Category: Lawn & Garden

Bud Rot of Palm (PP220/PP144)

Figure 3. Bud rot of Cocos nucifera: no new leaves are emerging and crown is open-topped, while older leaves in canopy look healthy at this time.To understand bud rots, an explanation of palm anatomy is necessary. The growing point of the palm is often called the bud or heart. All leaves originate from there, and each palm stem has only one. Thus, when the bud is damaged or diseased, the palm usually dies. The first symptom is discoloration and wilting of the spear leaf and wilting/discoloration of the next youngest leaf. This 4-page fact sheet was written by Monica L. Elliott, and published by the UF Department of Plant Pathology, July 2012.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pp144

Camellias at a Glance (CIR461/EP002)

Figure 1. Camellia flowerNative to Asia, the first camellia plants were brought to America in 1797 and grown in New England greenhouses. Over the last 200 years, they have proven to be dependable additions to the southern landscape, where they grow and bloom with minimal care in most inland areas of North and Central Florida. Camellias are long lived and function well as foundation plantings, screens, accent plants, background groupings, and hedges. Camellias flower in the fall and winter when few other plants are blooming. For the remainder of the year, their glossy, evergreen foliage, interesting forms and textures, relatively slow growth, and low maintenance make camellias excellent landscape plants worthy of more use. This 6-page fact sheet was written by Sydney Park Brown, and published by the UF Department of Environmental Horticulture, April 2012.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep002

South Florida Gardening Calendar (ENH1191/EP452)

Figure 1. Cattleya orchidPrune non-spring flowering shrubs and trees in January to improve form. In March, plant warm-season vegetables, such as sweet corn, cucumber, watermelon, and pepper, for late spring harvest. If bahiagrass lawns are yellowing in May, iron may correct the problem. Butterfly lily and gladiolus are bulbs that can be planted during the middle of summer. Plant gladiolus every 2 weeks in September to stagger blooming. This 11-page fact sheet tells what to plant and what to do in your south Florida garden, year-round. Written by Sydney Park Brown and published by the UF Department of Environmental Horticulture, April 2012.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep452

North Florida Gardening Calendar (ENH1190/EP451)

Figure 1. CamelliaGive cold-damaged palms proper care to encourage their recovery in February. In April, monitor landscape plants weekly for aphids on tender new growth. Annuals that can take full sun during hot summer months include celosia, portulaca, vinca, and some coleus. In September, plant cool-season vegetable crops, such as radish, carrot, cabbage, and lettuce. This 10-page fact sheet tells what to plant and what to do in your north Florida garden year-round. Written by Sydney Park Brown, and published by the UF Department of Environmental Horticulture, April 2012.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep451

Central Florida Gardening Calendar (ENH1189/EP450)

Figure 2. RoseApply horticultural oils in January. Plant caladium bulbs in March. Watch for thrips, scale, and mites in May. Plant palms in June and July. Calibrate your sprinklers in September. This 10-page fact sheet tells what to plant and what to do in your central Florida garden in each month of the year. Written by Sydney Park Brown, and published by the UF Department of Environmental Horticulture, April 2012.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep450

Palm Aphid Cerataphis brasiliensis (Hempel) (Insecta: Hemiptera: Aphidae: Hormaphidinae) (EENY520/IN924)

Figure 1. Adult palm aphid, Cerataphis brasiliensis (Hempel).The palm aphids are the only aphids known to infest palm plants. High populations occasionally become severe in nurseries and the landscape, and can cause substantial damage to young coconut palms. They pierce palm foliage and suck out the plant phloem content, causing yellowing of the tissues and loss of plant vigor. In addition, honeydew production by the aphids promotes sooty mold growth that can limit photosynthesis. Palms heavily infested with aphids can experience stunted growth. This 4-page fact sheet was written by Bonnie C. Wells and published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, March 2012.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in924

Saddleback Caterpillar Acharia stimulea (Clemens) (Insecta: Lepidoptera: Limacodidae) (EENY522/IN923)

Figure 6. Close up the startle display marking of the saddleback caterpillar, Acharia stimulea (Clemens).Acharia stimulea is best known as a medically significant species. Its spines are strong, acutely pointed, and hollow. They embed deeply into tissue and break off, and can interrupt healing as the protoplasm from the venom glands dries into the tissue area. The venom itself can cause a systemic condition called erucism or acute urticaria, for which severe symptoms may include migraines, gastrointestinal symptoms, asthma complications, anaphylactic shock, rupturing of erythrocytes, and hemorrhaging. This 9-page fact sheet was written by Christopher S. Bibbs and J. Howard Frank, and published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, March 2012.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in923

