The Neighborhood Gardener – May 2013

This month in The Neighborhood Gardener:

Alternatives to Traditional Vegetable Gardening — Spring is prime vegetable season, so why not try a different approach to traditional vegetable gardening? If you don’t have the proper resources, the physical ability, or the space for a large garden there are alternatives to fulfill your gardening dreams. Two non-traditional vegetable gardens include container gardening and raised bed gardening.

Growing Citrus in Your Backyard – Oranges are Florida’s most famous fruit and backyard citrus is one of the many benefits of living in the sunshine state. Citrus trees can be fun to grow and very rewarding. First introduced to Florida in the 16th century by Spanish explorers, citrus quickly spread throughout the state and today is one of Florida’s largest industries. South and Central Florida are the best places to plant these trees, but certain cold-hardy cultivars can be be grown in North Florida with the proper care.

Plant of the Month: Croton — Known for their bold, tropical foliage, crotons are perennial evergreen shrubs. Not only can these plants be grown outdoors in warmer parts of Florida, but some cultivars can be raised as decorative houseplants as well. The beautiful leaves of the croton are also used to enhance floral arrangements. This plant will draw attention with its stunning color and make a bold statement in your house or yard.

May in Your Garden – Southern vegetable favorites to plant now are okra, southern pea, and sweet potato. Prepare for hurricane season by checking trees for damaged or weak branches and prune if needed. There’s still time in North Florida to apply a fertilizer (not a weed & feed) without phosphorus unless soil test indicates the need for it.

Friend or Foe? Friend: Praying Mantids — Commonly (and incorrectly) referred to as “praying mantis,” these cleverly disguised insects are beneficial predators in your garden. Mantids’ oversized front legs fold in front of their face, giving the appearance that they are praying. Typically 3-4 inches long and are usually green or brown in color, mantids camouflage with their surroundings and are often mistaken for leaves and sticks. They are hunters and will feed on a limitless amount of pests in your garden such as beetles and grasshoppers. Unfortunately, they will also prey on beneficial insects in your garden such as bees and butterflies.

Read the full May issue.

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The Neighborhood Gardener – April 2013

This month in The Neighborhood Gardener:

Turfgrass Alternatives — Turfgrass provides benefits such as providing a place to play and reducing storm water pollutants. But a spacious lawn is not always the practical choice. Most homeowners want an appealing landscape, but there are other options besides turfgrass that provide equal beauty. And many of these alternatives don’t require difficult maintenance and unnecessary expenses.

Bees and Pesticides – The declining bee population is a growing problem. Honey bees provide a critical service to agriculture, pollinating one-third of our food supply. But across the U.S., beekeepers are reporting losses of up to a million colonies of bees. There are many possible causes being studied, but one factor that gardeners can take action on is the use of pesticides. We list a few precautions that can benefit the health of pollinating bees.

Plant of the Month: Caladium — This tropical foliage plant is known for its spectacular, multicolored leaves. Caladiums are easy to grow in Florida’s warm, humid climate. Although there are new cultivars which have been bred to grow in direct sunlight, minimal morning sun is ideal for caladiums and then shade for the remainder of the day. Plant in soil with high moisture and adequate drainage.

April in Your Garden – April is the best time to plant warm-season annuals like coleus, as well as herbs. Herbs have similar growing conditions to vegetables and require similar amounts of sun and soil moisture. If you didn’t plant your tomatoes in March you should plant them now; start from transplants, not seeds.

Friend or Foe? Foe: Old World Climbing Fern — Although attractive and delicate in appearance, Old World climbing fern is one of Florida’s most serious natural threats. It covers over 300,000 acres in central and south Florida alone, smothering entire forests with vines that can grow up to 100 feet long. It can also make wildfires much worse by acting as a conduit for the flames. Small patches can be pulled out by the root, and larger areas can be treated with glyphosate-containing herbicide.

Read the full April issue.

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A Day in the Life at IFAS

A day at the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences at the University of Florida (IFAS) often begins early and ends late. Today, during a 12-hour window, they’re trying to capture just what it is that IFAS is and what its people do, from Extension agents working with the public, the faculty of the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences department preparing students for the future and scientific research that spans, quite literally, from Earth to outer space. From 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. today, they’re collecting Tweets, Facebook posts and emails, photos and videos, and putting them together for future viewing, like one giant IFAS-family album.

