Florida- Friendly Landscaping™ is Just Horticultural Common Sense!Post-hurricane our landscapes are blank canvases awaiting renewal and reinvigoration. What better time to explore the Florida- Friendly Landscaping™ manner of gardening! Our yards are merely small models of the outside environment. The water we use, the fertilizers we apply, and the pesticides we spray have influences in…
Several times each month, I am diagnosing shrub and tree problems in Escambia County that are related to the same issue, improper planting. Symptoms of this problem can be slow growth, leaf browning, and dieback. Sometimes under stressful weather conditions like drought, plants completely die.
The trunk was covered with several inches of soil. Photo by…
This week in Florida we are dealing with a late season hurricane. It’s very rare to have one like this so late, but as Floridian’s we have learned to expect the unexpected. You might be wondering how in the world does a hurricane relate to pesticide safety? Well dear reader let us find out how…
Hurricane Ian made landfall on Sept. 28, and the vast storm surge from this event pushed extensive amounts of water into coastal areas. The mangroves that line our Florida coasts were in some cases completely submerged and the vast amounts of flotsam that floated into this ecosystem was left behind when the flood waters subsided.…
We don’t want to take guesses as to whether our bulls are breeding ready, we need to make all assurances possible that they are. The herd sire contributes 50% of the genetic potential for the calf crop. One bull that doesn’t perform as expected can result in significant economic losses. Therefore, it is critical that…
Throughout the fall and winter months, the talk of winter supplementation arises. Spring calves are being weaned and cows should be rebred. Fall calving is here. Not only is this a good time to evaluate your pastures in preparation, but you should be evaluating your cattle too. Evaluate your cow’s body condition score to determine…
An arbovirus…? What’s that?
West Nile virus is one of many arboviruses in Florida. “Arbovirus” may sound like it must be related to the Latin word for tree: arbor. So it might seem like it should mean a virus that infects trees. In fact, it has nothing to do with “arbor.” Arbovirus is actually not an official scientific…
Photo courtesy of UF/IFASFlorida is an unique and special place. No wonder why so many folks from other states move here! If you’ve recently moved to Florida and are struggling to understand your yard, use the resources outlined in this guide to help you get acquainted with your new environment. Get to Know your New Landscape…
During hurricane season, it is essential to take the correct precautions regarding food safety to prevent foodborne illnesses. Besides hurricanes, tropical storms can also cause power outages for an undetermined time. Learn nine practical tips on how to prepare for possible outages: Plan for a three-day supply of non-perishable food, pet food,…
Recap of November First Friday with Florida First Detector On November 4th, we dove into the basics on fruit flies. We focused specifically on true fruit flies in the family Tephritidae. These fruit flies have unique wings, often with a visible pattern. Females can have a long ovipositor which helps them lay eggs into fruit.…
Nov. 7, 2022 (12 PM) — The National Hurricane Center has released its latest advisory for Subtropical Storm Nicole: https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/graphics_at2.shtml?start#contents. Nicole is expected to strengthen to a tropical storm or possibly a hurricane, bringing storm surge, heavy rains and flooding to Florida beginning Wednesday. I encourage everyone to pay close attention to this storm and take…
Since 2005 we have been tracking and monitoring diamondback terrapins in the Florida panhandle. For those of you who are not familiar with the animal, it is a turtle in the family Emydidae. Emydid turtles include what we call “pond turtles” and also include the box turtles. Terrapins differ from the others in that (a)…
