Learn about useful South Florida Gardening & Safety Hints to beautify and improve safety in our neighborhood.
Master Gardener Volunteers on… the orchid tree, a corsage for your yard. By Karen Pariser
Looking for an amazing pop of color and texture in your Florida yard? Consider the impact of a flowering tree. Specifically, the orchid tree.
Bauhinia basics. A member of the Bauhinia genus, which includes approximately 350 varieties of showy, flowering trees and plants, orchid trees are non-natives, hailing from southern China. Amazing shades of fuchsia with magenta with red accents in super-sized, orchid-shaped flowers make the orchid tree an almost-irresistible addition to your garden. This tree is too big for a small yard, though, and best suited for a large property or as a single specimen in a medium-sized landscape..........
If you would like to read the full article, click on the link above.
Master Gardener Volunteers on… Sansevieria: invasive, nuisance, or reliable addition to the garden? By Karen Pariser, Master Gardener Volunteer Program team member.
Remember your grandma’s impossible-to-kill parlor plant, the “mother-in-law’s tongue”? You might know it as “snake plant” or “viper’s bowstring” or even “African spear plant.”
However you remember it, whatever you call it, this plant actually is called sansevieria. And it’s widely popular… again.
There has been an amazing resurgence in popularity for many sansevieria varieties as a Florida landscape favorite. This new boom has paralleled the rebirth of the contemporary-style home building trend we have seen over the last few years.
For a couple of reasons, that’s not surprising. Sansevieria are some of the toughest plants you can find indoors, on your balcony or garden. These linear and often spear-like beauties can put up with almost anything. And, that linear shape makes them a perfect complement to the angular lines found in many modern buildings.
To read the full article, click on the link above.
Remember your grandma’s impossible-to-kill parlor plant, the “mother-in-law’s tongue”? You might know it as “snake plant” or “viper’s bowstring” or even “African spear plant.”
However you remember it, whatever you call it, this plant actually is called sansevieria. And it’s widely popular… again.
There has been an amazing resurgence in popularity for many sansevieria varieties as a Florida landscape favorite. This new boom has paralleled the rebirth of the contemporary-style home building trend we have seen over the last few years.
For a couple of reasons, that’s not surprising. Sansevieria are some of the toughest plants you can find indoors, on your balcony or garden. These linear and often spear-like beauties can put up with almost anything. And, that linear shape makes them a perfect complement to the angular lines found in many modern buildings.
To read the full article, click on the link above.
Plant This Not That: A New Resource for Residents & Professionals to Avoid Invasive Plants! By Tina McIntyre, MS, CEP, FCHP, Florida Friendly Landscaping Agent & Dr. Morgan Pinkerton, DPM, Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems Agent; University of Florida IFAS Extension Seminole County.
Don’t wait, get your copy of this great resource from the UF/IFAS Bookstore today: https://bit.ly/AvoidInvasive.
What are invasive plants?
An invasive plant is defined by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) as a plant which sustains itself outside of cultivation and expands its range into and within Floridian ecosystems. These invasive species can degrade our natural resources, cause management problems in agricultural fields, and can be very costly.
How are invasive plant species introduced?
The ornamental plant industry is the primary pathway for movement of non-native plants worldwide, with invasives accounting for a significant portion of the inventory and revenue. For example, Rose Peppertree (formerly Brazilian Peppertree), Schinus terebinthifolia, was introduced to Florida as an ornamental plant in the mid-1800s that later escaped cultivation. With a quick growth rate, wide climate tolerance, profuse seed production, and a high germination rate, this plant rapidly displaces native vegetation.
Don’t wait, get your copy of this great resource from the UF/IFAS Bookstore today: https://bit.ly/AvoidInvasive.
What are invasive plants?
An invasive plant is defined by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) as a plant which sustains itself outside of cultivation and expands its range into and within Floridian ecosystems. These invasive species can degrade our natural resources, cause management problems in agricultural fields, and can be very costly.
How are invasive plant species introduced?
The ornamental plant industry is the primary pathway for movement of non-native plants worldwide, with invasives accounting for a significant portion of the inventory and revenue. For example, Rose Peppertree (formerly Brazilian Peppertree), Schinus terebinthifolia, was introduced to Florida as an ornamental plant in the mid-1800s that later escaped cultivation. With a quick growth rate, wide climate tolerance, profuse seed production, and a high germination rate, this plant rapidly displaces native vegetation.
UF/IFAS checklist to prepare for a busy hurricane season.