The Florida Master Gardeners and the Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ programs are getting involved, too! We shared photos of:

Colorful Swiss chard growing in our office garden,

Brian Niemann, with the Florida-Friendly Landscaping Program™, speaking at the Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival,

Even a picture of what our webmaster’s typical work day looks like.

If you follow our Twitter feed (@FloridaMGs), you might have seen our posts, tagged with @uffoodandagnews or the #IFASDay hashtag. We also posted photos on UF IFAS News’ Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/UFIFASNews).

If you’d like to see ALL of the posts from across IFAS (and you should check it out, there’s so much to IFAS!), visit the webpage: http://day.ifas.ufl.edu/

From 4-H students visiting the local television station, to Jupiter Island’s rocky coast as photographed by the Sea Grant program, to a strawberry tasting panel, to seedlings of the endangered ghost orichid in a lab, there are images and videos from every corner of IFAS Extension!

(Clockwise from left: 4-H Students at WCJB New Studio, by Shaumond Scott; Coral Cove State Park on Jupiter Island, from UF/IFAS FL Sea Grant Director Karl Havens; Dr. Michael Kane and graduate student James Sadler with ghost orchid seedlings; strawberry taste test, from UF/IFAS Food Science & Human Nutrition department )

The Neighborhood Gardener – March 2013

This month in The Neighborhood Gardener:

The Shamrock — Shamrocks are a symbol of St. Patrick’s Day and their soft green color often heralds spring. The shamrock plants found in nurseries and stores around this time of year are most likely oxalis. In many parts of the country, it’s enjoyed as a houseplant. In Florida’s zones 8 or 9, it can be found outdoors as a perennial—and is often considered a weed.

Easter in the Garden – Easter is a great time to showcase your garden and encourage kids to explore the outdoors. You can create a springtime Easter theme in your garden by placing baskets and containers throughout your landscape. Freshen up your flower beds with colorful spring flowers, like Easter lilies and daisies.

Plant of the Month: Zinnia — Zinnias are annuals with beautiful flowers that come in vivid colors. They come in many forms, from dwarf forms that grow no taller than six inches to tall zinnias growing up to three feet tall. Zinnias need full sun and well-drained soil. Once established, they’re drought-tolerant, but will thrive with regular watering. Most zinnias are susceptible to powdery mildew, although newer cultivars have been bred for resistance.

March in Your Garden – The end of the dormant season is a good time to prune many trees and shrubs. Mulch conserves moisture during dry weather and minimizes weeds in landscape beds. Organic mulches add nutrients to the soil. You can also use recycled oak leaves as mulch. If you don’t like the look of them, you can top dress the leaves with a layer of your favorite mulch.

Friend or Foe? Foe: Dollarweed — Dollarweed, or pennywort, isn’t necessarily a foe, but it’s definitely a nuisance. It’s a broadleaf weed that appears in wet areas in the landscape. Dollarweed is low to the ground, with one round leaf per stalk. The round leaves can grow up to the size of a silver dollar—hence the plant’s name. To prevent dollarweed, adjust your irrigation or improve drainage in the area.

Read the full March issue.

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The Neighborhood Gardener – February 2013

This month in The Neighborhood Gardener:

Flowers for Valentine’s Day — Fresh flowers are a popular gift on holidays, with good reason—92% of American women can remember the last time they were given flowers, and fresh flowers have an immediate positive impact on happiness. Increase the lifespan of your beautiful flowers, plus that good feeling, by following a few easy steps. Learn how to extend the life of your bouquet.

Saving Water Using Smart Controllers – UF researchers have been investigating irrigation water savings with the use of smart controllers. Smart controllers reduce outdoor water use by monitoring and using information about site conditions and applying the right amount of water based on those factors. You can help save water in your landscape by installing a smart controller.

Plant of the Month: Taiwan Cherry — In late winter, this small Florida-Friendly tree produces one-inch, bright pink flowers on its naked branches. Taiwan cherry’s dark green leaves provide shade all summer, turning a bronze-red in fall. Best suited for North and Central Florida, Taiwan cherry prefers full sun, but will tolerate some shade. A hybrid version, ‘Okame’ cherry is commonly available and has lighter pink flowers.

February in Your Garden – Roses should be pruned this month to reduce and improve the overall form. After pruning, fertilize and apply a fresh layer of mulch. Blooming will begin eight to nine weeks after pruning. Many bulbs can be planted now. Divide large crowded clumps. Provide adequate water to establish. Some to try are Amazon lily, crinum, and agapanthus.

