part of this maintenance includes pruning. But new gardeners sometimes have a hard time getting up the nerve to cut their rose bushes back. Matt Orwat, UF/IFAS Extension Agent ... READ MORE

Category: Home Landscapes

Pruning Oleander, Hibiscus and Azalea


February 16, 2017

Q. I have large oleanders that need to be pruned. When should they be pruned and how drastically can they be cut back? A. The best time to prune oleanders is during late winter just before new growth occurs (February - March). Oleanders flower ... READ MORE

Category: Home Landscapes

Is it Winter or is it Spring?


February 16, 2017

Northwest Florida winters can be a rollercoaster ride of temperatures. One week it dips to freezing for a short time and the next week it rises to spring-like temperatures. We need to hold on for this ride of up and down temperatures but not ... READ MORE

Category: Home Landscapes

Ideas for Gardening in January


January 4, 2017

Happy New Year! January may seem like a downtime in the landscape and garden. But there are many jobs to perform this month to get the landscape and garden off to a good start for a new year. In today’s article, I’ll share some gardening ... READ MORE

Category: Home Landscapes

Christmas Tree Facts


December 28, 2016

With today being Christmas, I thought it would be fun to look at some Christmas tree facts in today’s article. Nearly 350 million real Christmas trees are currently growing on Christmas tree farms in the U.S. alone, all planted by farmers. ... READ MORE

Category: Home Landscapes

Christmas gifts for the gardener


December 13, 2016

Do you have that hard to buy for person on your Christmas shopping list? I have an idea, especially if that person enjoys gardening. The University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Extension Bookstore offers ... READ MORE

Category: Home Landscapes

Acorns abound this fall


December 13, 2016

Do you have more acorns than you know what to do with this fall? When oaks produce loads of acorns, it sometimes is called a "mast" year. Do you remember the oak tree pollen and all those catkins that fell from oaks earlier this year? Catkins ... READ MORE

Category: Home Landscapes

Can tulips be grown in North Florida?


December 13, 2016

Q. I see advertising now for planting bulbs but I wonder if this is correct for here in North Florida? Are tulip bulbs a good choice here? A. Some of the northern bulbs are poor performers this far south. Tulips are in this category. It's not ... READ MORE

Category: Home Landscapes

Reduce 100 bags of fall leaves to ten


December 13, 2016

Billions of leaves blanket the fall landscape and are bagged by hundreds of homeowners to be placed curbside for local trash pick-up. Many of these leaves could be easily turned into valuable mulch or compost. Why do all those fall leaves ... READ MORE

Category: Home Landscapes

Water management during dry weather


December 13, 2016

So far our fall has been unusually dry with warmer temperatures. Even though our average annual rainfall is around sixty-two inches per year, we don’t always receive rain exactly when we need it. There are times when we need to apply additional ... READ MORE

Category: Home Landscapes, Water

Winterizer fertilizer, not for Florida


December 13, 2016

Many people fertilize their lawn too late with too much nitrogen. They wrongly call this practice “winterizing.” The word "winterizer" is misleading. Many of the so-called winterizer fertilizers available in our area can cause more damage ... READ MORE

Category: Home Landscapes

Glistening web on tree bark is harmless


December 13, 2016

Many people notice fine silken webbing on the trunks and branches of their trees and assume that this is a problem. But the insects that cause this webbing are not harmful to trees. They could even be considered beneficial. The tiny insects ... READ MORE

Category: Home Landscapes

Renew and Earn Limited Lawn and Ornamental and Right-of-Way Pesticide Licenses

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November 30, 2016

Need to obtain or renew one of the public works pesticide licenses? Then join us on December 15th, 2016 in Ft. Walton Bch. Attend one session or all four. Earn from 1-9 CEUs in many categories. For more information: county-pesticide-training-2016 READ MORE

Category: Events, Home Landscapes, Pests & Disease, Professional Development
Tags: Agriculture, CEUs, Commercial Horticulture, Lawn & Garden, Natural Resources, Pesticide

