Gummy Stem Blight Spreading in Panhandle Watermelons

Gummy stem blight is a highly destructive, foliar fungal disease of watermelon that can cause yield losses of more than 50%. This disease is currently confirmed in multiple locations in Northwest and Northeast of Florida. Recent weather conditions of high humidity and...
Fireweed: A Burning Problem for Farmers

Fireweed: A Burning Problem for Farmers

Fireweed (Urtica chamaedryoides), may not be a pasture weed that causes great economic losses from competition, but it can cause distress to people who come in contact with it in their pastures or around the farm.  Also known as heartleaf nettle, this plant is...

Spring is the Ideal Time for Aquatic Herbicide Application

Similar to Goldilocks’ porridge, water temperature doesn’t need to be too hot or too cold, it needs to be just right for using aquatic herbicides (70o – 80o F). Here in Florida these optimum water temperatures occur in the spring. Water temperature largely...
Spiderwort Spreading and Could Become a Hay Field Pest

Spiderwort Spreading and Could Become a Hay Field Pest

This time each spring you can see purple flowering plants up and down roadsides all across North Florida.  Common Spiderwort (Tradescantia ohiensis), a.k.a. bluejacket, blooms really make the plants standout this time of year.  Typically the blooms are most noticeable...

Doveweed: a Growing Problem in Warm-season Turfgrasses

Ramon Leon, WFREC Weed Specialist Doveweed (Murdannia nudiflora) is a summer annual weed species that belongs to the dayflower family. Over the last three years, this weed has become an important weed problem in residential lawns and sod production. This weed has two...