Friend or Foe? Foe: Burmese Python — Recently, Burmese pythons have become a very big problem in South Florida. Although it’s now illegal to do so, these snakes were commonly sold as pets. Some owners released these giant snakes into the wild (also illegal), and now active breeding populations are found in several areas of South Florida. Burmese pythons can grow up to 20 feet and weigh 200 pounds. They’re known to feed on more than 30 species of native wildlife, including several endangered or threatened species. You can help by learning how to identify and report invasive reptiles.

Read the full February issue.

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The Neighborhood Gardener – January 2013

Happy New Year!

This month in The Neighborhood Gardener:

Caring for Your New Orchid – Q: I have a beautiful orchid that was a gift. The label says it is a Phalaenopsis orchid. The flowers are gone now, but the plant is really healthy. Is it OK to leave it inside, and how do I get it to bloom again?
A: Phalaenopsis, or the moth orchid, is a favorite orchid to grow as a houseplant. Read Wendy’s advice.

Junior Master Gardener Book Award Winners – Each year, the “Growing Good Kids: Excellence in Children’s Literature Awards” program recognizes children’s books that promote an understanding of and appreciation for gardening and the environment. This year’s books are: “The Mangrove Tree,” by Susan L. Roth and Cindy Trumbore; “Meadowlands: A Wetland Survival Story,” by Thomas F. Yezerski; and “Planting the Wild Garden,” by Kathryn O. Galbraith.

Plant of the Month: Lettuce — Winter is the best time to grow lettuce. Good leaf lettuce selections for Florida include ‘Black-seeded Simpson’ and ‘Red Sails’; many others are listed in the Florida Vegetable Gardening Guide. Lettuce seeds are unusual in that they need light to germinate, so simply press or lightly rake them into the soil surface.

January in Your Garden – Planting deciduous fruit trees now gives their roots time to develop before the warm, dry spring months. This is also a good time to prune and fertilize existing trees. While crapemyrtles do not require pruning, removing seed pods, crossing branches, and small twiggy growth improves the appearance and form of the plant.

Friend or Foe? Foe: Air Potato — This non-native, invasive plant spreads faster than kudzu! Air potato is a vigorously twining vine, which grows from an underground tuber. It produces large numbers of potato-like growths which drop off to form new plants. The stems can rapidly grow to 60 feet in length. To prevent the plant from spreading, in January or February, pick up all of the “potatoes” that have fallen to the ground.

Read the full January issue.

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The Neighborhood Gardener – December

Better late than never! While the December issue of “The Neighborhood Gardener” went out as scheduled, we failed to post it to the blog. Our apologies! Here’s the December Neighborhood Gardener – look for January’s issue next Friday (January 11th).

December’s The Neighborhood Gardener:

Poinsettias: Holiday Color for the Home & Garden –
Poinsettias are an iconic holiday decoration, instantly recognizable for their colorful, petal-like leaves called bracts. But today’s cultivated poinsettias come in a variety of colors besides the traditional red. And new varieties, like Ice Punch and Peppermint Twist, have been bred to last even longer indoors.

Garlands – Garlands are an ancient holiday tradition, dating as far back as Greek and Roman times. Ropes of garland are often made from evergreen material, like pine and cedar, as it’s pliable and relatively easy to work with. To make your own garland, cut branches ranging in lengths from six to twelve inches long. Overlap the branches and attach them using twine or wire. For a truly Southern look, you can even make garland with Southern magnolia leaves. Their leathery coating will keep them looking good for some time.

Plant of the Month: Shumard Oak — Ideal for urban landscapes, Shumard oak is appreciated for its interesting foliage. It features traditional oak-shaped leaves that are dark green throughout most of the year and then turn a brilliant red or red-orange in fall. Once mature, these shade trees can reach 80 feet tall and have a 50- to 60-foot canopy. Shumard oak can be grown throughout Florida in full sun. It will grow best in a soil that’s rich and moist, though it can also be planted in drier sites.

December in Your Garden – Fallen leaves provide the carbon needed for successful composting and also make a good mulch. If plants did not perform as desired this year or new plantings are being planned, a soil test will reveal the specific nutrients that need to be applied.

Friend or Foe? Foe: Raccoon — Raccoons are very well-adapted to urban areas and often make a nuisance of themselves getting into trash, the vegetable garden, or worse, your attic. They’re also a major carrier of rabies in Florida. But there are inexpensive and simple ways to control this nuisance, mainly through exclusion and prevention.

Read the full December issue.

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