Trees for Fall Color in North Florida


November 28, 2016

Florida is not known for the brilliant fall color enjoyed by some of our northern neighbors. But, we do have a number of trees from which to choose to provide some fall color in our landscapes here in North Florida. Our native flowering dogwood ... READ MORE

Category: Home Landscapes

Vertical Gardening Seminar


June 13, 2016

The concept of vertical gardening may not be something you’ve put much thought into. But done correctly, vertical gardening can be a space saving idea in gardens and landscapes with limited room. Vining, sprawling vegetables such as some ... READ MORE

Category: Events, Home Landscapes

Apply lawn preemergence herbicide now, if needed


February 25, 2016

We are quickly approaching the window of opportunity to use a preemergence herbicide in lawns. But not every lawn needs an application of preemergence herbicide – only those lawns that have a history of summer annual weeds. When used correctly, ... READ MORE

Category: Lawn

Salty Topics Emerald Coast Series: Sea Turtles of the Emeald Coast

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April 21, 2014

The University of Florida IFAS Extension & Florida Sea Grant program of Okaloosa/Walton Counties invites you to join us on April 28th at 5:00 PM for our Salty Topics Emerald Coast Series “Sea Turtles of the Emerald Coast.” Brooke Saari, ... READ MORE

Category: Coasts & Marine, Natural Resources, Water, Wildlife
Tags: Conservation, Gulfarium, Marine Science, Natural Resources, Salty Topics, Sea Turtle Nesting, Sea Turtles

Salty Topics Emerald Coast: Marine Debris Removal for Coastal Habitat Restoration

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February 18, 2014

The University of Florida IFAS Extension & Florida Sea Grant program of Okaloosa/Walton Counties invites you to join us on Mar 11th, 11:00 AM for our Salty Topics Emerald Coast Series “Marine Debris Removal for Coastal Habitat Restoration.” This ... READ MORE

Category: Coasts & Marine, Conservation, Natural Resources, Water, Wildlife
Tags: Marine Debris, Marine Science, Master Naturalist, Natural Resources, Sea Turtles, Shorebirds, Wildlife

4-H


February 28, 2012

4-H is the exciting youth development program of the Florida Cooperative Extension. Membership is open to all youth ages 5-18. 4-H offers youth opportunities to acquire knowledge, develop skills and form attitudes that will enable them to ... READ MORE

Category: 4-H & Youth
No Mow March graphic

Learn about Pollinators for your Landscape and Garden


March 14, 2023

Don’t miss out on the opportunity to learn how to bring pollinators to your property, enjoy a delicious lunch and even learn how to cook and store fresh herbs. This and more will be covered at the No Mow March Event taking place at the Okaloosa ... READ MORE

Category: 4-H & Youth, Crops, Events, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Food Safety, Forests, Fruits & Vegetables, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Lawn, Recreation, Turf, Wildlife
Tags: Events, Growing Vegetables, Herbs, Lawns, Pollinators, Wildflowers
No Mow March graphic

No Mow March Event on March 27


March 1, 2023

If you are interested in learning more about pollinators that are important to wildlife, on our farms and in our lawns, landscapes and gardens, you’ll be interested in the No Mow March event. This event offers something for everyone from ... READ MORE

Category: 4-H & Youth, Agriculture, Crops, Events, Farm Management, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Food Safety, Forests, Health & Nutrition, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Lawn, Turf, Wildlife
Tags: Annual Weeds, Easter Egg Safety, Lawns, Pollinators, Seminar
Foreground flowering plants in landscape bed with green lawn in background

Master Gardener Volunteers Ready to Help in Fort Walton Beach


January 30, 2023

What happened to the old Extension Office Annex on Hollywood Boulevard in Fort Walton Beach where I used to go to have my lawn and garden questions answered? Here is the answer as well as info on where to find us now. The main office for ... READ MORE

Category: Community Volunteers, Events, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Fruits & Vegetables, Home Landscapes, Invasive Species, Lawn, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Florida-Friendly Landscapes, Master Gardener Volunteer, Plant Clinic, Plant Diagnostics

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