Now that Hurricane Season is here, it’s best to get your home and business ready for one of the fierce storms before it comes to your doorstep.
University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) experts have created a simple-to-follow checklist for hurricane preparedness steps you can follow to be ready for this year’s busy hurricane season. According to forecasters at Colorado State University, the 2024 hurricane season will bring 23 named storms and 11 hurricanes, five of which will be Category 3 or above. The forecasting experts said this makes the 2024 season the “the highest prediction for hurricanes that CSU has ever issued.”
In all hurricanes or storm situations, evacuation orders must be followed, so keep a close eye on local city and county guidance regarding evacuations.
To read the rest of the article, click on the link above.
Now that Hurricane Season is here, it’s best to get your home and business ready for one of the fierce storms before it comes to your doorstep.
University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) experts have created a simple-to-follow checklist for hurricane preparedness steps you can follow to be ready for this year’s busy hurricane season. According to forecasters at Colorado State University, the 2024 hurricane season will bring 23 named storms and 11 hurricanes, five of which will be Category 3 or above. The forecasting experts said this makes the 2024 season the “the highest prediction for hurricanes that CSU has ever issued.”
In all hurricanes or storm situations, evacuation orders must be followed, so keep a close eye on local city and county guidance regarding evacuations.
To read the rest of the article, click on the link above.
Considering synthetic turf? What homeowners should know before installation.
A new Florida law that prohibits local governments from banning synthetic turf installation on some single-family residential properties could make it easier for homeowners to replace grass lawns with green plastic. by Jason Kruse
As part of his research as an associate professor of turfgrass science for the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS), Jason Kruse evaluates the environmental impacts of synthetic turf. He’s a co-author of a recently updated Ask IFAS document that uses Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Program principles to compare synthetic turf with natural turfgrass in a way that helps homeowners and professionals make informed decisions.
Here, Kruse answers some common questions about synthetic turfgrass.
If you would like to read the full article. Click HERE .
A new Florida law that prohibits local governments from banning synthetic turf installation on some single-family residential properties could make it easier for homeowners to replace grass lawns with green plastic. by Jason Kruse
As part of his research as an associate professor of turfgrass science for the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS), Jason Kruse evaluates the environmental impacts of synthetic turf. He’s a co-author of a recently updated Ask IFAS document that uses Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Program principles to compare synthetic turf with natural turfgrass in a way that helps homeowners and professionals make informed decisions.
Here, Kruse answers some common questions about synthetic turfgrass.
If you would like to read the full article. Click HERE .
Exploring Alternatives to Turfgrass for Your Landscape
Are you considering replacing your traditional turfgrass for reasons beyond just foot traffic, such as water conservation, low maintenance, or simply seeking a more environmentally friendly option? If so, you’re not alone! In this article, we’ll explore alternatives to traditional turfgrass that cater to a variety of needs and preferences, offering both beauty and functionality for your landscape.
Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Principles - Before delving into specific plant recommendations, it’s important to highlight the foundational principle of Florida-Friendly Landscaping™: selecting the right plant for the right place. This principle emphasizes the importance of choosing native and non-native adaptive plants that are well-suited to your environment, ensuring better success and reducing the need for excessive maintenance in the long run.
If you would like to read the full article, click HERE .
Are you considering replacing your traditional turfgrass for reasons beyond just foot traffic, such as water conservation, low maintenance, or simply seeking a more environmentally friendly option? If so, you’re not alone! In this article, we’ll explore alternatives to traditional turfgrass that cater to a variety of needs and preferences, offering both beauty and functionality for your landscape.
Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Principles - Before delving into specific plant recommendations, it’s important to highlight the foundational principle of Florida-Friendly Landscaping™: selecting the right plant for the right place. This principle emphasizes the importance of choosing native and non-native adaptive plants that are well-suited to your environment, ensuring better success and reducing the need for excessive maintenance in the long run.
If you would like to read the full article, click HERE .
Mixing turf varieties helps lawns last longer, UF study finds
If you would like to read the rest of the article, click HERE.
- Today, most lawns are planted with just one variety of a given turfgrass species, but that genetic uniformity makes them more vulnerable to pests and disease.
- Scientists conducted a four-year study to see how lawns with a blend of turf varieties faired compared to those with only one variety.
- The study showed that blended lawns outlasted and looked better than their single-variety counterparts.
If you would like to read the rest of the article, click HERE.
To Read about "Firescaping" your yard to minimize risk of fire damage to your property, review our May 2025 Firescaping Presentation. |