Your landscape might start to look a little stressed after a harsh Florida summer, but there are some plants that will revive the landscape going into the fall months. These plants will add some interest to your landscape with their unique characteristics. Blooms, berries, and fall-colored foliage are the key to fall landscaping in your Central Florida yard. Remember that even in Florida, there are many plants that will change color, produce berries, or flower only in the fal

Photo by: UF/IFAS If you’ve driven through Florida and noticed bright yellow flowers waving along the turnpike or local highways, you may have spotted one of Florida’s most recognizable wildflowers: coreopsis. The name “coreopsis” comes from the Greek words koris, meaning “bug,” and opsis, meaning “view.” The name refers to the buglike appearance of the plant’s fruit, whose tiny seeds have pincer-like structures that can grab onto clothing or fur. The common name for coreopsi

August is the heart of Florida’s rainy season. On a typical summer afternoon, towering puffy clouds build on the horizon before producing the thunder, lightning, and rain that many of us associate with summer. For lifelong Floridians, these daily storms are familiar and almost comforting. For newcomers and visitors, they can be surprising. Either way, lightning is one of nature’s most fascinating (and dangerous) phenomena. WHY DOES FLORIDA GET SO MUCH LIGHTNING? Florida is of

It’s hard to think about a fall vegetable garden when temperatures are soaring into the 90s, but now is the perfect time to begin planning your fall vegetable garden. In Central Florida, July and August are ideal months to prepare your garden and start seeds for cool-season vegetables. Taking time to plan before planting will help you grow a productive garden and avoid many common gardening challenges. Whether you are planting your very first vegetable garden or preparing an

Native wildflowers can bring color and beauty to your landscape during the summer months in Central Florida. Whether planted in a dedicated garden space, mixed into existing landscape beds, or incorporated into a naturalized area of the yard, native wildflowers are an excellent addition to a Florida-Friendly Landscape. But maintenance is a bit different for wildflowers, so learning as much as you can about the plants before you install them is recommended. Florida’s native wi

With summer approaching, it’s a good time to talk about palms. Planting palms in the summer months allows them time to develop a solid root system and take advantage of summer rainfall. Palms are different than many plants in your landscape and require special care. Proper selection, planting, watering, and fertilization are key to healthy palms in central Florida yards. RIGHT PALM, RIGHT PLACE Your Central Florida yard falls within USDA Zones 9b–10a, meaning palms must toler

In Florida, it can be difficult to tell the difference between a plant that simply grows aggressively and one that truly threatens local ecosystems. But for land managers, conservation groups, and scientists across Central Florida, invasive species are one of the biggest environmental challenges facing the region today. In April 2026, residents and biologists across the five-county Heartland Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area (Heartland CISMA) recognized a major mil

Composting is an easy and effective way to recycle in your yard. Both kitchen scraps and yard debris can be turned into compost, so you can reduce waste and create a beneficial soil amendment. Most households have everything they need to get started. Whether you have a small urban yard, a large suburban lot, or live in a deed-restricted community, there is a method of composting that will work for you. Basic knowledge of how the process works will ensure your success in creat

Photo by UF/IFAS Photo by Tyler Jones I know it’s at the very top of all your holiday plans, so I’m sure we’re all eagerly anticipating the celebrations for World Bee Day on May 20. Don’t worry, I’m totally kidding! I would be so surprised if you even knew that World Bee Day was a holiday, but it is an international celebration of pollinators and bees. All joking aside, the conversation around any bee celebrations usually center on the honeybee. And, while those managed hives

Florida blueberries are a favorite of many Central Floridians. They are tasty, good for you, and fun to pick at local farms. But did you know that you can also grow blueberries in your home landscape? Thanks to low-chill varieties, with proper site preparation, plant selection, and maintenance, home gardeners in Central Florida can enjoy fresh blueberries right from their own yard. WHAT VARIETIES CAN BE GROWN IN CENTRAL FLORIDA YARDS? Blueberries are native to eastern North A

After the recent cold weather, many central Florida homeowners got a reminder that our plants are not immune to frost and freeze damage. January and February are typically Central Florida’s coldest months, and this year’s extended stretch of temperatures in the 20s caused significant stress to many of our landscapes. Once the threat of freezing temperatures has passed, it’s time to shift from plant protection to recovery. Knowing when, and how, to help your plants recover is

We talked with Timothy Collette from Clean Pirate Life to learn about the fifth annual Foot the Chain Music & Waterski Festival happening in February. With a new sober living facility as the end goal, find out about the fun happening along the way to get there. HOW DID FOOT THE CHAIN COME ABOUT AND WHY? TC: Foot the Chain (FTC) started with a group of guys who came to Winter Haven every year after the holiday season, to warm up and barefoot waterski our beautiful chain of lak

Have an insect on a plant and you don’t know what to do? Moved to a new home and looking for advice on how to maintain your lawn? Looking to install native plants but don’t know where to start? Look no further than the UF/IFAS Extension Plant Clinic! Homeowners in Florida know that maintaining a healthy landscape can be both rewarding and challenging. From mysterious spots on leaves to declining trees or pests in the garden, plant problems can arise quickly. Additionally, man

Florida’s state tree, the cabbage palm (Sabal palmetto), is one of the most recognizable native plants in our landscape. It grows along highways, in neighborhoods, and throughout Florida’s natural areas, from pine flatwoods to wetlands and prairies. Because it is so common, it is easy to overlook. But the cabbage palm is more than a familiar backdrop. It is a native species that plays an important role in supporting Florida’s wildlife, especially in landscapes that are increa

ORIGINS & EARLY GROWTH (1500S–LATE 1800S) Oranges were first planted in Florida by early Spanish explorers (near St. Augustine) and over centuries citrus spread across the peninsula; commercial-scale production expanded after the Civil War when railroads enabled shipping to northern markets. Central Florida — including Polk County — became a major citrus-growing region in the late 19th century as settlers planted groves and rail links allowed crate shipments (many of the deco

There is nothing more iconic to Florida than growing citrus in the home garden. But with challenges from greening, this has become increasingly difficult for homeowners. Luckily, there are still options available, and by following UF/IFAS guidelines from selection to maintenance, it is possible to harvest your own citrus. WHAT IS GREENING? If you are not familiar with citrus greening (huanglongbing (HLB)), it is a bacterial disease spread by a tiny insect called the Asian cit

Central Florida’s mild winters create the perfect opportunity to get outside and enjoy the weather during the holiday season; so in this month’s article, we’ll be discussing six beautiful natural areas that you might consider visiting! These locations offer fun for the whole family, with many of them providing opportunities for hiking, biking, horseback riding, or even camping. You’ll also have the chance to spot some of Central Florida’s unique wildlife, including several ra

Did you know that you can grow bulbs in central Florida? Central Florida gardeners can display bulbs year-round, which is different than the bulbs you may be familiar with if you have gardened up north. There are both tropical and subtropical bulbs that thrive in our landscapes if you install and maintain them following the Florida-Friendly Landscaping principles. WHICH BULBS CAN WE GROW CENTRAL FLORIDA? Plant tropical bulbs in the spring and summer months. This includes cala

As Thanksgiving approaches, turkeys start taking center stage – in grocery store displays, dinner menus, and classroom crafts. But beyond the holiday hustle, wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo) roam Florida’s forests, pastures, and wetlands year-round, playing a vital role in our state’s natural ecosystems. A CLOSER LOOK AT THE WILD TURKEY Florida is home to two of the five subspecies of wild turkey found in North America: the Eastern subspecies, which is common across the Pan

Are you interested in recycling waste and creating something that can be used in your landscape and garden? Look no further than composting! Composting is an easy and effective way to recycle in your own yard. Not only can you reduce the volume of waste that goes to the landfill, but you can also create a beneficial soil amendment for your landscape. Most households have all the elements they need to create a successful compost pile without purchasing additional equipment. Ki

Have you ever wondered what’s under the leaf litter in your backyard? At first glance, there might not seem to be much there, but upon closer inspection … what you find might send a shiver down your spine! While “creepy crawlies” isn’t a scientific term, we’re using it here to talk about small invertebrates (like insects, worms, and spiders) that are often viewed in a negative light or go entirely unnoticed but play a huge role in our ecosystem. Central Florida’s warm humid c

This month’s issue is all about people helping people, so we wanted to take a look at a unique native species with some inspiring community dynamics: the Florida scrub jay (Aphelocoma coerulescens)! QUICK FACTS • Scrub jays are Florida’s only endemic bird. • They are 10-12 inches long from beak to tail tip, with bright blue wings, tail, and head, and a soft gray back and belly. • They are non-migratory, staying in the same family territory year-round. • Scrub jays are super s

Last month we featured garden hacks from Master Gardener Volunteers, and we have so many to share that we are back again with more! With a few simple strategies, you can make routine garden chores a bit easier and maybe even a little more fun. Polk County Master Gardener Volunteers have MORE “gardening hacks” to help make your time in the yard both productive and pleasant. SIMPLE HACKS FOR GARDEN UP-KEEP 1. SCHEDULE HEAVY TASKS SEASONALLY Certain times of year can be more “ch

Gardening is a fun hobby for many people, but when it feels like there is a lot of work to do and the weather is hot, landscape maintenance can start to feel overwhelming. With a few simple strategies, you can make routine garden chores a bit easier and maybe even a little more fun. Polk County Master Gardener Volunteers have some “gardening hacks” to help make your time in the yard both productive and pleasant. REDUCE PHYSICAL STRAIN 1. RAISE YOUR WORKSPACE Do you have plant