Rodenticides are a specific type of pesticide used to control rats and mice, also known as rat poisons, but they can have impacts throughout the food chain if not used correctly. In this episode, we will explore the science behind rodenticides, the impact of rat poisons, and of course, best management practices when it comes…
It is hot in Florida and around the country. We need to be mindful of keeping our bodies properly hydrated. Bring a source of water with you when working, playing, gardening, biking, running, and/or enjoying any outdoor activity.
Know the signs and symptoms of dehydration and seek help when you need it.
I have heard…
Every summer we get a flood of emails and samples from residents who have problems with spots on their plant’s leaves.
Florida summertime weather is perfect for fungi and a variety of insects who may be to blame for this problem. Sometimes herbicides can drift in the breeze and cause spotting on leaves. But every…
As we move more into summer months, Florida’s rainy season is in full swing. These rain events could be hurricane or severe storm related but one of the side effects is increased mosquito populations.
As UF/IFAS Entomologist Dr. Estelle Martin explains, increased rain levels can raise water into areas where mosquitos have laid their…
Time to garden!
With food prices climbing toward the sky it may be time to consider pulling that brown thumb out of your pocket and adding a little green paint to it. Growing a garden can be a humbling experience, especially in Florida, but despite the fact, that you may feel your thumb is brown,…
Established in 2016, the Southeast Regional Center of Excellence in Vector-Borne Disease: The Gateway Program (SECVBD) will continue its work for another five years, thanks to renewed funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
“The center is a team effort to help communities prevent, prepare and respond to vector-borne disease threats through applied research…
My background and Purpose
My name is Johanna Walker. I am a 4th year student at the University of Florida (UF), pursuing a B.S. in environmental science. Although I grew up in Michigan it was my good fortune to have been able to experience other environments and cultures at an early age. I lived in the…
The heat is on and the cold-blooded reptiles we love to hate are on the move through our landscapes. Scorned throughout history, snakes in Florida are most active through the warm seasons and are present throughout the state.
The reason they are prevalent is because their food sources are prevalent. Snakes eat insects, lizards, frogs,…
Norms beat knowledge when it comes to irrigating homeowners’ lawns, new University of Florida research shows.
For example, science tells us that if you replace at least one-third of the irrigated area of your yard or landscape with non-irrigated beds, you could save an average of 50,000 gallons of water per year.
But homeowners take…
Typically, this time of year many homeowners are tackling a variety of weeds in their landscapes. One of those weeds may very well be the invasive and aggressive weed known as Doveweed (Murdannia nudifflora). Doveweed emerges when average temperatures reach 65-70 degrees daily and germination continues into late fall.
Doveweed is easily mistaken as St.…
Blueberries were once known as star berries because of the pointy flower calyxes on top of the berries. Blueberries have grown in North America for thousands of years. Native Americans dried the berries in the sun and crushed them into a powder to be used as a rub on meats. Whole berries were added to…
Growing up, every July my family would take a long road trip to visit family. One activity we always did together was go blueberry picking with my grandpa at a U-pick farm a short drive from his house. Everyone would fill a bucket—though we always joked we ate more than ended up in the buckets—then…
