Key Plant, Key Pests: Sycamore (Platanus spp.)

UF campus "moon tree," a sycamore tree (left) planted from a seed that was on an Apollo mission. Photo taken 09-10-19. Photo Credits: UF/IFAS Photo by Tyler Jones

This series of Key Plant, Key Pests publications are designed for Florida gardeners, horticulturalists, and landscape professionals to help identify common pests associated with regional flora. This new 6-page publication of the UF/IFAS Environmental Horticulture Department helps identify the most common pests found on trees in the sycamore group, Platanus spp., and it provides information and general management recommendations for sycamore lace bug, bacterial leaf scorch, powdery mildew, anthracnose, and canker stain. Written by Matthew Borden, Kelly Laplante, Juanita Popenoe, Adam Dale, Caroline R. Warwick, and Brian Pearson.
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep601

Key Plant, Key Pests: Lilyturf (Liriope muscari)

Liriope. Credits: UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions

This series of Key Plant, Key Pests publications is designed for Florida gardeners, horticulturalists, and landscape professionals to help identify common pests associated with common Florida flora. This new 4-page publication of the UF/IFAS Environmental Horticulture Department provides information and general management recommendations for leaf and crown rot, anthracnose, southern blight, scales, and root rot nematodes on lilyturf. Written by Juanita Popenoe, Caroline R. Warwick, and David J. Norman.
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep600

Key Plant, Key Pests: Oak (Quercus spp.)

An oak tree in a pasture. Credits: Tyler Jones, UF/IFAS

This series of Key Plant, Key Pests publications is designed for Florida gardeners, horticulturalists, and landscape professionals to help identify common pests associated with common Florida flora. This new 9-page publication provides information and general management recommendations for borers, caterpillars, insect-induced galls, twig girdlers, oak leaf blister, root and butt rot, Tubakia leaf spot, mistletoe, psocids, lace bugs, woolly aphids, powdery mildew, Spanish and ball moss, and lichens. Written by Juanita Popenoe, Caroline R. Warwick, Adam G. Dale, and Alfred Huo, and published by the UF/IFAS Environmental Horticulture Department.
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep596

A Beginner's Guide to Begonias: Classification and Diversity

Reiger begonia blossoms

Begonias are known by their bright, full flowers and also their leaves, which vary to showcase patterns, designs or color. They are often used as hanging baskets, flowerpots, and garden beds, as well as in the landscape. This new 5-page publication of the UF/IFAS Environmental Horticulture Department is intended for Florida gardeners and horticulturalists hoping to learn more about the different classifications of begonias as well as those interested in learning more about this potential landscape or houseplant. Written by Julian Ginori, Heqiang Huo, and Caroline R. Warwick.
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep581

Who Is Interested in Purchasing Smart Irrigation Systems?

A coiled water hose awaits use in UF's Fifield Garden. Horticulture, irrigation, water, maintenance, spigot, lawn care. UF/IFAS Photo: Tyler Jones

Water scarcity concerns have led to revolutionary new smart technologies for residential landscape irrigation, including evapotranspiration and soil-moisture sensor systems. The adoption of smart irrigation technologies into residential landscapes, however, has been slow. This 7-page publication written by Hayk Khachatryan, Alicia Rihn, Caroline R. Warwick, and Michael Dukes and published by the UF/IFAS Food and Resource Economics Department provides an overview of how different consumer groups perceive smart irrigation technology and the best promotions to encourage smart irrigation adoption in home landscapes. It is designed for landscapers, irrigation specialists, and marketing professionals who work with and are interested in promoting smart irrigation technologies to end consumers. Firms can use the results to tailor marketing strategies to target relevant customer segments and create promotions to encourage homeowners to adopt water-saving irrigation technologies.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fe1069

Florida Homeowner Herbicide Guide: Considerations, Applications, and Selection

When applying herbicides, be sure to wear long sleeves and pants, closed-toe shoes, socks, gloves, and any other required PPE listed on the label to avoid potential exposure.

While some people opt for professional lawn maintenance companies, some homeowners may wish to perform their own landscape pest control in order to save money, to have more control of what is applied, or simply because they enjoy it. This EDIS publication is for Florida gardeners, horticulturalists and homeowners who want to utilize herbicides to control weeds in their landscape. This new 9-page publication of the UF/IFAS Environmental Horticulture Department discusses common herbicides available at retail stores and how homeowners can use these them safely and effectively. Written by Chris Marble.
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep575

Key Plant, Key Pests: Oleander (Nerium oleander)

A polka-dot wasp moth. Credit: James Castner, UF/IFAS

This series of Key Plant, Key Pests publications are designed for Florida gardeners, horticulturalists, and landscape professionals to help identify common pests associated with common Florida flora. This new 5-page publication, the tenth in the series, helps identify the most common pests found on oleander. This publication provides information and general management recommendations for oleander aphids, oleander caterpillars, sphaerosis gall, oleander leaf scorch, and scale. Written by Juanita Popenoe, Jacqueline Bourdon, Caroline R. Warwick, and Jianjun Chen, and published by the UF/IFAS Environmental Horticulture Department.
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep574

