Non-GMO Seeds at the Garden Center? They All Are!
While planning my fall garden I have been partaking in one of my favorite pastimes—shopping for seeds. This is always more fun to me than planting the seeds. Seeds come in many different packages and just like wine, you can be drawn in just from the carefully crafted...
When the Ground Moves.
When the Ground Moves. It started with a quiet day, and a curious bag of sand brought into the extension office but inside was more than just sand. It was crawling with tawny crazy ants (Nylanderia fulva), one of Florida’s fastest-spreading invasive pests. Known for...
2025 Gardening in the Panhandle LIVE! Great Southeast Pollinator Census – Bee a Citizen Scientist! Wrap Up
Last month we focused on the 2025 Great Southeast Pollinator Census and how Florida residents and visitors could join in this citizen scientist project. Since this was only the second year Florida participated, we knew you would have lots of great questions! Below is...
Improve Butterfly Habitat with Trees
Many gardeners enjoy plants that attract butterflies and there is no shortage of beautiful flowering plants to supply nectar for all our pollinators. One critical part of making habitat for butterflies that we may need to improve upon is supplying plenty of host...
Lawn Care When It Just Won’t Rain
Many turfgrass yards, including mine, are feeling the effects of an extended droughty period this month. While one of the benefits of the primary turf species grown in the area (Centipedegrass, Zoysiagrass, Bermudagrass, and Bahiagrass), is their drought tolerant...
Understanding Fall Webworms
Have you ever noticed the big knots of webbing in some trees this time of year? They’re usually sort of a brown-pink hue, much too big for a spider but not really tightly wound enough to be a nest or cocoon. What you’re seeing actually is a cocoon of sorts—a big...
Landscape Tree Protection
When maintaining proper care of your trees and shrubs in your lawn or landscape it is important to not damage stems and trunks. It is best practices to keep the area around the tree clean, but it needs to be done properly. Mowing and weed eating is not...
Nature’s Recycling: The Art of Composting
As we transition from the dog days of summer into (hopefully) the cool weather of fall, it is a great time to consider the nutrient levels of your garden soil. One of the best things you can give your garden is the foundation of healthy soil, but to do that you may...
Ganoderma, a Deadly Disease of Palms
No plant is as closely associated with Florida as a palm tree - the native sabal palmetto is the state tree, in fact! While this and several other species of palm are hardy even into the cooler regions of the panhandle, there are occasionally problems that arise with...
Discover the Sweet Potential of Persimmons at the UF/IFAS Persimmon Field Day
Persimmons are an increasingly popular fruit crop in North Florida that are prized for their rich flavor, vibrant color, and adaptability to the state's climate. With varieties ranging from astringent to non-astringent, persimmons offer growers and consumers a diverse...