Category: Natural Resources

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, Physical Health, Pollinators, Property Value, Shade Trees, Stormwater Management, Sustainable Landscaping, Tree Benefits, Trees, UF/IFAS Extension, Urban Forestry, Water Quality, Wildlife Habitat
Three magnified images of a gallinipper mosquito (Psorophora ciliata), a large floodwater mosquito common in Florida after heavy rains. The insect has a dark body, long legs with pale bands, and clear wings

When the Rain Brings the Giants

by Margaret Stewart
June 24, 2026

After the heavy rain in Northwest Florida, many people have noticed large mosquitoes called gallinippers. Psorophora ciliata often seems to appear all at once after storms or flooding. These mosquitoes are a normal part of Florida’s environment. ... READ MORE

Category: Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, Water
Tags: Flooding, Floodwater Mosquitoes, Florida Panhandle, Gallinippers, Havy Rainfall, Insect Pest, Integrated Pest Management, IPM, Larvicides, Mosquito Control, Mosquito Prevention, Mosquitoes, Northwest Florida, Psorophora Ciliata, Public Health Pests, Standing Water, Summer Pests, UF/IFAS Extension

Fall Lawn Care & October Plant Clinic

by Larry Williams
October 18, 2023

If your lawn has a history of winter annual weeds such as henbit, wild geranium, annual bluegrass, chickweed and lawn burweed, you can apply a preemergence herbicide to prevent these weeds from emerging. Apply it during October when nighttime ... READ MORE

Category: Events, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Fruits & Vegetables, HOME LANDSCAPES, Invasive Species, Lawn, Pests & Disease, Water
Tags: Lawn Problems, Plant Clinic, Plant Diagnostics, Soil Testing, Weed Control, Weed Identification

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