Category: HOME LANDSCAPES

Gardening Tips: Clean Up to Keep Pests Down

by Julie McConnell
September 8, 2026

By the end of the summer, the previously abundant and beautiful container plants I started this spring look as hot and tired as I feel. If we are being honest, once the temperature stays over 90 degrees, my plants get neglected making them ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, HOME LANDSCAPES, Horticulture, Pests & Disease
Tags: Container Gardening, Garden Chores, Gardening In The Panhandle, IPM, Panhandle Gardening, Sanitation

Fall is Almost Here – It’s time to Gear Up to Fight Cogongrass and Other Invasive Plants

by Mark Mauldin
August 18, 2026

Without question, Cogongrass is the most troublesome invasive plant that I (and my clients) deal with. Here in Northwest Florida, we have a lot of it, and it is very difficult to manage. With that in mind, I write and teach about cogongrass ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, HOME LANDSCAPES, Invasive Species, Natural Resources
Tags: Cogongrass, Invasive Plants, Panhandle Agriculture, Panhandle Outdoors, Vegetation Management

Simply Sunflowers

by Julie McConnell
June 15, 2026

Nothing brightens up my day like a colorful flower and one of the simplest ones to grow is the sunflower! Standing tall in the garden, these sentinels of summer come in a wide range of sizes and colors that I had not realized until I started ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Horticulture
Tags: Florida Friendly Landscaping, Florida Panhandle, Panhandle Gardening

Aerial Acrobats in the Garden

by Julie McConnell
June 8, 2026

“Attract Wildlife” is Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Principle #5 and one of my favorite garden visitors to entice and observe is the hummingbird. These tiny bundles of energy can fly in just about any direction to access nectar; antics ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Horticulture, Wildlife
Tags: Gardening, Hummingbirds, Panhandle Gardening

Managing Unwanted Plants; CEU Class, Chipley 6/11/26

by Mark Mauldin
June 3, 2026

On Thursday, June 11, 2026, UF/IFAS Extension Washington County will host Managing Unwanted Plants in Rights of Way and Aquatic Sites. The class has been approved for a total of 4 FL Pesticide Applicator CEUs. The CEUs may be used for license ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Crops, Events, Farm Management, Horticulture, Invasive Species, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, Turf, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Aquatic, Aquatic Training, Aquatic Weeds, CEU, Herbicide, Panhandle Agriculture, Pest Management, Pesticide Training, Right Of Way, SV Ag Update

Tiny Threats in the Tall Grass: Tick Safety for the Panhandle

by Julie McConnell
May 28, 2026

Summer rain and high temperatures are welcome conditions to promote growth of crops and landscape plants, but the same conditions are ideal for a dangerous arachnid hiding in vegetation. There are numerous species of ticks that inhabit Northwest ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, HOME LANDSCAPES, Horticulture, Pests & Disease
Tags: Panhandle Agriculture, Panhandle Gardening

Watermelon Contest Entries Due 6/25

by Mark Mauldin
May 27, 2026

Attention all watermelon growers, commercial producers to backyard gardeners. As melons ripen and harvest season gets here don’t forget to enter a few of your biggest and best in the Big Melon Contest at the Panhandle Watermelon Festival. ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Fruits & Vegetables, HOME LANDSCAPES, Horticulture
Tags: Horticulture, Panhandle Agriculture, SV Ag Update, Watermelon

Watch Out for Oregano Without Flavor

by Matthew Orwat
March 7, 2023

As an avid herb gardener, I have often wondered why my oregano is often flavorless when incorporated into meals but still smells strongly when handled in the garden. Thankfully our herb demonstration garden at UF / IFAS Extension Washington ... READ MORE

Category: Fruits & Vegetables, HOME LANDSCAPES
Tags: Herb Gardening, Herbs, Oregano

Spring Gardening and Cooking: Potatoes and Sweet Potatoes: Saturday February 18, 2023 10am to 12pm

by Matthew Orwat
February 7, 2023

Spring Gardening and Cooking: Potatoes and Sweet Potatoes: Saturday February 18, 2023 10am to 12pm Please join us for an informative workshop to learn about growing a bountiful spring potato crop and a summer sweet potato crop. Also, attendees ... READ MORE

Category: Fruits & Vegetables, HOME LANDSCAPES
Tags: Cooking, Gardening, Potatoes, Vegetable Gardening, Vegetables

Cold Protection for Citrus and Winter Vegetables

by Matthew Orwat
December 19, 2022

Northwest Florida, in the next few days, is set to receive some of the coldest weather in recent years, with lows ranging from 18 ºF to 28 ºF three to four nights in a row. This has the potential to impact our home garden citrus and winter ... READ MORE

Category: Fruits & Vegetables, HOME LANDSCAPES,
Tags: Citrus, Cold Protection, Freeze, Frost, Vegetable

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