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Category: Home Landscapes

proper planting with hose and shovel

Proper Planting: Trees and Shrubs

by Anne Yasalonis and polkmgAvatar photo
November 16, 2023

Trees and shrubs can be purchased in many sizes, most are no smaller than a one gallon size, and many go up to 7 gallon (or larger). Because of both size at planting and maturity, cost of plants, and large root spread, planning for proper placement ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes
Tags: Anne Yasalonis, Ayasalonis, Central Florida, Florida-Friendly Plants, Gardening, Master Gardener, Master Gardener Volunteer, Planting, Planting Shrubs, Planting Trees, Polk County, Polk County FL, Polkgardening, Polkmg, Proper Planting, Shrubs, Trees, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Polk County
proper planting with hose and shovel

Proper Planting: Annuals and Perennials

by Anne Yasalonis and polkmgAvatar photo
November 1, 2023

Proper planting ensures a good start to a healthy landscape. The following guidelines for installing plants apply for sandy, well-drained soils. Annuals and Perennials Annuals and perennials are typically small (4”) to one gallon sized ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes,
Tags: Anne Yasalonis, Annuals, Ayasalonis, Bedding Plants, Central Florida, Gardening, Installing Plants, Master Gardener, Master Gardener Volunteer, Native Plants, Perennials, Planting, Polk County, Polkgardening, Polkmg, Proper Planting, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Polk County
Florida-Friendly Landscaping. Help make Polk the Florida-Friendliest County!

Let’s Get Florida-Friendly Polk County!

by Julie SchelbHeadshot of Julie Schelb, Florida-Friendly Landscaping Program Coordinator with UF/IFAS Extension Polk County.
October 27, 2023

What's the big deal? As one of the fastest growing counties in Florida, Polk County, it's time to get serious and get Florida-Friendly! With so much development and population growth our natural resources, including our water resources, are ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping
Tags: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Florida-Friendly Plants, Master Gardener, Master Gardener Volunteer, Polk County, Polkgardening, Polkmg, Water Conservation
Salvia 'Wendy's Wish' and Black Eyed Susan

Late summer in your Florida-Friendly landscape: A few quick tips

by Anne Yasalonis and polkmgAvatar photo
September 2, 2023

It’s the end of summer and it’s hot--and not just hot, but hot and humid!  Now is a good time to keep your garden activities to a minimum. If you work in your landscape addressing the few chores that might be necessary, always remember ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes,
Tags: Anne Yasalonis, Ayasalonis, Central Florida, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Florida-Friendly Plants, Gardening, Master Gardener, Master Gardener Volunteer, Native Plants, Polkgardening, Polkmg, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Polk County

Minimizing Pesticide Impacts on the Environment

by Luis Rodriguez Rosado
August 28, 2023

Pesticides are an effective control for pests and diseases. On the other hand, when not using pesticides correctly these chemicals can affect the environment negatively.   What Composes the Environment? The environment is composed ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Crops, Farm Management, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Lawn, Livestock, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, Turf, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Teaching
Tags: Applying Pesticides Correctly, Drift_management, Environmental Literacy, Pesticide_applicator, Pesticide_protection, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Polk County

Minimizando los Impactos de los Pesticidas en el Medio Ambiente

by Luis Rodriguez Rosado
August 28, 2023

Los pesticidas son un control eficaz de plagas y enfermedades. Por otro lado, cuando los pesticidas no se utilizan correctamente pueden afectar negativamente al medio ambiente.   ¿Qué Compone el Medio Ambiente? El medio ambiente ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Crops, Farm Management, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Lawn, Livestock, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, Turf, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Teaching
Tags: Applying Pesticides Correctly, Drift_management, En Espanol, Environmental Literacy, Espanol, Pesticide_applicator, Pesticide_protection, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Polk County

Ticks and Tickborne Illness in Florida, a new episode from Naturally Florida

by Shannon Carnevale and Lara MilliganAvatar photo
August 4, 2023

In this episode we explore the creepiest, crawliest, grossest of arachnids, ticks. And no, we don't feel bad calling them gross! Tick-borne illnesses can wreak havoc on people's lives and there is still so much we don't know about them. On ... READ MORE

Category: Conservation, Natural Resources, Pests & Disease, Recreation
Tags: Lara Milligan, Naturally Florida Podcast, Shannon Carnevale, Ticks
tips for handweeding, photo of people weeding grassy area

Quick Tips on Hand-Weeding in Your Florida-Friendly Yard

by Anne Yasalonis and polkmgAvatar photo
July 14, 2023

The act of hand-weeding is often considered a dreaded chore, but gardeners take heart!  With just a few modifications and – perhaps – a slightly different mindset, you can make this chore less daunting and even enjoyable. Some tips: ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes
Tags: Anne Yasalonis, Ayasalonis, Central Florida, Florida-Friendly Plants, Gardening, Master Gardener, Master Gardener Volunteer, Native Plants, Polk County, Polk County FL, Polkgardening, Polkmg, UF/IFAS Polk County, Weed Removal, Weeds

Residents Guide to the Polk County Fertilizer Ordinance

by Anne Yasalonis and Julie SchelbAvatar photo
June 3, 2023

On June 1, many local fertilizer ordinances start the "blackout period", a restricted time of year where no fertilizers containing nitrogen or phosphorus are to be applied. What does that mean for Polk County? It is important that residents ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Lawn, Water
Tags: Anne Yasalonis, Ayasalonis, Central Florida, Fertilizer, Fertilizer Management, Fertilizer Ordinance, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Master Gardener, Master Gardener Volunteer, Polk County, Polk County FL, Polkgardening, Polkmg, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Polk County

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