February was National Pesticide Safety Education Month but is not too late to learn about it. By definition, a pesticide is actually anything used to kill or repel insects, fungi, mold, mildew, diseases, animals, or weedy plants. For obvious financial reasons, many homeowners choose to do some of these jobs themselves. However, there are…
The UF/IFAS Extension St. Lucie County is located in a rural area of the county. We are fortunate to have green spaces with native plants and wildlife in the surrounding area. Several weeks ago, we noticed a great horned owl and owlet took residence in a dead palm tree in the area. Of course, we took plenty…
Whether you rent or own your home, we all have bills to pay. Lots of bills, it seems. We can help. Our “Ways to Save” project provides a range of cost-saving tips on many of the common expenses you face every day, like utility bills and food costs. Through videos, classes, projects, blog posts and…
Madeline Mellinger had only about a year of experience working with growers in the Everglades Agricultural Area when they asked her to serve as their adviser on pest management. During that year she had established their trust through consistent and accurate advice dispensed in person over the course of seven-day, 1,200-mile workweeks. Mellinger was the growers’…
Alligatorweed (Alternanthera philoxeroides) is a common invasive plant that has plagued our state for well over 100 years. Native to Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, and Uruguay, this plant was accidentally introduced to the Florida gulf coast in 1894 from ship ballast water. Along with water hyacinth (Eichornia crassipes), it was one of the original invaders of Florida and today…
Everyone has the same goal for the yard.
We all want our place to look good, whether we take care of it ourselves or hire various companies to do it.
Either way, here are some ideas on how to have a nice yard with fewer problems.
Choose the right plant for the spot available.
The site…
A soil test can help you: Save time and money on lawn and garden maintenance Reduce nutrients leaching into groundwater Choose plants that are right for your landscape Comply with local fertilizer ordinances UF/IFAS Extension offers homeowners a new option for easy-to-use soil testing. If you’re a homeowner who wants to create a beautiful, Florida-friendly…
Hello avid readers! Next week is termite awareness week. Did you know termites have been on earth for 100 million years?! Florida is home to 21 species of termites. Only a few of these are considered pests. They tend to be differentiated based on their lifestyle and habitat and are sometimes confused with ants. Do…
It is true that swampy Florida has a dry season, and the landscape is typically thirstiest in April. No April showers here! There is a season to apply more water and calibrate the system, and there is a season to back off the irrigation. If we can calibrate and adjust our irrigation systems, we can…
It is very common to find your yard being dug up throughout the year in our area due to the nine-banded armadillo. This non-native mammal is searching through your yard, looking for insects and grubs as it creates its triangular shaped divots. You may even be unlikely enough to have one of their round burrows…
It’s not uncommon in Florida in the springtime to stumble across some harried animal mother’s lost child. Like Ashley, here. Ashley. Credit: Susan Gildersleeve, UF/IFASYou may be tempted to intervene and help, especially if the youngster seems to be in distress. The rule with wild animals, however, is, always, Keep your distance. What not…
Watch our webinar recording of Butterfly Gardening in Central Florida here. The key to attracting butterflies to your yard is to plant species that butterflies can use for food and shelter. Larval host plants are specific to butterfly species, they are the plants that adult butterflies lay their eggs on. Caterpillars are the larvae of…
