UF/IFAS
Extension Polk County

Home » UF/IFAS Extension Polk County » Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping

Close up of red, yellow, and orange croton leaves

Colorful and Carefree: Growing Crotons in Your Central Florida Yard

Avatar photo
May 10, 2025

Are you looking for a low maintenance plant that adds color and beauty to your landscape with very little effort?  Say hello to the overlooked beauty of the garden, the croton.  Crotons (Codiaeum variegatum), are tropical evergreen shrubs ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes,
Tags: Anne Yasalonis, Ayasalonis, Central Florida, Croton, Crotons, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Florida-Friendly Plants, Foliage, Foliage Plants, Gardening, Polk County FL, Polkgardening, Polkmg, Tropical, Tropical Plants, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Polk County, Your Central Florida Yard Podcast

Florida-Friendly Edible Plants: A New Episode of Your Central Florida Yard Podcast

Avatar photo
May 8, 2025

Florida-Friendly Edible Plants In this episode of Your Central Florida Yard podcast, we explore edible plants that not only thrive in our unique climate but also align with Florida-Friendly Landscaping principles.   From herbs to fruits ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Fruits & Vegetables, Home Landscapes
Tags: Anne Yasalonis, Ayasalonis, Central Florida, Florida-Friendly Plants, Jschelb, Polk County FL, Polkgardening, Polkmg, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Polk County, Vegetable Gardening, Your Central Florida Yard Podcast
Blue UF/IFAS sign with green shrubs in front

Spring Plant Sale


April 18, 2025

                            Mark your calendars and plant yourself at our Annual Plant Sale on April 26! Whether you have a green thumb or just enjoy the beauty of plants, this in-person event is perfect for you. The ... READ MORE

Category: Events, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Fruits & Vegetables, Home Landscapes, Horticulture
Tags: Master Gardener, Master Gardener Volunteer, Polk County, Polk County FL, Polk Florida Friendly Landscaping, Polk Gardening
Master Gardener Volunteers at a farmer's market event table.

A Gardener’s Story with Celia: A Special Bonus Episode of Your Central Florida Yard Podcast

Avatar photo
March 25, 2025

A Gardener's Story, A very special bonus episode of Your Central Florida Yard podcast A Gardener’s Story is special bonus episode where we sit down with a UF/IFAS Extension Master Gardener Volunteer who is dedicating their time and ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Lawn, UF/IFAS Extension,
Tags: Anne Yasalonis, Ayasalonis, Central Florida, Flowers, Gardening, Jschelb, Master Gardener, Master Gardener Volunteer, Polk County, Polkmg, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Polk County, Your Central Florida Yard Podcast

Green Industries Best Management Practices (GI-BMP) Informative Video

Avatar photo
March 13, 2025

The Green Industries Best Management Practices (GI-BMPs) workshop teaches landscaping practices that are good for the environment and help protect Florida’s water and natural resources. This science-based program is designed for landscape ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Lawn, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Teaching
Tags: Fertilizer, Fertilizer License, GIBMP, Landscape, Polk Florida Friendly Landscaping, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Polk County

Vídeo Informativo Sobre las Mejores Prácticas de Manejo de las Industrias Verdes (GI-BMP)

Avatar photo
March 13, 2025

El taller de Mejores Prácticas de Manejo de las Industrias Verdes (GI-BMP por sus siglas en inglés) enseña prácticas de paisajismo beneficiosas para el medio ambiente y que ayudan a proteger las fuentes de agua y los recursos naturales de ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Lawn, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Teaching
Tags: En Espanol, Espanol, Fertilizer, Fertilizer License, GIBMP, Polk Florida Friendly Landscaping, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Polk County

Winter Gardens in Central Florida

Avatar photo
February 19, 2025

Our recent central Florida weather proves yet again that every couple of years gardeners face plant-damaging cold temperatures. During these cold snaps we bring out frost cloths and bring in containerized plants. With bated breath and crossed ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Fruits & Vegetables, Home Landscapes, Lawn,
Tags: Anne Yasalonis, Ayasalonis, Central Florida, Dead Plants, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Florida-Friendly Plants, Flowers, Freeze, Frost, Gardening, Jschelb, Master Gardener, Master Gardener Volunteer, Polkgardening, Pruning, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Polk County, Winter, Your Central Florida Yard Podcast
Tiny blue five-petaled flowers against long green leaves.

February Blooms are Bursting with Color in a Florida-Friendly Garden


February 14, 2025

Roses are red, violets are blue, our garden is Florida-Friendly, and I hope yours is too! This February has warmed up some from the chilly days of January. Some plants have ushered in this weather change with a variety of vibrant Florida-Friendly ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes
Tags: Central Florida, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Florida-Friendly Plants, Flowers, Gardening, Polk County, Polkgardening

Celebrate Old-Time Shrubs for a Classic Central Florida Landscape

Avatar photo
February 4, 2025

The following shrubs are a few old-time favorites that offer the true look of a central Florida landscape.  These easy-to-grow shrubs bloom in the fall and during mild winters. They offer nectar to butterflies, native bees, and/or hummingbirds ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes,
Tags: Anne Yasalonis, Ayasalonis, Bees, Butterflies, Central Florida, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Florida-Friendly Plants, Flowers, Gardening, Master Gardener Volunteer, Native Plants, Polk County, Polkgardening, Polkmg, Pollinators, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Polk County, Your Central Florida Yard Podcast

Garden Journaling: Good for Your Garden, Great for You: A New Episode of Your Central Florida Yard Podcast

Avatar photo
January 24, 2025

Do you use a garden journal? If you have used a garden journal, you may know how beneficial it is to tracking pests, disease, and harvest time. But did you know that garden journaling can be beneficial for you as well? In this episode ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Fruits & Vegetables, Home Landscapes, Lawn, Pests & Disease,
Tags: Anne Yasalonis, Ayasalonis, Central Florida, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Florida-Friendly Plants, Garden Journaling, Garden Wellness, Health, Journaling, Master Gardener, Polk County FL, Polkgardening, Polkmg, Pollinators, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Polk County, Wellness, Your Central Florida Yard Podcast

Subscribe For More Great Content

IFAS Blogs Categories