This article is delivered courtesy of UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions. For more information please refer to http://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu\ Easy to grow and tough as nails, black-eyed Susan is a sunny-colored wildflower that is salt- and drought-tolerant, making it an excellent choice for coastal landscapes. Black-eyed Susan One of the nine Rudbeckia species native to Florida, black-eyed Susan is the most… Read More »
It’s a struggle to manage our Panhandle landscapes, especially over the late spring-summer months. Just remember, small adjustments can mean significant impacts in conserving water. by Ray Bodrey Some homeowners are not aware that watering plants too much can have as much of an ill effect as not watering enough. Shallow-rooted plants, as well… Read More »
This article is delivered courtesy f UF/IFAS Gardening solutions. For more information please refer to http://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/ Ajuga, sometimes called bugleweed, is a shade-loving ground cover from the mint family. Ajuga Ajuga ‘Chocolate Chip’ It spreads rapidly, forming a dense mat of leaves that range from dark green to deep, bronze-like… Read More »
This article is delivered courtesy of UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions. For more information please refer to http://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu\ Agapanthus Sometimes called lily of the Nile, agapanthus is a tough plant, with strap-like leaves and flowers that bloom all summer long. Their pom-pom shaped flower clusters, typically in white, blue, or purple, attract hummingbirds and work well… Read More »
From the UF/IFAS Extension Office Web Art in the Woods With cool, foggy mornings you may have noticed the large number of spider webs hanging on low vegetation. Some of them have unusual shapes. One of the most notable is the bowl and doily spider. This spider (Frontinella pyramitela) is a species of sheet web weavers… Read More »
by Matthew Orwat Monsieur Tillier – Tea rose from the late 1800s. A good choice where a large, free-flowering shrub is needed – Image Credit Matthew Orwat Home Gardeners, when they think of roses, their mind inevitably turns to the ‘Knockout’ rose and its offspring. That’s fine, there’s nothing wrong with ‘Knockout’ roses, it makes a… Read More »
by Julie McConnell I’m hard-pressed to tell you my favorite song, movie, or place to eat, but when we start talking plants I can come up with whole categories of favorites. I won’t commit to just one species, but when it comes to woody shrubs I am a huge fan of viburnums. We have small… Read More »
News for Gardeners Facebook A Wildflower Among Weeds The change in North Florida temperatures from cooler to warmer is making many winter weeds more noticeable as they begin to flower and form seed. Not all of these plants should be considered for mowing or hand pulling. There are several wildflowers worth learning about that… Read More »
Provided by UF/IFAS (This is the second part of a series about how to take the guesswork out of watering the lawn. For part 1, click here.) Measuring the moisture where it counts…at the roots. Just over a decade ago, a UF/IFAS blogpost was published entitled “Soil-moisture Sensors May Produce Big Water Savings for Homeowners, UF Study… Read More »
by Les Harrison UF/IFAS It is easy to notice the display of bright pink puffs erupting on low-growing trees along roadsides. This attractive plant is the Mimosa tree, Albizia julibrissin. These once popular small trees are commonly found in the yards of older homes in Florida where the display of prolific blooms starts up as the weather warms.… Read More »
1. Right Plant, Right Place Achieving a healthy, low-maintenance home landscape starts with putting the right plant in the right place. Select plants that match a site’s soil, light, water, and climatic conditions. Buy quality plants that welcome wildlife, consider plant size when you make your purchase, and aim for a diversity of trees, shrubs, groundcovers, and flowers.… Read More »
by Julie McConnell Shore juniper forms a thick groundcover and tolerates hot, dry sites. Photo: J_McConnell, UF/IFAS We all know that when you have bare ground in Florida, eventually something unwanted moves in or the soil moves out. To avoid either of these negative outcomes, a good practice is to grow robust vegetative groundcovers, especially… Read More »
by Sheila Dunning Lantana is a landscape plant that easily escapes cultivation and spreads. Photo Credit: Jennifer Bearden You know that plant in the corner of the yard that seems to be taking over? It’s the one that your friend “passed along” because they had plenty of them and wanted to share. After all, it grows… Read More »
Provided by UF/IFAS People often don’t understand the purpose of a ‘rain garden’. Consequently, they may confuse it with a water garden or a bog garden. In reality, a rain garden is neither. It is, however, an important part of Florida-friendly Landscaping program. This program is a research-based guide to protecting our water resources. By following the nine FFL gardening principles, homeowners maintain healthy and attractive landscapes. And, at the… Read More »
A lovely but troublesome tree Mimosa has been categorized as an invasive exotic plant in Florida by the University of Florida IFAS Assessment of Non-Native Plants in Florida’s Natural Areas. There are some native trees that make excellent alternatives to mimosa. NISAW 2018: Channeled Apple Snails (Pomacea canaliculata) When you think of snails, you probably… Read More »