Gardening in the Panhandle LIVE! Program Summary: Pests of Florida Lawns and Landscape Plants

Gardening just wouldn’t be any fun without the pests.  In this episode of Gardening in the Panhandle LIVE!, the hosts answered some very important questions about different types of pests in Florida lawns and landscapes.  Before we talk about some of the specific topics from this episode, it’s critical to know the definition of a pest when it pertains to our yards.  A pest is any organism that is harmful and/or damaging to humans or the property of humans such as crops and livestock.  Weeds are pests, some insects are pests, and diseases are pests.

Integrated Pest Management or IPM for short is the use of different pest management strategies to help control pests.  The UF/IFAS Publication Landscape Integrated Pest Management provides more details on the steps involved in a good IPM program.  

As stated above, pests can come in a lot of forms.  Pesticides offer control for some pests.  The article The Basics of Pesticides provides more information on using pesticides.

“Natural” can be a vague term.  You’ll want to read the UF/IFAS publication Natural Products for Managing Landscape and Garden Pests in Florida to help clarify the definition of natural pesticides and offer some natural control options.

If you’re growing edible crops, then you’ll need to follow some extra precautions to make sure your crops are safe to eat.  A Florida-Friendly Landscaping Approach to Pest Management in Your Edible Landscape provides IPM strategies specific to fruits, vegetables, and herbs utilized in the landscape.

Some annual weeds are easier to control as the germinate.  Pre-emergent herbicides provide a barrier that kills most annual weeds shortly after they germinate.  Apply pre-emergent herbicides in late winter before day temperatures reach 65°F–70°F for 4 or 5 consecutive days and in the fall when nighttime temperatures drop to 55°F–60°F for several consecutive days. 

The first step of IPM is to scout for pests.  More information on scouting can be found in the article Scouting: The tip of the IPM spear from Matt Smith with the UF/IFAS Extension in Lake County.

The larva of many beetle species like to eat turfgrass roots.  More information on June beetles and their control can be found in the fact sheet June Beetles (White Grubs).

Ground pearls are very difficult to control.  The UF/IFAS publication Ground Pearls, Margarodes spp. (Insecta: Hemiptera: Margarodidae offers detailed information of these underground relatives of armored scales.  

Snakes usually help us control pests around our homes.  If you’re interested in what snake species live in Florida, then you’ll want to read the UF/IFAS publication Managing Conflicts with Wildlife: Living with Snakes.

Chinch bugs are a major insect pest of Saint Augustinegrass.  The UF/IFAS publication Southern Chinch Bug, Blissus insularis Barber (Insecta: Hemiptera: Blissidae) provides some valuable information on this insect pest and how to control it.

Fire ants are a direct pest of humans and the create some unsightly mounds in the yard.  A number of baits are available on the market to help keep them out of the landscape.  The article Sustainable Fire Ant Control offers more details on baits and other fire ant control strategies.

Mole crickets are another type of insect that feed on turfgrass roots.  The Mole Cricket IPM Guide for Florida is a great place to start if you’re trying to understand this pest better.

If you’re sticking with an edible landscape theme, then you’ve certainly encountered leaf-footed bugs and stinkbugs on your fruit and vegetable crops.  Larry Williams with the UF/IFAS Extension in Okaloosa County has written a very informative article on leaf-footed bugs titled Leaf-footed Bugs Are Common On Tomatoes.

The extension publication Weed Management Guide for Florida Lawns offers a variety of weed management strategies for your yard.

Weed control in plant beds can sometimes be tricky.  The UF/IFAS publication Improving Weed Control in Landscape Planting Beds provides solutions for managing weeds around shrubs and ornamentals.

Products containing glyphosate are good for spot spray applications in the landscape, however some people may choose to avoid its use.  The UF/IFAS publication Use of Glyphosate and Herbicide Alternatives for Weed Control in Florida Landscape Planting Beds discusses the advantages and disadvantages of using glyphosate and other herbicides.

Pests can wreak havoc on healthy lawns and landscapes.  The resources and advice provided in this episode of Gardening in the Panhandle LIVE! will help you maintain a beautiful setting to enjoy.  To view this episode of Gardening in the Panhandle LIVE! please visit our YouTube channel.