What is rewilding? In rewilding a yard, a gardener returns a part of their yard to nature. This includes encouraging beneficial insects, reducing herbicide and pesticide use, pruning less, and planting more native plants. This practice is becoming ... READ MORE
Category: , Home Landscapes, Natural Resources, Work & Life
Birds Are Starving Exotic (non-native) plants do not support the caterpillars that native birds need for food, causing birds to starve to death. If birds can’t find enough caterpillars, they can’t reproduce and they and their young starve. Birds ... READ MORE
Category: Home Landscapes, Wildlife, Work & Life
We all want a beautiful, flourishing, healthy landscape. Before you go and spend a bunch of money at the garden center, here are a few things to consider so you won’t waste your time and money. Make sure the plant is for our zone. ... READ MORE
Category: , Conservation, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, WildlifeAs I look around it would be impossible to know I’m in Florida by looking at the landscape plants. Nearly all of the plants used in our old-style landscapes are from somewhere else (exotic) like China, Asia, India, Japan, Brazil, Mexico, Australia, ... READ MORE
Category: Home Landscapes, Work & Life
Theresa Badurek, Urban Horticulture Extension Agent Spring is here, despite the recent chilly weather. Many of you will be turning to garden and landscape projects while the weather is still cool enough to be comfortable working outside. ... READ MORE
Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Fruits & Vegetables, Home Landscapes, Lawn, Work & LifeWe have a serious whitefly issue developing in Florida. We are having major issues managing 2 whitefly biotypes (B and Q). Both biotypes are referred to as Bemisia tabaci. The Q biotype has now been detected in landscapes. Bemisia ... READ MORE
Category: Crops, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Pests & DiseaseWater-Wise Awards Program is Now Accepting Applications Applications are now being accepted for the Tampa Bay Water Community Water-Wise Awards program. In Pinellas County, the awards program is sponsored by Tampa Bay Water, Pinellas County ... READ MORE
Category: Home Landscapes, Water, Work & LifeTheresa Badurek, UF/IFAS Extension, Pinellas County Spring is a beautiful time of year here in Florida. The birds are singing, the weather is warm (but not yet hot), and the flowers and trees are blooming. But along with the beautiful ... READ MORE
Category: Home Landscapes, Natural Resources, Work & Life
Did you know that our economy and natural environment are under siege by plant and animal invaders? Invasions of exotic (non-native) species cost Floridians over $500 million each year! Our public lands, parks and preserves are very ... READ MORE
Category: 4-H & Youth, Agriculture, Home Landscapes, Natural Resources, Work & LifeSkip a Week (or Two) of Watering this Winter As we enter the heart of an El Nino winter, we can expect our temperatures to remain low and precipitation to remain high across the Tampa Bay region. This winter is a perfect time to take manual ... READ MORE
Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Work & Life