UF/IFAS
Extension Polk County

Tag: plants

Holiday Decor from the Garden: A New Episode of Your Central Florida Yard Podcast

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December 20, 2024

Want to decorate from your yard this holiday season? Do you want to learn how to use plants in the landscape to naturally add holiday color and interest in your yard and around your home? In the landscape add seasonal color by selecting the ... READ MORE

Category: Home Landscapes,
Tags: Anne Yasalonis, Ayasalonis, Central Florida, Christmas, Decorating, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Florida-Friendly Plants, Gardening, Holidays, Master Gardener, Master Gardener Volunteer, Native Plants, Plants, Polk County, Polk County FL, Polkgardening, Polkmg, UF/IFAS Polk County, Your Central Florida Yard Podcast

Holiday Decor from the Garden: Ideas and Inspiration

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December 9, 2024

It is the time of year when you pull out the holiday decorations, untangle twinkle lights, and decide if you want to purchase that giant Santa you saw at the store. But wait! Before you make that purchase, consider using natural items and plants ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping,
Tags: Anne Yasalonis, Ayasalonis, Central Florida, Christmas, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Florida-Friendly Plants, Flowers, Gardening, Holiday, Jschelb, Master Gardener, Master Gardener Volunteer, Natural, Plants, Polkgardening, Your Central Florida Yard Podcast
Foggy morning

“Ground” Yourself By Planting Florida Native Plants

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January 8, 2023

Most gardeners everywhere enjoy the rewarding experience of being “grounded”, so to speak, by planting and maintaining beautiful garden spaces.  And what better way to become grounded in our local environment than by including Florida’s ... READ MORE

Category: Conservation, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Forests, Home Landscapes,
Tags: Anne Yasalonis, Ayasalonis, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Florida-Friendly Plants, Gardening, Hurricane, Master Gardener, Master Gardener Volunteer, Native Plants, Plants, Polk County FL, Polkgardening, Polkmg, Wildlife
Yellow flowers with butterfly.

A Part-Time and New Resident’s Guide to Gardening in Central Florida


December 6, 2022

Welcome to Florida! The land of abundant sunshine and a more varied climate than you may think. From the occasional near freezing temperatures every few winters to summers full of heat, humidity, and rainstorms, Florida is quite a unique ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Lawn
Tags: Central Florida, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Gardening, Jschelb, Part-time Residents, Plants, Polk County FL, Snowbirds, Vegetable Gardening
pop-up sprinkler spraying a stream of water

Water Conservation in Polk County

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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
Oak Leaf Mulch

Fallen Oak Leaves Make a Great Mulch


March 6, 2021

It is a great time of year to refresh your landscape beds with mulch. A good source for (free) mulch is fallen oak leaves, which are in abundance this time of year. Oak leaves are a lovely shade of brown, are a great compliment to other mulches, ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes
Tags: Anne Yasalonis, Ayasalonis, Central Florida, Compost, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Florida-Friendly Plants, Flowers, Free Mulch, Gardening, Landscaping, Mulch, Oak Leaves, Plants, Polk County, Polkgardening, Polkmg
freeze damage

What does frost and freeze damage look like?


March 2, 2021

There were quite a few cold nights during January and February this year and many of our landscape plants suffered frost and/or freeze damage. But what does that look like and what should you do about it? Frost and freeze can look very ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Lawn
Tags: Anne Yasalonis, Ayasalonis, Central Florida, Cold Damage, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Florida-Friendly Plants, Freeze, Frost, Gardening, Landscape, Master Gardener, Master Gardener Volunteer, Plants, Polk County, Polkgardening, Polkmg

Garden Guide and Journal Available for Sale


September 2, 2020

How do you plan your garden and landscape for the upcoming season? Do you need a place to refer to for monthly tips and to record garden successes (and failures)? The Your Polk Yard, a 12-Month Garden Guide & Journal is just what you ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Fruits & Vegetables, Home Landscapes, Lawn, Pests & Disease
Tags: Anne Yasalonis, Ayasalonis, Central Florida, Florida, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Florida-Friendly Plants, Garden Guide, Garden Journal, Master Gardener, Master Gardener Volunteer, Plants, Polkgardening, Polkmg, Vegetable Gardening
Boat traffic in the Gulf of Mexico near Ft. Myers, Florida.

Pre-Holiday Stress: A Remedy to Consider


December 9, 2019

December can be a time of busyness and stress. How easy it is to get totally “wrapped up” (so to speak) in holiday projects and plans! One of the best antidotes to pre-holiday stress is to spend a bit of time outdoors in a natural setting. Scientific ... READ MORE

Category: Home Landscapes, Recreation,
Tags: Anne Yasalonis, Ayasalonis, Christmas, Holidays, Horticultural Therapy, Master Gardener, Master Gardener Volunteer, Nature, Plants, Polk County, Polkgardening, Polkmg, Stress