Interactive Urban Irrigation Tool for Florida (AE485)

Screenshot of weekly email report.A team from UF/IFAS has developed an app for optimizing your home irrigation system using real-time weather data from the Florida Automated Weather Network (FAWN). Learn more in this 5-page fact sheet written by K.W. Migliaccio, N.A. Dobbs, W.R. Lusher, J. Fan, M.D. Dukes, K.T. Morgan, and B. Ferraro, and published by the UF Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, March 2012.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ae485

Identification of Poison Ivy, Poison Oak, Poison Sumac, and Poisonwood (ENH886/EP220)

Figure 2. Poison ivy leaves (consisting of three leaflets) and flowersFlorida parks and woodlands are favorite places for many people who enjoy outdoor activities. Unfortunately, the native plants poison ivy, poison oak, poison sumac, and poisonwood can make these outings a miserable experience. All four contain urushiol, a plant oil that can cause a severe skin rash (dermatitis) when any part of the plant is contacted. Allergic reaction can occur directly by touching the plant or indirectly by coming into contact with the oil on animals, tools, clothes, shoes, or other items. Even the smoke from burning plants contains oil particles that can be inhaled and cause lung irritation. This 6-page fact sheet helps individuals learn to identify these plants in order to avoid contact with them. Children should be taught to recognize these plants, particularly poison ivy, as it is by far the most common. Written by Sydney Park Brown and Patricia Grace, and published by the UF Department of Environmental Horticulture, March 2012.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep220

Hydration in Hot Working Environments (FCS80018/FY1325)

Figure 1.Are you at risk for heat-related illnesses? Summertime isn’t the only time you should be concerned about drinking enough water to stay hydrated. Workers in construction, landscaping, laundry, factory, farm, or restaurant settings, among others, often are faced with hot working environments year-round. These conditions can increase the risk for developing heat-related illnesses, so staying well hydrated is very important. This 3-page fact sheet was written by Jeanine Beatty and Gail P. A. Kauwell, and published by the UF Department of Family Youth and Community Sciences, March 2012.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fy1325

Apple Maggot, Apple Maggot Fly, Rhagoletis pomonella (Walsh) (Insecta: Diptera: Tephritidae) (EENY261/IN505)

Figure 2. Adult apple maggot fly, Rhagoletis pomonella (Walsh), dorsal view. Photograph by: Joseph Berger; insectimages.orgThe apple maggot, Rhagoletis pomonella (Walsh), also known as the apple maggot fly and “railroad worm,” is native to North America. Originally, it fed in the fruit of wild hawthorn (Crataegus spp.), but then became a primary pest of cultivated apples, especially in the northeastern United States and southeastern Canada. Summer- and early fall-maturing varieties are particularly vulnerable, but hard winter apples are sometimes infested. Thin skinned sweet and subacid varieties are most susceptible, but acid varieties may be attacked. This 4-page fact sheet was written by H. V. Weems, Jr. and T. R. Fasulo, and published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, March 2012.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in505

Hollies at a Glance (ENH42/MG021)

Figure 3. Holly berries attract birds and add color to the winter landscape.Hollies are reliable, low-maintenance plants for Florida landscapes. Diverse sizes, forms, and textures exist, ranging from large trees to dwarf shrubs. Some hollies can be used as informal or formal hedges or as foundation plants, while others make beautiful accent or specimen plants. Many are valued for their colorful berries, which provide food for birds and brighten the fall and winter seasons. Several hollies are native to Florida. This 5-page fact sheet includes a list of dozens of popular hollies sold in Florida. Written by Sydney Park Brown, Dewayne L. Ingram, and William E. Barrick, and published by the UF Department of Environmental Horticulture, March 2012.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/mg021

Landscaping in Florida Shade (ENH1196/EP457)

Discovery Gardens in Lake County: http://lake.ifas.ufl.edu/discovery-gardens/shade-garden.shtmlTrees and the shade they cast provide welcome relief from Florida’s intense sun and heat, but gardening in shade can be challenging. This 7-page fact sheet has some pointers for meeting these challenges, and lists of shade-tolerant plants. Written by Sydney Park Brown, and published by the UF Department of Environmental Horticulture, February 2012.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep457

