There are many ways that weeds can establish in a landscape bed. Some weeds like Florida betony are difficult to manage once they are growing around other plants. Learn about our experience with Florida betony in the Escambia County Demonstration Garden.
A diverse, well-planned garden bed improves soil health and spreads out harvest timing. Photo by Trevor Hylton.
Healthy tomato production in North Florida depends on early planting, proper staking, and consistent fertility. Photo by Molly Jameson.
Spring is one of the most rewarding – and, let’s face it, challenging – seasons to grow a garden in the Panhandle. Warm temperatures and longer days push plants to grow quickly, but heat, humidity, disease, and insect pressure ramp up just as fast. A successful spring garden depends on good timing, careful crop selection, and thoughtful soil preparation before the real heat of late spring and early summer sets in.
If you’ve ever wondered why one garden thrives while another struggles, it usually starts below ground. Our sandy soils benefit from added organic matter, proper fertilization, and good drainage. Just as important is selecting a site with adequate sunlight – most vegetables need at least six to eight hours per day – and understanding which crops perform best in our region during the spring planting window.
To help gardeners get off to a strong start, UF/IFAS Leon County Extension is hosting the two-evening Spring 2026 Backyard Gardening Series from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 4 and Wednesday, March 11 at the Leon County Extension Office (615 Paul Russell Road, Tallahassee).
Extension Agents Mark Tancig, Molly Jameson, and Trevor Hylton will cover:
Warm-season herbs like basil thrive in full sun and well-drained soil, and learning when and how to harvest keeps plants productive longer. Photo by Molly Jameson.
Learn how to evaluate sunlight, drainage, and proximity to water to choose a location that supports healthy vegetable growth.
Understand how soil testing, proper nutrient management, and building soil organic matter can improve plant health and productivity in our mostly sandy soils.
Learn about crop timing, spacing, irrigation methods, and practical strategies to manage heat and insect pressure as the season progresses.
See real examples of seasonal crops growing on site and observe how planting layouts, mulching, and crop diversity contribute to garden success.
Crops like squash grow quickly in spring but require good pollination, spacing, and pest awareness to avoid common issues like vine borers. Photo by Molly Jameson.
Participants will sow spring vegetable seeds and go home with spring vegetable starter plants to add to their own gardens.
Whether you’re starting your first backyard garden or looking to fine-tune your approach, this series will provide practical, research-based guidance tailored specifically to North Florida conditions.
The cost is $10 per individual or $20 for a family of 3 – 4 people, and registration is required.
Sign up at: https://spring2026backyardgardening.eventbrite.com.
The second evening will include a tour of the Leon County Extension Demonstration Garden, so participants are encouraged to wear closed-toe shoes. Light refreshments will be provided.
For more information, contact Molly Jameson at mjameson@ufl.edu or 850-606-5200.
The Chickasaw plum is covered in beautiful small white flowers in the spring. Photo credit: UF IFAS
The native Chickasaw plum is a beautiful smaller tree (12-20 ft mature height) that is perfect for front yards, small areas, and streetscapes. True to its name, the Chickasaw plum was historically an important food source to Native American tribes in the southeast, who cultivated the trees in settlements well before the arrival of Europeans. They typically harvested and then dried the fruit to preserve it. Botanist-explorer William Bartram noted the species during his travels through the southeast in the 1700’s. He rarely saw it in the forests, and hypothesized that it was brought over from west of the Mississippi River.
One of the first trees to bloom each spring, the Chickasaw plum’s white, fragrant flowers and delicious red fruit make it charmingly aesthetic and appealing to humans and wildlife alike. The plums taste great eaten fresh from the tree but can be processed into jelly or wine. Chickasaw plums serve as host plants for the red-spotted purple butterfly, and their fruit make them popular with other wildlife. These trees are fast growers and typically multi-trunked.
Almost any landscape works for the Chickasaw plum, as it can grow in full sun, partial sun, or partial shade, and tolerates a wide variety of soil types. The species is very drought tolerant and performs well in sandy soils.
The plum is in the rose family and has thorns, so it is wise to be aware of these if young children might play near the tree.
Winter is ideal tree-planting time in Florida. While national Arbor Day is in spring, Florida’s Arbor Day is the 3rd Friday of January due to our milder winters.
For more information about tree selection in northwest Florida, contact your local county Extension office.
