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Florida-Friendly Landscaping

Worried about your plants turning brown?

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Seeing some of your plants turn brown in the winter can be a bit concerning.

It’s good to know that it’s normal for many plants, such as turfgrasses, to go dormant and turn brown in the winter.

The plant is protecting itself during cold temperatures and lower light levels.

Vegetation that’s injured by the cold can turn brown, but resist the urge to cut it back or to add fertilizer to damaged plants. Wait until you’re sure that warm temperatures have returned before taking action to address weather damage. (University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences)

Typically, plants will recover once spring arrives.

However, hard freezes may injure or potentially kill some plants.

The best way to protect your plants from cold injury, or death, is to select plants for your landscape based on the USDA Hardiness Zone Map that outlines which plants are most likely to survive in a given zone (https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/).

Florida is a wonderful place to grow a wide variety of plants, but not all of them thrive in every part of the state. For instance, a Christmas palm does well in South Florida, but won’t survive the winters in Central Florida.

Also, just a few miles can mean a big difference in temperature variations between our coastal and inland locations.

A principle of Florida-Friendly Landscaping is to plant the right plant in the right place. Not only does that principle apply to location in the landscape; it also applies to your climate zone.

Even though cold damage can cause injury to many plants, don’t lose hope. There are a few considerations to keep in mind to help your plant recover from cold injury.

It’s helpful to know that soils that have frozen even slightly, like in a container, can lose a lot of moisture and cold-damaged plants still need water.

After a freeze, check the soil around injured plants to determine if they are dry or not. If dry, irrigate until the soil is moist, but not wet.

It is tempting to fertilize plants after injury to stimulate new growth, but it’s not a good idea to “tell” an already injured plant to expend energy to grow — especially when the risk of more damage from another freeze is possible.

Resist the urge. Don’t fertilize until later in the season after the plant has shown obvious signs of recovery and is actively growing. That typically happens in late spring or even as late as summer.

The principle of patience also applies to pruning.

Cold-damaged plants typically look terrible with brown and even black, dead tissue. But, pruning tells the plant to grow, so put down the pruners.

Extensive growth during recovery robs the plant of vital energy and nutrients, and leaves new, tender tissue vulnerable to more damage from cold weather. Once the threat of frost or freeze passes, it’s safe to remove dead plant tissue.

If your lawn happens to be the common St. Augustinegrass, and it suffers extensive cold damage — which typically only occurs when exposed to temperatures around 20 degrees Fahrenheit — it will most likely die. Bahiagrass will rebound when warmer weather returns. If the lawn turns brown and stays brown, and appears to rot away, you’ll want to re-sod or re-seed, depending on the turfgrass species, to reestablish the lawn.

Some cold-injured ornamental plants may take years to recover from the roots, such as hibiscus.

Cold protection is relatively simple though. For most ornamental plants in pots, simply move them into a protected area when temperatures below 40 degrees Fahrenheit are predicted.

If the plant is not easily moved, a bed sheet or blanket makes a good cover. Just ensure the cover drapes all the way to the ground so that heat from the ground can be trapped under the cover protecting the plant. Place a rock or brick on the cover to anchor the cover, but don’t allow it to weigh down the plant and cause damage.

Additionally, if you can erect a simple scaffold for the blanket to rest on just above the foliage, there’s less chance of cold injury since frost that rests on the blanket that touches the foliage can still cause damage through heat loss.

Many homeowners “lollipop” the blanket around the trunk or base of the plant cutting off the flow of heat from the soil, so don’t make this major mistake.

Plastic sheeting can be used, in a pinch, but it must be removed before sunlight strikes the plant in the morning or you risk burning the plant underneath, which happens rather quickly.

There are some commercial frost clothes that also can help prevent cold injury, but they must be used in the same way mentioned above.

With any cover, remove it once the temperature is above freezing early in the morning to allow the light to reach the plant, reduce the chance of sun scald, and get more heat into the plant.

Cold damage is not always preventable, but it is possible for plants to recover with a little TLC. In most cases, the plant just needs to be left alone to recover on its own time.

For more information about reestablishing your lawn, go to: https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/lh013. For more information on cold protection for ornamental plants, refer to: https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/topic_landscapes_and_cold.

By Whitney C. Elmore

Dr. Whitney C. Elmore is the UF/IFAS Pasco County Extension director and an Urban Horticulture Agent III.

Published March 11, 2020

Prune-and-pass plants make great gifts

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There are not many more rewarding experiences in life than planting and propagating your own plants and watching them grow.

Giving someone special a gift is usually at the top of that list, too.

