Gardener wearing protective gloves carefully places a flowering plant with blue blossoms and an exposed root ball into a freshly dug hole in the soil.

Fall Is for Planting: Why Now Is a Great Time for Trees and Shrubs

by Margaret Stewart
October 19, 2026

Spring gets most of the attention when it comes to planting. Garden centers are full of flowers, lawns are turning green, and everyone seems ready to get outside and dig in the dirt. But did you know that fall is one of the best times to plant ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, HOME LANDSCAPES, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Fall Landscaping, Fall Shrub Planting, Fall Tree Planting, Florida Gardening Tips, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Gardening In The Panhandle, Healthy Root Growth, Landscape Irrigation, Landscape Maintenance, Native Florida Plants, Northwest Florida Gardening, October Gardening, Okaloosa County Gardening, Panhandle Gardening, Proper Planting Depth, Right Plant Right Place, Root Flare, Shrub Care, Shrub Planting Tips, Sustainable Landscaping, Tree Care, Tree Establishment, Tree Fertilization, Tree Mulching, Tree Planting Tips, UF/IFAS Extension, Water Conservation
Close-up of orange, yellow, and red autumn oak leaves glowing in sunlight, with tall trees and bright sky in the background

Fall Has Arrived–But Your Landscape May Not Know It Yet

by Margaret Stewart
October 15, 2026

The calendar says it’s October. Pumpkins are showing up on porches, and people up north are pulling out their sweaters. Here in Northwest Florida, though, our lawns and gardens may not know that fall has arrived. October can still bring hot ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, HOME LANDSCAPES, Lawn, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, Wildlife
Tags: Bahiagrass, Centipedegrass, Composting, Fall Garden Cleanup, Fall Landscaping, Fall Lawn Care, Fall Planting, Florida Gardening Tips, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Gardening In The Panhandle, Irrigation Management, Large Patch Disease, Lawn Disease Prevention, Lawn Fertilization, Northwest Florida Gardening, October Gardening, October Landscape Maintenance, Okaloosa County Gardening, Panhandle Gardening, Plant Health, Seasonal Lawn Care, St. Augustinegrass, Sustainable Landscaping, UF/IFAS Extension, Warm-Season Grasses, Water Conservation, Zoysiagrass

How to Choose the Right Green Industry Professional for Your Lawn and Landscape

by Margaret Stewart
October 14, 2026

Your lawn and landscape are an investment. A healthy yard can increase your home's value, save water, and make your property more enjoyable. But choosing the right company is important. The lowest price is not always the best value. A trained ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, HOME LANDSCAPES, Home Management, Lawn, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Environmental Protection, FDACS, Fertilizer Certification, Florida Landscaping, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Gardening In The Panhandle, GI-BMP Certification, Hiring A Landscaper, Homeowner Tips, Landscape Best Management Practices, Landscape Contractor Insurance, Landscape Maintenance, Landscape Professionals, Lawn Care, Lawn Maintenance, Licensed Landscapers, Northwest Florida Landscaping, Panhandle Gardening, Pesticide Licensing, Sustainable Landscaping, UF/IFAS Extension, Water Conservation
Person wearing safety gloves uses a chainsaw to cut a fallen tree after a hurricane in Northwest Florida, highlighting storm debris cleanup and landscape recovery safety.

After the Storm: Helping Your Northwest Florida Landscape Recover from a Hurricane

by Margaret Stewart
October 12, 2026

The winds have stopped, the rain has moved on, and the sun is finally shining. Unfortunately, your landscape may look as though Mother Nature hosted a demolition derby and forgot to clean up afterward. Hurricanes are a fact of life in Northwest ... READ MORE

Category: Disaster Preparation, HOME LANDSCAPES, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Certified Arborist, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Gardening In The Panhandle, Hiring Tree Care Professionals, Hurricane Cleanup Safety, Hurricane Damage, Hurricane Landscape Recovery, Hurricane Preparedness, Hurricane-Damaged Plants, Landscape Restoration, Landscape Safety, Lawn Recovery After Flooding, Northwest Florida Landscaping, Okaloosa County Gardening, Panhandle Gardening, Post-Hurricane Cleanup, Saltwater Damage To Plants, Storm Damaged Trees, Storm Recovery Tips, Storm-Resilient Landscaping, Tree Care After A Hurricane, Tree Pruning After Storms, Tree Removal Safety, UF/IFAS Extension

Begonia ‘Tiger Paws’: The “It Girl” of Fall

by Margaret Stewart
October 8, 2026

This article was written by Okaloosa County Master Gardener Volunteer, Dana Jolman. All the photos were taken by her of her own Tiger Paws Begonia. Some plants quietly sit in the corner looking pretty, and then some plants walk into October ... READ MORE

Category: HOME LANDSCAPES, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Begonia Care, Begonias, Container Gardening, Fall Gardening, Foliage Plants, Gardening In The Panhandle, Houseplants, Leaf Cuttings, Master Gardener Volunteers, Northwest Florida Gardening, Okaloosa County, Panhandle Gardening, Plant Propagation, Rhizomatous Begonias, Shade Gardening, Tiger Paws Begonia, UF/IFAS Extension
Close-up of a lawn sprinkler spraying water across green grass during landscape irrigation.

Your Landscape Is Thirsty–But Maybe Not as Thirsty as You Think

by Margaret Stewart
September 25, 2026

As the weather cools in Northwest Florida, we pull out jackets, enjoy cooler mornings, and watch our landscapes begin to slow down. But there is one fall chore that is easy to forget: Change the irrigation schedule. That sprinkler timer ... READ MORE

Category: Conservation, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, HOME LANDSCAPES, Lawn, Turf, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, Water
Tags: EPA WaterSense, Fall Irrigation, Florida Gardening, Florida Lawns, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Gardening In The Panhandle, Home Landscaping, Irrigation, Irrigation Management, Landscape Maintenance, Landscape Watering, Lawn Care, Northwest Florida, Panhandle Gardening, Seasonal Watering, Smart Irrigation, Turfgrass, UF/IFAS Extension, Water Conservation, Water-Wise Landscaping, WaterSEnse, Winter Irrigation
Children and an adult plant a young tree togethr in a shaded park, placing the root ball into the soil beneath mature trees.

A Tree Is an Investment in Your Home and Health

by Margaret Stewart
September 18, 2026

A healthy tree is much more than a pretty part of the yard. Trees provide shade, lower energy costs, manage rainwater, support wildlife and improve air quality. They may also increase property value and support our physical and mental health. These ... READ MORE

Category: Health & Nutrition, HOME LANDSCAPES, Horticulture, Natural Resources, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Air Quality, Carbon Dioxide Reduction, Carbon Storage, Climate Resilience, Energy Savings, Environmental Benefits, Florida Gardening, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Gardening In The Panhandle, Home Landscaping, Mental Health, Native Trees, Northwest Florida, Okaloosa County, Panhandle Gardening, Physical Health, Pollinators, Property Value, Shade Trees, Stormwater Management, Sustainable Landscaping, Tree Benefits, Trees, UF/IFAS Extension, Urban Forestry, Water Quality, Wildlife Habitat

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