Taking soil samples is an important step in maintaining soil health and maximizing your plant growth. Good crop, grass and landscape production often require the application of fertilizer and lime in the spring so late winter soil sampling will help you prepare for what you need to apply. Understanding the makeup of the soil will help you maximize growth and minimize input cost.
Soil sampling will help you understand the makeup of your soil. The samples can determine current pH levels, fertility levels of principle nutrients (Nitrogen, Potassium, Phosphorus), and nutrients that need to be added to your soil. Knowing these things about your soil will help you figure out the amount of fertilizer and lime your crops and soil need. When taking soil samples, it is important to know that they will not give you recommendations on what crops to grow. Poor crops caused by drought, disease, insect damage and the use of too much water are not able to be detected by soil samples.
When taking soil samples, it is important to understand the different areas of crop growth, soil color, and fertilizer and lime history. Knowing this information will help you divide your field or lawn into areas for sampling. You will need to take 10-15 core samples of the area you are wanting to fertilize. When collecting the core samples avoid wet spots, feeding areas, fence rows, under trees and areas of high foot or vehicle traffic. Samples can be taken with a sampling tube, auger, shovel or trowel. Field or pasture samples should be taken at a depth of 6 inches and lawns should be taken at a depth of 3 inches. After the 10-15 core samples have been taken, mix them together and place the composite sample in a small bag. It is important to name the sample areas on the bags.
Ben Hoffner taking Soil Sample – photo credit – Ben Hoffner
The Jefferson County Extension Office Agriculture Agent can help with taking soil samples and testing. Appropriate information sheets, submission forms and sample bags are available at the Extension Office. There is a small fee of $3 or $10 per sample depending on which test you would like. Once samples are sent in to the University of Florida’s soil testing lab, the results will take a few weeks to get back to you. Consult with the Agriculture Agent if you need help interpreting the test results or fertilizer recommendations.
Please reach out to the Jefferson County Extension Office with any questions or assistance regarding soil sampling.
Ben Hoffner – Horticulture/ Ag & Natural Resources Agent
Contact – b.hoffner@ufl.edu or (850) 342-0187
For more information:
Cool weather in North Florida often inspires gardeners to grab the pruners and “clean up” the landscape. But, winter pruning should be selective and intentional. The right cuts can improve plant health, structure, and flowering, while pruning the wrong plant at the wrong time can reduce blooms or increase cold damage. Timing in winter is crucial. Many plants slow down or go dormant, which can make it easier to see branch structure and remove limbs. Some plants benefit from dormancy pruning, because it can help reduce pest and disease pressure and prepare plants for a strong flush of spring growth. However, getting lopper-happy too early can trigger tender new growth to emerge that becomes susceptible to late-freeze injuries.
Hand saw cutting a tree branch. Photo taken 05-01-20.
So, what is safe to prune currently? You should stick with dead, diseased, or damaged trees or shrubs. These cuts improve plant health overall and reduce placement for insects and pathogens to lay waiting during the winter months. Deciduous fruit trees often benefit from a winter haircut as well. Trees that drop their leaves, like plums, apples, and pears will benefit from winter pruning by opening their canopy for light and air and encouraging stronger spring flushes.
An illustration of the pruning structures. On the left is the open center training system and the right is modified central leader. Photo rights: http://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/care/pruning/pruning-deciduous-fruit-trees.html
There are a few plants you should leave alone until the spring. Many spring flowering shrubs like azalea and camellia should be left until spring. This is due to their late winter blooming patterns and should be pruned right after their flowering window. Tender, cold-sensitive plants and evergreens that you are not trying to shape should also be left until the warmer months.
Overall, timing matters when considering cleaning up your landscape during the temperate months. The best pruning principles are knowing why you’re pruning (removing dead wood, etc.) and not removing more than about twenty-five to thirty percent of the live canopy in one growing season. Making correct, angled cuts to promote healing of the pruned areas is also very important to promote growth to come back to the plant.
Winter pruning in North Florida is not about “tidying” everything at once, it’s about timing and purpose. By being selective of what you are cutting and when to leave plants along, you will set your landscape up for healthy growth and beautiful blooms this spring.
For more information:
https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/gulfco/2019/01/09/winter-pruning/
https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/marionco/2020/01/16/pruning-in-winter
https://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/woody/pruning-when.shtml