But, growing a gift is even more special.

The passion flower plant attracts the Gulf Frittilary butterfly. (Courtesy of UF/IFAS Communications)

Many plants can be easily grown and pieces passed along as gifts with some simple pruning and propagation techniques. The resurrection or rain lily is a great example. These Southern staples seemingly spring up out of nowhere in summer during the heavy rains.

Rain lilies grow from clusters of bulbs that can be easily dug up and divided, making them perfect for sharing. Divide them in summer and plant them in sunny spots with moist but well-drained soils. It may take them a year to bloom but when they do, they are spectacular when planted en masse or as singles. These are good butterfly attractants, too.

Four o’ clocks are perennial plants that grow well throughout Florida. Their trumpet-shaped flowers come in a variety of colors and invite hummingbirds. Four o’ clocks will bloom in late spring throughout summer in sunny locations. While they’ll grow easily from seed, they will grow from tubers that you can dig in fall and give away to friends.

Plant the tubers with roots down and deep enough so that the top of the tuber is about 1-inch deep and keep them moist but not wet. Choose planting spots wisely though as four o’ clocks can be somewhat aggressive in the landscape.

Passion flower plants with their wavy petals, and shades of purple and lavender are quite beautiful.

A must have for butterfly enthusiasts is the passion flower, which attracts the Gulf Frittilary.

Passion flower is great for dry conditions and will wind its way up and around a trellis or fence in sunny areas. The wavy petals, 3-inches to 5-inches wide— in shades of purple and lavender — are quite beautiful.

To share, simply use a sharp pair of pruners to clip off 4-inch to 6-inch-long cuttings below a node. Strip away the bottom row of leaves and plant into a moist potting soil. Keep the cuttings moist and in a shady spot. After about a month, new roots should be forming, which means they are ready for gifting.

One of the easiest plants for Florida gardening is also quite drought resistant and beautiful throughout the summer. The crinum (lily) thrives for many years with little to no care. You can plant them in moist and dry areas, and while they do prefer partly shady locations, they can withstand sunny spots.

Plan to divide these plants in the winter, when they aren’t actively growing. Dig around the clump, lift it up and remove any bulb offshoots. Replant those bulbs with the most slender portion of the bulb upright and just above ground.

Crinum care involves nothing more than removing old blooms. Just be prepared for new bulbs to take a year or more to flower.

If you have a friend with a shady spot, consider gifting them a Peacock ginger. Peacock ginger will produce pink or purple flowers in the summer, but their foliage is their most striking characteristic. Dark green, round to oval, medium to large leaves with lime green, purple or even white or silvery splotches make these groundcovers stand out. They do lose their leaves in winter, but they’ll return in spring.

Simply dig up and divide the rhizomes (underground stems) in winter and plant these about ½-inch below the soil surface in well-drained, shady areas. Keep them watered until established.

If you’re looking for an explosion of color, you’ll want to plant crocosmia. Flowers of red, orange or yellow will pop in May and June. These plants prefer sunny areas or part shade and will grow quickly, sometimes flopping over into huge “sprays” of color. You might consider adding support or using a trellis for these. Pass these to friends by lifting the clump and dividing in spring. These make great additions to most any landscape and are usually drought tolerant after established.

Most any plant can be propagated and passed along to friends and family.

Passion flower is great for dry conditions and will wind its way up and around a trellis or fence in sunny areas.

Many easily propagated plants tend to be invasive, which is what makes them so easy to grow in the first place.

Invasive plants are not something we want to share, especially with those we love.

To be sure what you want to prune and pass isn’t invasive, refer to the UF/IFAS Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants directory where you can easily determine whether your intended gift is invasive or not, at Plants.ifas.ufl.edu/plants-by-common-name/.

There is a vast array of methods for propagating plants – some just take more ingenuity and expertise than others.

Passing along plants is a great way to tell someone special you’re thinking of them since there’s a bit of thought and elbow grease that goes into the process.

You’ll have a special connection to the recipient since you’ll share the same experience of watching the same plant grow and thrive.

For more advanced propagation methods, refer to the UF/IFAS Fact Sheet at EDIS.ufl.edu/mg108.

Just remember the first principle of Florida-Friendly Landscaping; always plant the right plant in the right place.

By Whitney C. Elmore

Dr. Whitney C. Elmore is the UF/IFAS Pasco County Extension director and an Urban Horticulture Agent III.

Published May 15, 2019

Spring is the time to plant cheerful flowers

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Florida has a long warm season and a shorter cool season.

We are now in our cooler months, which is a time to plant cool season annuals.

