UF/IFAS
Extension Polk County

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

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping

Salvia 'Wendy's Wish' and Black Eyed Susan

Pollinator Plants that Survived Hurricane Ian

by Anne Yasalonis and polkmgAvatar photo
October 12, 2022

In our area of Polk County, Hurricane Ian produced Category 1 winds and associated rainfall.  Local flooding and loss of power were experienced by many.  And yet there is hope in a garden, and one local garden filled with pollinator plants ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes,
Tags: Anne Yasalonis, Ayasalonis, Butterflies, Central Florida, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Florida-Friendly Plants, Flowers, Gardening, Hurricane, Hurricane Preparedness, Master Gardener, Master Gardener Volunteer, Native Plants, Polk County, Polkgardening, Polkmg

Build Your Own Rain Barrel

by Beth Robertson
August 9, 2022

A rain barrel is an easy way to save water from a rainfall event to water your garden later.  You may choose to buy one ready made, or you can make it yourself. Finding a Barrel The first step of making a rain barrel is finding the barrel.  ... READ MORE

Category: Conservation, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Natural Resources, UF/IFAS Extension, Water
Tags: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Gardening, Rain Barrels, Water Conservation

Save a monarch, plant a (native) milkweed!

by Anne YasalonisAvatar photo
July 26, 2022

By now, you may have seen the recent article stating alarming news about the beloved monarch butterfly population. Many gardeners in Florida enjoy planting for butterflies, observing the unique lifecycle of butterflies, and adding colorful flowers ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Wildlife
Tags: Anne Yasalonis, Ayasalonis, Butterflies, Central Florida, Florida, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Florida-Friendly Plants, Flowers, Gardening, Master Gardener, Master Gardener Volunteer, Milkweed, Monarch, Polk County, Polkgardening, Pollinators
Here to help you grow!

Master Gardener Volunteer’s Favorite Plants: Pentas

by Anne Yasalonis and polkmgAvatar photo
July 11, 2022

Pentas lanceolata is a Florida perennial that is an attractive plant with red, pink, or white blooms.  They are a great source of food for butterflies and hummingbirds.  Most Pentas grow to about 2 or 3 feet high and 15 inches wide and love ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes,
Tags: Anne Yasalonis, Ayasalonis, Butterflies, Florida, Flowers, Garden, Master Gardener Volunteer, Pentas, Polk County, Polkmg, Pollinators
Here to help you grow!

Coreopsis: A Summer Wildflower Favorite

by Anne Yasalonis and polkmgAvatar photo
July 8, 2022

Coreopsis leavenworthii is an annual to short-lived perennial with bright yellow flowers with a dark brown center.  The flowers are held upright on tall, leafless stems.  The blooms occur from late spring in north Florida to year-round in ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes,
Tags: Anne Yasalonis, Ayasalonis, Central Florida, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Florida-Friendly Plants, Master Gardener, Master Gardener Volunteer, N, Polk County, Polkgardening, Polkmg
pop-up sprinkler spraying a stream of water

Water Conservation in Polk County

by Beth Robertson
June 14, 2022

Our water resources are stretched today providing us with water for our homes, our crops, factories, businesses, and nature. Unfortunately, today's problem will only continue as the population of Central Florida grows. As we look for other water ... READ MORE

Category: Conservation, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Lawn, Water
Tags: Conservation, Florida Lawns, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Lawn And Garden, Plants, Polk County, Saving Water, Water, Water Conservation
Close up photo of a large green iguana

Let’s Talk about Invasive Species Vocabulary

by Shannon CarnevaleAvatar photo
May 12, 2022

Invasive species outreach is critical to the successful detection and rapid response to invasive species threats in Florida's natural areas and urban areas. Unfortunately, due to the complex nature of invasion science, communication around invasive ... READ MORE

Category: Conservation, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Invasive Species, Natural Resources
Tags: Communication, Invasive Plants, Invasive Species, Shannon Carnevale, UF_ISC
Florida lawn Photo credit: Anne Yasalonis, UF/IFAS Extension

Lawncare 101 for Central Florida Lawns

by Anne YasalonisAvatar photo
April 1, 2022

Caring for your lawn can be a lot of work, and a properly maintained lawn is not only beautiful but functional.  It will filter runoff, reduce erosion, and can reduce heat and glare.  A healthy lawn is functional and if you follow the best ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Lawn,
Tags: Anne Yasalonis, Ayasalonis, Central Florida, Fertilizing, Florida-Friendly Plants, Gardening, Irrigation, Lawncare, Polk County, Polkgardening, Polkmg, UF/IFAS, Watering

Subscribe For More Great Content

IFAS Blogs Categories