UF/IFAS Extension Sumter County -

Using Mulch Around Trees and Palms

by Jamie Daugherty, Ph.D.
April 30, 2026

While some think of mulch as simply an aesthetic component of a landscape, it is so much more. Mulch has a large impact on the health of your landscape plants, including your palms and trees. Selecting the correct mulch and the appropriate application ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension,
Tags: Mulch, Palms, Trees, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Extension Sumter County, Urban Forestry, Urban Forestry Extension, Urban Trees

Wait! Your Palm May Not Be Dead Post Freeze!

by Jamie Daugherty, Ph.D.
April 10, 2026

With the recent record-breaking freezing weather we have experienced, it can be tempting to jump into pruning and replacing plants. As tempting as that may be, you could be removing living plants or causing additional issues by pruning too soon. ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Lawn, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Freeze, Freeze Damage, Freeze Damaged Palms, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Extension Sumter County, Urban Forestry, Urban Forestry Extension

The Job of Trees: How They Benefit Our Communities

by Jamie Daugherty, Ph.D.
March 26, 2026

Did you know that the trees and palms in your landscapes work for you? They provide several ecosystem services. What are ecosystem services? They are services that are freely done by the environment that would require us to create expensive ... READ MORE

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Tags: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Extension Sumter County, Urban Forestry, Urban Forestry Extension

Discover the Power of Nutrition: Small Steps, Big Impact

by Kimberly McMahon
March 4, 2026

National nutrition month is observed each March. It is an annual education campaign led by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics that promotes healthy eating and regular physical activity. The campaign encourages individuals and families ... READ MORE

Category: Health & Nutrition
Tags: Family And Consumer Sciences, Nutrition, UF/IFAS Extension Sumter County

Winter Wisdom for 4-H Livestock

by Adam Smith
January 30, 2026

Temps are dropping all over the state this weekend. For many families with livestock this can be a huge point of stress, especially here in the Sunshine State where we do not typically have these climates. Four basic steps can help simplify ... READ MORE

Category: 4-H & Youth, Farm Management, Livestock
Tags: 4-H, Animals, Cold Protection, Florida Winter Livestock, Livestock

Healthy Super Bowl Swaps That Still Score Big

by Kimberly McMahon
January 22, 2026

It’s that time of year again for Super Bowl parties, friends gathered around the TV, and tables full of delicious snacks. But if you promised yourself that this year you’d start off on a healthier note, game day doesn’t have to derail ... READ MORE

Category: Health & Nutrition
Tags: Family And Consumer Sciences, Healthy, UF/IFAS Extension Sumter County

2026 Upcoming Opportunities for Professional Development

by Jim Davis
January 12, 2026

Joint Council of Extension Professionals (JCEP) – Extension Leadership Conference February 4 – February 5, 2026Savannah, Georgiahttps://www.jcep.org/ UF Water Institute – 2026 Symposium February 24 – February 26, 2026Gainesville, ... READ MORE

Category: Events, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension,

Beautiful Buttonbush for Natural Areas and Landscapes

by Jamie Daugherty, Ph.D.
January 2, 2026

Button Bush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) is an amazing plant for both natural area restorations and landscapes. Found naturally throughout Florida and much of the US and Eastern Canada (zones 4-10A) in various wetland environments such as ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Forests, Home Landscapes, Natural Resources, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension,
Tags: Button_bush, Cephalanthus Occidentalis

Beef Quality Assurance (BQA)-What’s the Big Deal?

by laurahbennett
December 22, 2025

Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) is basically a synonym for Best Management Practices with the spin of having a focus on the consumer. Beef producers are doing their best to assure quality beef for their buyers. The BQA website best describes the ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Farm Management, Livestock
Tags: SFBF, SFBFP

Bad Things Come in Threes: A Look at the Disease Triangle

by Madelyn Greathouse
November 20, 2025

Understanding how plant diseases work can really equip growers to protect their plants to the best of their ability. So today, I want to provide a basic rundown of one of the keystones of plant pathology: the disease triangle. The ... READ MORE

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