An annual is a plant that completes its life cycle in one season. These annuals offer bright color choices. They are plants such as pansies and petunias that might remind us of “up North.”

Colorful annuals may attract pollinators and make great indoor arrangements. (Courtesy of Nicole Pinson)

You can plant many annual, spring flowers January through April.

You may also want to mix spring flowers into your existing containers and landscape beds. When planting flowers in containers, choose pots that are large enough for the plants. Pots that are too small may dry out quickly, which requires more frequent watering. Flower pots that are too small may also stress plants by causing them to repeatedly wilt and bounce back.

Spring flowers planted in clumps or masses will look more dramatic than flowers planted in small groups or individually.

Be sure to find out if your spring flowers prefer full sun or part shade. For example, most wax begonias would prefer some relief from afternoon sun and grow best in a part-shade environment.

Have you ever wondered what a snapdragon tastes like? Consider planting a few edible spring flowers. Edible flowers add a nice touch when used as a garnish to soups, salads and other dishes. It’s fun to eat flowers with kids, and edible flowers can help them appreciate the garden.

Easy to try edible spring flowers include dianthus, pansies, Johnny jump-ups, and snapdragons. Do not eat flowers that have been treated with pesticides.

Some annual plants perform double-duty. Not only are they beautiful flowers, but they also provide nectar and pollen for pollinators. If you’d like to plant spring flowers to attract pollinators, try ageratum, dahlberg daisies, melampodium and zinnias.

Snapdragons and dianthus are both edible spring flowers.

Most spring flowers require little care. If you compost or amend your soil with organic matter, mix that in before you plant your flowers. You can apply a slow-release fertilizer, add a 2-inch to 3-inch layer of mulch around the base of plants to conserve water, and water when needed. Watering with a handheld wand or micro-irrigation may reduce damage to flowers that can be caused by overhead irrigation.

Perform routine pinching or “deadheading” to remove spent flowers and encourage the formation of new flower buds.

To deadhead flowers:

  • Look for blooms or flower clusters that are past their prime and have already bloomed.
  • Cut these back to a node with hand pruners or floral scissors (A node is a place on the plant stem where leaves develop).
  • Make a cut just above the node and compost the spent flower stems.

This practice helps plants stay healthy, invest their energy into producing more flowers and keeps them from getting leggy.

As you deadhead your flowers, learn whether or not these old flower stalks contain seeds.

The seeds of some flowers may be planted easily in the garden, or in small pots, to provide you with more plants and more color.

Scout or check your garden for pests regularly. Many pests that affect spring flowers, such as aphids and mealybugs, may be treated with less toxic products, such as insecticidal soaps and horticultural oils. These products are available at local garden centers and nurseries.

Protect your plants during frosts by covering them with frost fabric, a sheet or blanket, or a cardboard box.

Petunias are cool season annuals that may be grown in the landscape, flower pots, or hanging baskets. Some petunias are fragrant and smell lovely during the evening.

Don’t forget to enjoy your flowers indoors. Examples of spring flowers that make great indoor flower arrangements include snapdragons, dianthus, cosmos, delphinium and gomphrena. Use them, along with your garden greenery (palm leaves, fern fronds, shrub branches), to make inexpensive bouquets.

Share photos of your spring flower garden on our Florida-Friendly LandscapingTM  Facebook page.

Sources for this column included these IFAS publications, “Natural Products for Managing Landscape and Garden Pests in Florida” and “Gardening with Annuals in Florida.”

For additional information, or sources of information on this topic, contact or (813) 744-5519, ext. 54145.

Nicole Pinson is the Urban Horticulture Agent in Hillsborough County.

Published January 30, 2019

Ways to water wisely during summer months

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Water is essential — not only for life itself, but also to support Florida’s landscapes, recreational activities and beautiful vistas.

Residents and tourists enjoy our waterways and participate in recreational activities such as fishing, swimming and boating.

Water is essential to our life in Florida. We can have beautiful landscapes and conserve water at the same time. (Courtesy of Nicole Pinson)

We use water from public municipalities and private wells for household, industrial and agricultural uses.

Water also is necessary for wildlife, our environment and our quality of life. However, more than 50 percent of the water we consume at home is used to irrigate lawns and landscapes.

Dr. Laura Warner, from the University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, put it like this: “A message for residents is that we can have beautiful landscapes that increase the value of our homes, provide habitat for pollinators and animals, (provide) a place to socialize with friends and family – and we can do all that while saving water.”

