News & Updates

The plight of flowering dogwood in northeast Florida

Historically, nothing said spring had arrived any better than a flowering dogwood tree.  It remains a favored tree in southern landscapes.  Sometimes you may see an occasional dogwood in bloom in the local pine forests. However, it is very rare to see one in bloom in the north Florida landscape.   While Dogwood Anthracnose, a fungal…

Keeping Backyard Chickens Healthy

Chickens have been domesticated for thousands of years across Asia, Europe, and now the Americas. As a result of selective breeding for desirable characteristics, such as for egg or meat production, they are not as robust as their wild ancestors. Modern chickens are generally more susceptible to environmental stress and diseases. So, keeping chickens healthy,…

Starting Your Florida Farm

In Osceola County, Florida: Need help with crops, bees, food businesses, agritourism? Contact Jessica Sullivan, 321-697-3040 Need help with livestock, pastures? Contact Brittany Justesen Find your county’s UF IFAS Extension Office. by Jessica SullivanSource: UF/IFAS Pest Alert Note: All images and contents are the property of UF/IFAS. …

Your New Go-To Site for Stormwater Pond Resources

Your new go-to site for stormwater pond resources has been created by staff at the UF/IFAS Extension service for residents, professionals and anyone else that is looking to learn more! This website serves as a research tool and resource center for stormwater ponds. Check it out here: UF/IFAS Extension Stormwater Ponds Site. Help with Research! On…

Right Plant, Right Pot

We have officially reached the season of cooler weather (well, cooler weather for Florida that is).  It also means there’s cooler things to plant, and we begin to see some of our favorite northern vegetables migrate down to Florida for the holidays. If you want to grow vegetables and harvest your own food, but don’t…

Programming your controller

Taking charge of your own irrigation programming may seem daunting, but knowing how to use your system’s controller is critical in making sure it’s running efficiently throughout the year. Follow the steps below to program your controller. Know Your Water Restrictions First thing’s first…look at your city or county’s water restrictions. These will influence how…

Online Resource for Water Conservation

Splash into new online irrigation and landscape resources with the UF/IFAS Manatee County Extension’s Mobile Irrigation Lab site! This site is intended to serve as a resource hub for landscape, irrigation and water conservation information. The Mobile Irrigation Lab site also provides access to free online courses that anyone can take but, they are a…

Resources for Hiring a Landscape and Pond Professional

It is no secret that it can be difficult hiring a landscape and/or pond professional that meets all of your community’s needs. Luckily, there is a website full of presentations and resources for hiring a landscape and pond professional. This site is intended to provide resources to maintenance professionals, pond committees, HOA members, realtors, or…

Growing a Green Thumb! Gardening class starts January

Levy County Extension hosts the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF-IFAS) Extension Master Gardener volunteer (MGV) training program. Meeting Thursdays, January 26 – April 13, 9 am – Noon, Levy County Extension office, 625 North Hathaway Avenue, Bronson. Addressing challenges of gardening in North Florida; making the most of limited (and…

Florida Fall Foliage

Bring out the pumpkin spice and apple cider – autumn is here! However, nothing screams autumn more than fall-colored leaves. Despite Florida’s warm climate, there are some trees here that turn beautiful shades of yellow, orange, and red in the fall. On your next drive or walk through your neighborhood, look out for one of…

Rain Barrels 101

It’s that time of year where daily afternoon showers bring a lot of rain. One way to take advantage of this rain is by installing a rain barrel. Rain barrels collect water that falls from your roof. This water can be stored and used for your indoor plants, landscaping, and lawn. There are many benefits…

December First Friday with Florida First Detector

Recap of December First Friday with Florida First Detector On December 2nd, we covered the basics of invasive snails and slugs. Snails and slugs are a type of mollusk called a gastropod. Slugs are different than snails in that they typically lack a visible shell. For slug identification, we look at characteristics like the body…
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