Category: UF/IFAS

More Than an Itch: Protecting Your Home and Family From Mosquitoes

by Sara MacDonald
September 21, 2026

For many Floridians, mosquitoes are simply part of spending time outdoors. But a mosquito bite can be more than an annoyance. Mosquitoes can transmit diseases, including dengue, West Nile virus and other mosquito-borne illnesses. Recent dengue ... READ MORE

Category: 4-H & Youth, Agriculture, Clubs & Volunteers, Community Volunteers, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Health & Nutrition, HOME LANDSCAPES, Horticulture, Lawn, NATURAL RESOURCES, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, Wildlife, Work & Life
Tags: Florida Friendly Landscape, MGV, UF/IFAS Extension St. Lucie County

Found an Invasive Plant? Here’s What to Do Next

by Sara MacDonald
September 18, 2026

Once homeowners learn what invasive plants are, they often start seeing their own yards differently. A plant they have grown for years may suddenly raise a new question: Could this be invasive? And if it is, the next question is usually: “How ... READ MORE

Category: , Community Volunteers, Conservation, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, HOME LANDSCAPES, Horticulture, Invasive Species, Pests & Disease, Recreation, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, Wildlife
Tags: Florida Friendly Landscape, Ipm, UF/IFAS Extension St. Lucie County

¿Ha oído hablar del avispón de patas amarillas? Lo que los propietarios de viviendas en Florida deben saber

by Sara MacDonald
September 9, 2026

Si disfruta pasar tiempo en su jardín, probablemente ha visto una buena cantidad de abejas, avispas y avispones. Pero ¿qué haría si encontrara un insecto que pareciera un avispón de patas amarillas? El avispón de patas amarillas (Vespa ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Clubs & Volunteers, Community Volunteers, Conservation, Crops, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Fruits & Vegetables, HOME LANDSCAPES, Horticulture, Invasive Species, NATURAL RESOURCES, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, Wildlife
Tags: Florida Friendly Landscape, Invasive, UF/IFAS Extension St. Lucie County, UFIFASEnEspañol

Think Before You Spray: Using Integrated Pest Management in Your Florida Landscape

by Sara MacDonald
September 3, 2026

See a bug on your plant? Don't spray it just yet. Finding an insect on your favorite plant can be alarming. You may wonder, “Is it hurting my plant?” or “How do I get rid of it?” Before reaching for a pesticide, take a closer look. That ... READ MORE

Category: , Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Fruits & Vegetables, HOME LANDSCAPES, Home Management, Invasive Species, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Featured, Homeowner, Ipm, Pests, UF/IFAS Extension St. Lucie County

Un jardín que inspira: Karma Thomson y Florida-Friendly Landscaping™

by Sara MacDonald
August 27, 2026

Un jardín puede ser mucho más que una hermosa vista desde la calle. Puede conservar agua, apoyar la vida silvestre, proteger los recursos naturales de Florida e inspirar a toda una comunidad. UF/IFAS Extension St. Lucie County se enorgullece ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, HOME LANDSCAPES, Lawn, Pests & Disease, Recreation, UF/IFAS
Tags: Espanol, Florida Friendly Landscape, UF/IFAS Extension St. Lucie County

One Yard Can Inspire a Community: Karma Thomson Earns Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Gold Recognition

by Sara MacDonald
August 26, 2026

A landscape can be more than a beautiful view from the street. It can conserve water, support wildlife, protect Florida’s natural resources, and inspire an entire community. UF/IFAS Extension St. Lucie County is proud to recognize Karma Thomson, ... READ MORE

Category: , Community Volunteers, Conservation, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, HOME LANDSCAPES, Horticulture, Lawn, Recreation, UF/IFAS
Tags: Extension, Florida Friendly Landscape, UF/IFAS Extension St. Lucie County

Ghost Snails Are Showing Up in Florida Gardens

by Sara MacDonald
July 22, 2026

Have you noticed small, cone-shaped snails climbing your plants? We recently found large groups of ghost snails (Bulimulus bonariensis) feeding on marigolds and herbs in a St. Lucie County garden. These snails are becoming more common across ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, , Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Fruits & Vegetables, HOME LANDSCAPES, Horticulture, Invasive Species, NATURAL RESOURCES, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Florida Friendly Landscape, Invasive Species, UF/IFAS Extension St. Lucie County

Is My Lawn Dead—and Should I Be Fertilizing Right Now?

by Sara MacDonald
December 22, 2025

Winter lawn care tips for St. Lucie County homeowners Each winter, people in St. Lucie County notice their grass growing more slowly or turning brown. This makes many homeowners ask: “Is my lawn dead?” and “Should I add fertilizer to ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, HOME LANDSCAPES, Lawn, Recreation, Turf, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Extension, Florida Friendly Landscape, UF/IFAS Extension St. Lucie County

Colaboración en Extensión: Compartiendo Ciencia y Construyendo Comunidades

by Sara MacDonald
September 30, 2025

La semana pasada fui la conferencista invitada en un evento de Lunch & Learn. El programa se organizó en colaboración con Love Your Block de la Ciudad de Port St. Lucie. En esta ocasión compartí los principios de Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, , Clubs & Volunteers, Community Volunteers, Conservation, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Fruits & Vegetables, HOME LANDSCAPES, Horticulture, Invasive Species, Lawn, NATURAL RESOURCES, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, Recreation, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, Water, Work & Life
Tags: Conservation, Extension, Florida Friendly Landscape, St Lucie County, UF/IFAS Extension St. Lucie County

Collaboration in Extension: Sharing Science, Building Communities

by Sara MacDonald
September 25, 2025

Last week, I was the invited speaker for a Lunch & Learn event, hosted in collaboration with Love Your Block by the City of Port St. Lucie, where I shared the Florida-Friendly Landscaping principles to help homeowners create sustainable, ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, , Clubs & Volunteers, Conservation, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, HOME LANDSCAPES, Home Management, Horticulture, Lawn, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, Recreation, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Conservation, Extension, Florida Friendly Landscape, St Lucie County, UF/IFAS Extension St. Lucie County

Subscribe For More Great Content