Follow these steps to keep lawns and landscapes healthy, while conserving water at the same time:

  • Water your landscape during the coolest part of the day, or in the evening, to reduce water loss through evaporation. Watering in the morning coincides closely with the dew point and reduces the window of time water stays on plant leaves.
  • Calibrate your irrigation system to deliver 1/2-inch water to 3/4-inch water per irrigation event. Overwatering lawns harms long-term turf health. Overwatering greatly increases disease susceptibility and thatch buildup, and also leads to a shorter root system, which reduces the turf’s overall stress tolerance and ability to survive with less water. It also promotes the growth of certain weed species, such as dollarweed and sedges.
  • If you have a rain gauge, and it indicates your yard has received equal or greater 1/2-inch water to 3/4-inch of water, you don’t need to provide additional water through irrigation. Shut off or adjust your irrigation system when you get plenty of rain. The simple practice of checking an inexpensive rain gauge to track rainfall, and then adjusting your irrigation system, can save gallons of water, can keep your lawn and landscape healthy, and can reduce disease potential from fungus and other problems.
  • Check your irrigation system seasonally to calibrate the system. Repair or replace broken sprinkler heads, and ensure valves open and close properly.
  • Plan your irrigation based on plant needs and zones. For example, turfgrass requires more irrigation than landscape beds with established trees. Turfgrass growing in the shade requires less water than turfgrass growing in full sun. Adjust areas like these to save water and to keep plants healthy. Homes that average 35 percent turf and 65 percent landscape beds use 39 percent less water when compared to homes with more turf and fewer landscape beds. The potential savings is 1,440 gallons to 1,800 gallons of water per week based on watering your landscape twice a week.
  • Apply a layer of mulch that is 2-inches to 3-inches thick in your landscape beds and vegetable gardens using pine straw, pine nuggets or melaleuca mulch. Mulch provides many benefits. It conserves soil moisture, keeps plant roots cool, adds organic matter to the soil and improves soil texture as it breaks down over time. Reduce splashing water, as it can move disease-causing fungal spores to plant leaves. A layer of mulch at the base of landscape plants reduces splashing water from sprinkler systems and rain.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants. Consult the Florida-Friendly Landscaping Guide to Plant Selection and Landscape Design for ideas.
  • Be aware that container plants that dry out quickly benefit from micro-irrigation systems. There are patio micro-irrigation kits that direct water to each pot and at the base of plants.
  • When it rains, water collects and moves quickly across gutters, driveways and other nonpervious surfaces. A benefit of pervious surfaces is they allow rainwater to percolate down into the soil and recharge the aquifer. Reduce the volume of rainwater that contributes to stormwater runoff by installing rain barrels and using pervious surfaces such as mulched paths in your landscape.
  • If you have an irrigation system, install a rain shutoff device.
  • Let your lawn tell you when to water. Look for folded grass blades, footprints or tire tracks that remain on the grass, and a bluish tint to the grass. The University of Florida/IFAS recommends delivering 1/2-inch water to 3/4-inch of water to your lawn and landscape per irrigation event, which provides enough water to reach the root zone.
  • Follow water restrictions and guidelines set forth by your county or city municipality and the Southwest Florida Water Management District.

Nicole Pinson is the Urban Horticulture Agent in Hillsborough County.

Published August 1, 2018

Rallying ’round the blueberry bushes

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Hurricane Irma blew across the landscape, uprooting and toppling about 100,000 blueberry bushes at Frogmore Fresh Farm, outside Dade City.

Pasco High senior ​Matt​ ​Gregory, 17,​ took a break and used a cane stake to stretch out his back.​ ​Gregory​ ​and​ ​senior​ ​Nathalie Sawczuk, 17,​ ​​(obscured​ ​by​ ​plant)​ were​ ​among​ ​students​ ​who​ ​volunteered​ ​at Frogmore Fresh Farm. (Fred Bellet)

In Irma’s aftermath, the farm’s general manager, Leonard Park, knew he had a narrow window to salvage as many of the plants as possible. He also knew he didn’t have enough labor to make that happen.

An unexpected phone call from Whitney Elmore offered some hope.

Elmore is the chief executive director of the University of Florida/IFAS Pasco County Extension, in Dade City.

“She wanted to know if she could send some volunteers to help,” said Park. “I thought she meant a van with maybe 20 people.”

Elmore had bigger ideas, and put social media to work.

“This went viral,” said Elmore. “It’s been all over Facebook and Twitter.”

Pasco County, the University of Florida and the extension service worked as a team to put out the word.