Carbon Sequestration and Storage by Gainesville’s Urban Forest (FOR210/FR272)

live oak Darien GA (CC BY-NC 3.0) Karan A. Rawlins, University of Georgia, Bugwood.orgCities are a major source of carbon dioxide emissions. This fact sheet demonstrates that urban and natural trees can help mitigate the effects of climate change somewhat by sequestering CO2 but can only sequester a small portion of all carbon dioxide emitted from cities. In addition, decomposing trees and mulch, tree maintenance activities, and improperly placed trees that cause shading in winter can also result in emissions of CO2, so it is important for communities to reduce fossil fuel emissions and manage for and preserve large, healthy trees to maximize the amount of CO2 sequestered by an urban forest. This 3-page fact sheet was written by Francisco Escobedo, Jennifer A. Seitz, and Wayne Zipperer, and published by the UF Department of School of Forest Resources and Conservation, February 2012.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fr272

The Effect of Gainesville’s Urban Trees on Energy Use of Residential Buildings (FOR211/FR273)

Trees provide shade and help with utility costs. Andrew Koeser, International Society of Arboriculture, Bugwood.org (CC BY-NC 3.0)Based on a 2007 average retail price of electricity in Florida, trees in Gainesville are estimated to provide about $1.9 million in savings each year due to reduced air conditioning and heating use. However, trees also increase energy costs in winter by approximately $367 thousand annually because their shade cools buildings and thus raises building heating costs. This 3-page fact sheet was written by Francisco Escobedo, Jennifer A. Seitz, and Wayne Zipperer, and published by the UF Department of School of Forest Resources and Conservation, February 2012.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fr273

Growing Heirloom Tomato Varieties in Southwest Florida (HS921/HS174)

Figure 1. Common heirloom varieties growing in South FloridaHeirloom tomatoes have seen a rebirth in popularity because of increasing demand for fresh, fully ripe, tasty tomatoes. A tomato must meet three criteria to be considered an heirloom variety: The variety must be reproduced by seed, must have been cultivated for more than 50 years, and must have a history. Heirloom tomatoes are known for their singular taste, shape, and color, which include purple, orange, and yellow, in addition to the common red tomatoes. This 9-page fact sheet was written by Monica Ozores-Hampton, Charles S. Vavrina, and Aline Coelho Frasca, and published by the UF Department of Horticultural Sciences, February 2012.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/hs174

Northern Racoon (WEC34/UW033)

Figure 1. Northern raccoon, Procyon lotor, adult male.Raccoons are found statewide in Florida in ever-increasing numbers. Urbanization and agriculture often help their population because food becomes more available in these conditions. Therefore, it is not at all uncommon to encounter raccoons near your home or neighborhood. Learn more facts about raccoon biology and how to (legally) solve raccoon problems. This 7-page fact sheet was written by William H. Kern Jr., and published by the UF Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, January 2012. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/uw033

El Mosquito Culex Iolambdis (ENY727S/IN901)

Figure 6. Hembra adulta de C. iolambdis.Culex (melanoconion) iolambdis es un mosquito pequeño de color marrón oscuro que existe en sitios tropicales y subtropicales. En los Estados Unidos, solo se encuentra en el sur de Florida. Se conoce poco sobre la biología y comportamiento de este mosquito. El subgenéro Melanoconion se distingue por el pequeño tamaño de sus especies y por dificultad en diferenciar las diferentes especies. This 4-page fact sheet was written by Jorge R. Rey, Erik M. Blosser, Stephanie K. Larrick and C. Roxanne Connelly, and published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, September 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in901

Insecticides and Wildlife (ENY511/IN881)

Figure 7. Some birds are nearly wholly dependent on insect life for food. Note the unusual ‘whiskers’ near the beak of this Chuck-will's-widow, Caprimulgus carolinensis. These structures cause insects to be directed to the mouth while the birds sweep through the air in pursuit of ‘dinner’.When we use chemical insecticides to eliminate problem insects we discover that the effects of insecticides are not always limited to these 6-legged targets. Wildlife, pets, and humans also can be affected by insecticides. So one of the great challenges confronting humans is to develop ways to manage insects without affecting non-target organisms. Learn more in this 16-page fact sheet written by John L. Capinera, and published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, October 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in881

Landscape Design: Drawing a Planting Plan (ENH1195/EP456)

Figure 10. All plants are labeled by the total count and plant name.Selecting and placing plants in the landscape is the art and science of arranging plant material to make a healthy, functional, and beautiful yard. The mix of science and art is expressed in the guiding principle of “right plant, right place,” meaning to select plants that can thrive in the growing conditions of the site and locating them for both visual appeal and health. Selecting and arranging plants are the last steps in the overall design process after the site analysis is complete and the activity areas located and designed.Developing the planting plan is a sequential process, but it is important to remember that the process is not completely linear; sometimes decisions about plant material require reworking previous steps in the sequence and making adjustments to the plan. This 10-page fact sheet was written by Gail Hansen, and published by the UF Department of Environmental Horticulture, January 2012.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep456