UF/IFAS Extension Okaloosa County -

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, Seasonal Watering, Smart Irrigation, Turfgrass, UF/IFAS Extension, Water Conservation, Water-Wise Landscaping, WaterSEnse, Winter Irrigation

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, Physical Health, Pollinators, Property Value, Shade Trees, Stormwater Management, Sustainable Landscaping, Tree Benefits, Trees, UF/IFAS Extension, Urban Forestry, Water Quality, Wildlife Habitat

Master Gardener Volunteer Fall Plant Sale this Saturday

by Larry Williams
September 14, 2026

September offers a favorable time to purchase and plant some landscape plants. The Okaloosa County Master Gardener Volunteers can assist with this. They are holding a Fall Plant Sale this Saturday in Fort Walton Beach. The Fall Plant ... READ MORE

Category: Events
Tags: Fall Plant Sale, Master Gardener Volunteer

Why Let Your Own Backyard be a Source of Worry?

by Larry Williams
September 11, 2026

Note: On the 25th anniversary of 9/11, I'm sharing an article that I wrote on September 11, 2001. In times like these, it seems that our own perceived problems pale in comparison to the big picture. While writing this article, I’m ... READ MORE

Category: HOME LANDSCAPES
Tags: Landscape Memories, Landscape Purpose, Panhandle Gardening, September 11

Cicadas are loud and large but not much of a pest in Florida

by Larry Williams
September 3, 2026

“What is that noise,” asked the visitors to Middle Georgia when I was a teenager. They were visiting during the summer from El Paso, Texas. I asked, “What noise?” They replied, “That loud noise in the trees.” I responded, “Oh, ... READ MORE

Category: HOME LANDSCAPES, Pests & Disease
Tags: Cicadas, Insect Noise, Panhandle Gardening

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

by Margaret Stewart
August 24, 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, Turf, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Choosing A Lawn Care Company, Environmental Protection, FDACS, Fertilization, Fertilizer Certification, Florida Homeowners, Florida Landscaping, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Program, FNGLA, Gardening In The Panhandle, GI-BMP, Green Industries Best Management Practices, Hiring A Landscaper, Home Landscaping, Integrated Pest Management, IPM, Irrigation, ISA Certified Arborist, Landscape Design, Landscape Maintenance, Landscape Professionals, Lawn Care, Lawn Care Professionals, Panhandle Gardening, Pest Management, Pesticide Licensing, Pesticide Safety, Plant Health, Professional Lawn Care, UF/IFAS Extension, Water Conservation, Weed Control

August Landscape Tasks and Plant Clinic

by Larry Williams
August 19, 2026

August can be a tough month for North Florida lawns and landscapes. The heat and humidity can be hard on both plants and gardeners. However, there are some things you can do now that will help your landscape in the coming weeks. Give Roses ... READ MORE

Category: Events, HOME LANDSCAPES, Lawn
Tags: Plant Clinic, Pruning Crape Myrtles, Pruning Roses, Soil Testing

Be Careful Using Lawn Weed Killers in Hot Weather

by Larry Williams
July 31, 2026

Hot weather and lawn weed killers, called herbicides, do not mix well. Spraying a lawn with an herbicide when temperatures are too high can damage or even kill your grass. Most herbicide labels include a warning like this: "Do not use ... READ MORE

Category: Lawn
Tags: Lawn Weed Control, Panhandle Gardening

Protecting Your Horse from Eastern Equine Encephalitis

by Jennifer Bearden
July 29, 2026

It’s a good idea to consider vaccinating horses against Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE). The wet weather is increasing mosquito populations that vector this disease to humans and horses. There have been cases of EEE in horses this year. ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Livestock, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Panhandle Agriculture

What’s Wrong with My Lawn Seminars

by Larry Williams
July 15, 2026

Do you want to give up on having a Florida lawn? Have you threatened to pave your lawn? If so, you may want to attend one of the two upcoming What’s Wrong with My Lawn seminars. I’ll be the first to admit that North Florida lawns are ... READ MORE

Category: Events, Lawn
Tags: Common Lawn Problems, Lawn Diagnosis, Lawn Diseases, Lawn Help, Lawn Insect Pests, Lawn Seminars, Panhandle Gardening

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