Category: Uncategorized

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

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

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

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

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

Category:

Roadmap to Success: Poultry Show Edition- Part One

by Adam Smith
November 3, 2025

While poultry projects can be great projects for first time exhibitors, there is more involved than what meets the eye. There are a few major steps to success in a poultry show. With a little elbow grease and informed decisions, you can be on ... READ MORE

Category: 4-H & Youth, Agriculture,
Tags: 4-h Livestock, Chickens, Poultry, Sumter County 4-H

Sumter County Small Animal Showmanship Workshop

by Adam Smith
October 21, 2025

In-person class in Sumter County, Florida: Saturday, January 17, 2025 7620 State Road 471, Bushnell, FL 33513 10:00 am- Learn the basics of poultry showmanship Topics to include: Preparation for showmanship What the judge is ... READ MORE

Category: 4-H & Youth, Livestock,

Reviving Elms: Lessons from Dutch Elm Disease and Strategies for Healthy Urban Forests

by Jamie Daugherty, Ph.D.
August 27, 2025

The introduction of Dutch elm disease in the 1930s marked a turning point in American urban forestry. Millions of the once iconic elm trees across the U.S. were lost. The disease originated in Asia, where native elm species show some natural ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Forests, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension,
Tags: Tree Disease, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Extension Sumter County, Urban Forestry, Urban Forestry Extension

Strange Palm Growth? It Might Be a Boron Deficiency

by Jamie Daugherty, Ph.D.
August 26, 2025

If you manage palms, you know they need high-quality fertilizer applied regularly. Using a fertilizer that isn’t properly balanced for palms can lead to nutrient deficiencies—some of which mimic disease symptoms or make your palm appear ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Forests, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension,
Tags: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Nutrient Deficiency, Palm Care, UF/IFAS Extension, Urban Forestry, Urban Forestry Extension

Loquat Trees in Your Food Forest: A Sweet Addition to Central Florida Landscapes

by Jamie Daugherty, Ph.D.
August 26, 2025

As edible landscaping continues to gain momentum, many Central Florida homeowners are exploring the concept of growing a food forest. A food forest is a layered, productive forested containing various fruit trees in your own back yard. If you're ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Fruits & Vegetables, Horticulture, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension,
Tags: Backyard Fruit, Fruit Forest, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Extension Sumter County, Urban Forestry, Urban Forestry Extension

Subscribe For More Great Content