Marketing Florida-Friendly Landscapes to Florida Homeowners

A Florida Friendly Yard in NW Gainesville, Florida.  UF/IFAS Photo by Tyler Jones.
Useful to retail and landscape firms who are interested in encouraging FFL-related purchases and installations, this 3-page fact sheet written by Hayk Khachatryan, Alicia Rihn, and Caroline R. Warwick and published by the UF/IFAS Food and Resource Economics Department is an overview of how both DIY homeowners and those who hire professional landscaping service providers perceive the value of residential landscapes and the best methods to encourage them to purchase or install FFL.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fe1063

Key Plant, Key Pests: Juniper (Juniperus spp.)

Dwarf Japanese juniper (Juniperus horizontalis) (also called creeping juniper) is used as a groundcover.

This series of Key Plant, Key Pests publications is designed for Florida gardeners, horticulturalists, and landscape professionals to help identify common pests associated with common Florida flora. This seven-page publication, the ninth in the Key Plant, Key Pests series, helps identify the most common pests found on Juniper, with information and general management recommendations for bagworms, eriophyid mites, scale, spider mites, webworm, mushroom root rot, needle blight, Rhizoctonia web blight, tip blight, and wet root rot diseases. Written by Juanita Popenoe, Jacqueline Bourdon, Caroline R. Warwick, and Alfred Huo and published by the UF/IFAS Environmental Horticulture Department.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep570

Key Plant, Key Pests: Holly (Ilex sp.)

Hollies are known for their woody branches and vibrant red berries

This series of Key Plant, Key Pests publications are designed for Florida gardeners, horticulturalists, and landscape professionals to help identify common pests associated with common Florida flora. This publication, the eighth in the Key Plant, Key Pests series, helps identify the most common pests found on Holly (Ilex sp.). This publication provides information and general management recommendations for Florida wax scale, tea scale, Cylindrocladium leaf spot, dieback, Sphaeropsis gall, root knot nematodes, and magnesium deficiency. This five-page document was written by Juanita Popenoe, Caroline R. Warwick, Jacqueline Bourdon, and Liz Felter and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Environmental Horticulture.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep566

Key Plant, Key Pests: Azalea (Rhododendron spp.)

This 8-page document is one in the Key Plant, Key Pests series. It helps identify the most common pests found on azalea. Written by Juanita Popenoe, Caroline R. Warwick, Jacqueline Bourdon, and David J. Norman and published by the UF/IFAS Environmental Horticulture Department, December 2018.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep567

Key Plant, Key Pests: Pine Species (Pinus sp.)

This 6-page document is one in the Key Plant, Key Pests series. It helps identify the most common pests found on pine species. Written by Juanita Popenoe, Jacqueline Bourdon, Caroline R. Warwick, and Chris Marble and published by the UF/IFAS Environmental Horticulture Department, December 2018.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep565

Key Plant, Key Pests: Chinese Fringe (Loropetalum chinense)

This 3-page document is one in the Key Plant, Key Pests series. It helps identify common pests found on the Chinese fringe. Written by Juanita Popenoe, Caroline R. Warwick, and Jianjun Chen and published by the UF/IFAS Environmental Horticulture Department, July 2018.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep562

Key Plant, Key Pests: Chinese Elm (Ulmus parvifolia)

This 5-page document is one in the Key Plant, Key Pests series. It helps identify common pests found on the Chinese elm (Ulmus parvifolia). Written by Juanita Popenoe, Caroline R. Warwick, and Richard Beeson Jr. and published by the UF/IFAS Environmental Horticulture Department, July 2018.
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep559

Key Plant, Key Pests: Crapemyrtle (Lagerstroemia)

This 4-page document is one in the Key Plant, Key Pests series. It helps identify pests found on the crapemyrtle, one of the most common landscape plants in north and central Florida. Written by Juanita Popenoe, Caroline R. Warwick, and Chris Marble and published by the UF/IFAS Environmental Horticulture Department, June 2018.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep560

Key Plant, Key Pests: Camellia

This 7-page document is one in the Key Plant, Key Pests series. It discusses identification and management of pests found on the camellia, a flowering plant common in Southern landscapes. Written by Juanita Popenoe, Caroline R. Warwick, and Brian Pearson and published by the UF/IFAS Environmental Horticulture Department, June 2018.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep558

Key Plant, Key Pests: Baldcypress (Taxodium distichum)

This 4-page document is one in the Key Plant, Key Pests series. It provides information on the management of common pests found on baldcypress. Written by Juanita Popenoe, Caroline R. Warwick, and Roger Kjelgren and published by the UF/IFAS Environmental Horticulture Department, June 2018.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep557