‘Soft Caress’ Mahonia: A Fall Blooming Favorite
One of my favorite landscape plants is blooming right now in Panhandle landscapes – ‘Soft Caress’ Mahonia. ‘Soft Caress’ was first introduced into the commercial nursery trade in 2006 and included in the Southern Living Plant Collection, but didn’t achieve garden...
Tree Planting Tips
Extension agents are frequently tasked with evaluation of unhealthy plants in the landscape. They diagnose all sorts of plant problems including those caused by disease infection, insect infiltration, or improper culture. When evaluating trees, one problem that often...
Frost in the Panhandle? Practical Tips for Protecting Your Garden
Here in North Florida, mild winters are the norm, but our occasional cold snaps can be enough to wreak havoc on our gardens. As you might remember, in December of 2022 the entire Panhandle experienced temperatures dipping into the teens and low 20s for several nights...
Gardener’s To-Do-List for November
Though the calendar says November, the weather in Northwest Florida is still producing summer or at least spring-like temperatures. The nice days are wonderful opportunities to accomplish many of those outside landscape chores. But, it is also a good time to start...
Water Management during Dry Weather
So far, our fall has been unusually dry with warmer temperatures. Even though our average annual rainfall is around sixty-two inches per year, we don’t always receive rain exactly when we need it. There are times when we need to apply additional water. During dry...
Camellias Brighten Up Winter Landscapes
A recent visit to the Dothan Area Botanical Garden (DABG) reminded me that although many of our summer flowers are winding down, we have a great garden show coming this winter when the southern classic camellias start to show their stuff. DABG has a large collection...
Thinking about a “Clover Lawn”? We live in Florida; you can do better!!
The trend of having a clover lawn, or sometimes called a “fairy” lawn, has gained popularity in the last years. The trend has gained fame as homeowners are more conscientious about the environmental impact of their gardening decisions. A turfgrass lawn usually...
A Few Wildflowers for the Landscape
If you love wildflowers, the Fall season has so many plants for you to enjoy. We often think of wildflowers as those in natural settings, on roadsides, or in drainage spots. Here are a few wildflowers that make excellent landscape additions. Goldenrods (Solidago...
The Florida Pecan: A Fall Treat
Pecan trees are a southern staple in the states of Alabama, Georgia, and North Florida, prized for their delicious nuts and gorgeous additions they make to the landscape. During October and November, we start to see the mature pecan nuts fall to the ground and these...
Persimmon harvesting, ripening, and preservation strategies
Persimmon harvesting, ripening, and preservation strategies Persimmons fruits are renowned for their delicious, sweet taste, making them incredibly tasty and nutritious. They are native to China but have spread worldwide, especially in temperate and subtropical...