The Eastern Lubber Grasshopper Eastern lubbers are common in Central/Southern Florida. Eastern lubbers are common in Central/Southern Florida. This time of year, you may see many small black grasshoppers with neon yellow or orange markings. ... READ MORE
Category: Crops, Home Landscapes, HorticultureThe Eastern Lubber Grasshopper Does the grasshopper pictured below look familiar to you? Eastern lubbers are common in Central/Southern Florida, especially at this time of year. You may see clusters of small to medium-sized black grasshoppers ... READ MORE
Category: HorticultureHave you seen me before? I am one insect, an Eastern Lubber Grasshopper, Romalea microptera. The Eastern Lubber Grasshopper The two insects above are the same species, photographed at different life stages. The first ... READ MORE
Category: Crops, Horticulture
What is a seed? This might seem like a simple question, but seeds play a much larger role than their tiny form might let on. Seeds are one of the most important means of plant reproduction. They carry the genetic material from parent plants ... READ MORE
Category: Crops, Home Landscapes, Horticulture
In Florida, annual dry periods and drought conditions in the fall and spring are completely normal. But during periods of extreme drought and below-average rainfall, like the conditions we are experiencing this year, there are some cultural ... READ MORE
Category: Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Water
Heat Wilt v. Permanent Wilt Some plants may 'wilt' in extreme heat when a plant’s water loss (via transpiration) exceeds water absorption. Or it may be a tactic the plant uses to conserve water as a protective measure against extreme temperatures. But ... READ MORE
Category: Home Landscapes, Horticulture
There is a lot of interest in residents and communities installing vertical oyster gardens (VOGs). This blog post discusses the process to get free VOGs through the UF/IFAS Extension Florida Sea Grant Program. If you want to learn more about ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Conservation, Natural Resources, UF/IFAS Extension, Water, WildlifeMature Trees Mature trees, especially older ones, develop an extensive network of roots and can survive on rainfall exclusively. Some of these roots run very deep, which is why supplemental watering is usually unnecessary. Most mature shrubs ... READ MORE
Category: Crops, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Water
Ideally, the requirements of a tree/shrub (or any plant for that matter) should align with the conditions of the planting site (right plant, right place). When a plant's growing needs are matched to the environmental conditions, you may notice ... READ MORE
Category: Crops, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Water
The amount of water a plant needs depends on many things. A few factors include the plant type, age and size, the environmental conditions, and soil type. When you do water, aim for deep, infrequent waterings to encourage strong root systems. ... READ MORE
Category: Crops, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes