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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Many homeowners in Central Florida turn to native wildflowers as an option for seasonal color in their landscapes. Summer-blooming wildflowers are colorful, eye-catching, and a great way to enhance your summer landscape. With proper selection and placement, summer wildflowers can thrive in your Central Florida yard. Native wildflowers are well-adapted to the sandy soils, high humidity, and frequent rainfall associated with summers in central Florida. Many native species are d

Spring in central Florida is always a welcome sight, even though our region does not experience the harsh winters seen in other parts of the country. However, this year, the effects of winter weather are noticeably evident in our landscapes, and you may have frost/freeze damage on plants that have seen no damage in the past. Whether you are undertaking a major planting project or simply performing routine spring maintenance, there is always something to do in a central Florid

Gardening is not just about growing plants; it’s also about growing ourselves. Keeping a garden journal can help you connect with nature by documenting gardening activities, observations, and reflections. Garden journaling can foster mindfulness, promote personal growth, and enhance the overall gardening experience. WHAT IS GARDEN JOURNALING? Garden journaling involves recording details about your gardening activities, including planting dates, weather conditions, plant growt

Florida faces many challenges in protecting our valuable and often fragile natural environment. These challenges include the loss of natural habitats and the growing stress on both the quality and quantity of our water resources. It can sometimes feel overwhelming as if individual actions cannot make a meaningful difference. However, the good news is that we can have a positive environmental impact—right in our own yards! The Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ program, developed b

Growing leafy greens in central Florida during the winter offers a fantastic opportunity to cultivate fresh, nutrient packed vegetables. Cool season gardening focuses on crops that thrive in our mild winters. Most leafy greens grow from September to March, depending on temperatures. Here’s a guide to help you grow and enjoy your cool-season greens. 1. Selecting the Right Leafy Greens There are quite a few leafy greens that grow in the cool season. When selecting what type of

Many people like a pop of color to draw attention to a focal point in their landscape and what better way to do than then with a colorful potted container of plants. This spooky season, take it up a notch and make flowers part of your seasonal décor. Plants are like art, they can be a specimen, focal point, and a conversation starter. Take some of our tips for combining plants in a fun and spooky way and then transition them easily into fall... and beyond! Start by selecting

When we think of Florida’s natural land- scapes, images of alligators and sprawling wetlands often come to mind. But hidden among the swamps and bogs of Florida are some of the most unusual and fascinating predators: carnivorous plants. Perfect for Halloween, these spooky yet spectacular species have evolved to capture and digest unsuspecting prey. They thrive in Florida’s sunny, boggy wetlands, providing ecological benefits and adding an eerie charm to the state’s unique hab

Many people think of palm trees when they think of Florida. It is an iconic species and Florida’s state tree, specifically the cabbage palm (Sabal palmetto). Whether you inherit a landscape with mature palms or are considering planting palms in your yard, you will need to know how to properly care for them. This time of year is when we talk about fertilizing palms, so if your palms are exhibiting a nutrient deficiency, read the section on fertilizing closely and also take a l

What is the best way to maintain a healthy lawn in central Florida? There is no secret to lawncare success. Simply following the best management practices for home lawncare is the best way to support a healthy, thriving lawn. What does that mean? Proper mowing, watering, and following UF/ IFAS recommendations for pest management and fertilization. A properly maintained lawn is both aesthetically pleasing and functional. Healthy lawns filter runoff, reduce erosion, and mitigat

Hurricane season is upon us, and while you are probably aware of the preparations you need to make inside the home, what about those in the landscape? Prior to the start of each hurricane season, we encourage homeowners to grab a pen and paper, phone or camera, and some landscape flags and head out into the yard to do a pre-storm assessment. Survey your property now and look for things that may be an issue with wind and water— the main causes of damage in a storm. Look for it

Did you know that you can plant your vegetables and herbs alongside your ornamental perennials, shrubs, and trees? Most people think vegetable gardens, raised beds, and containers are the only places to grow edible plants. But vegetables and herbs can make great additions to the landscape without the expense or effort of a special place of their own. Adding edible plants to your ornamental landscape can enhance the yard in so many ways—visually with ornamental quality, fragra