Land​ ​O’​ ​Lakes​ ​resident​ ​Tom​ ​Stewart​ ​staked​ ​fallen​ ​blueberry plants​.​ ​Stewart​ ​said​ ​he​ ​learned​ ​about​ ​the​ ​event​ ​at Frogmore Fresh Farm on​ ​​Facebook.

On a hot, Saturday morning, about 200 volunteers drove their cars and trucks down a narrow dirt lane, off St. Joe Road, to put in a day’s work and save the blueberries.

Volunteers focused on about 23 acres of the approximately 145-acre farm. That is where the youngest blueberry plants had either been uprooted or knocked down.

Farm employees were able to put their attentions on more mature plants elsewhere.

The turnout caught Park by surprise.

“It’s heartwarming. This is a tremendous benefit to us,” he said. “This (the young plants) is the future. We’re going to keep on, keeping on.”

It was all for a good cause, said Elmore.

Frogmore Fresh Farm benefits the county’s economy. The Sigety family, which owns the farm, does charitable work in Pasco, donating to food banks and providing internships to local students, Elmore said.

University​ ​of​ ​Florida​ ​graduate​ ​students​ ​Carlos​ ​Zambrano​, right, ​and​ ​Dario​ ​Racano,​ both​ ​of​ ​Gainesville,​ staked​ ​young​ ​blueberry​ ​plants​ ​at Frogmore​ ​Fresh Farm.

“It’s about being part of the community and making it better for everyone,” she said.

About 50 students and faculty members came from UF. Two sororities also sent volunteers.

“People have driven two hours basically on a call from social media, which is really interesting,” said Kevin Folta, UF professor and chairman of the university’s horticultural sciences department.

“But, this is what we’re supposed to do as a land grant institute. It fits our mission well.”

Frogmore’s blueberries are hybrids developed through UF research. Folta said the plants produce fruit after the harvests in other countries, such as Chile.

It opens markets for Florida blueberries that might not be available, he said.

Linda​ ​Dao,​ ​a​ ​University​ ​of​ ​Florida​ ​senior​ ​biology​ ​major,​ ​worked to​ ​fix damaged​ ​blueberry​ ​plants​ ​that​ ​fell​ ​over​ ​from​ ​the​ ​force​ ​of​ Hurricane Irma’s wind.

They are rooted in wood chip beds and hydrated with an irrigation system, sort of as a “big, crazy hydroponic garden,” Folta said.

“None of this would happen naturally,” he said. “It’s a system that works and brings millions of dollars to the state of Florida. Blueberry acreage is exploding.”

Elmore said Florida produces about 20 million pounds of blueberries annually, with a value of about $82 million to $100 million.

UF wasn’t alone in rounding up students to help.

Another 50 or so volunteers were from Pasco High School’s science club and student body council. There also were students from Saint Leo University, local residents, and church members.

The Salvation Army provided bottled water.

Margarita Roma, local migrant activist and executive director of Farmers Self-Help Inc., came with about 10 volunteers. Most were teenagers, wearing T-shirts in support of DACA, the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program.

Kevin Folta, professor and chairman of the University of Florida’s horticultural sciences department, relied on social media to recruit about 50 UF students to help salvage blueberry plants damaged by Hurricane Irma.

Those children, often referred to as Dreamers, are undocumented immigrants brought to the United States as children before age 16, and who have lived here since June 15, 2007.

“It’s good for our kids to have visibility,” she said. And, good to show that they can help the community they live in, she added.

Jose Pedro Lopez, 14, wanted people to know that Dreamers are like everyone else. “They should be able to live a free life,” he said.

Volunteers headed into the field, one group at a time.

In groups, volunteers carried batches of cane stakes and rolls of tape, and walked into the field.

Jim Moll, the extension service’s Florida-Friendly Landscaping program manager, gave tutorials on blueberry care.

Plants had to be stood upright, firmly replanted, and wrapped with tape to keep foliage from drooping.

“It doesn’t have to be a pretty knot, just effective,” Moll said. “You want it tight, but, not too firm. You don’t want to cut off circulation.”

Moll felt optimistic.

Pasco High School student, ​Roney​ ​Webster, 17,​ ​ties green tape​ ​around​ ​a​ ​​stake​ ​to support a damaged blueberry plant.

The plants “will be traumatized from being whipped in the wind,” he said. “The good news is they are all green. They aren’t limping.”

Samantha Acacio, 21, bent down to tie a knot around a blueberry plant. She felt a connection to the environment, as she worked to put the plants upright.

“These (plants) produce oxygen,” said Acacio, a pre-med student at Saint Leo University. “Why not have more oxygen in the world? It’s motivation. They weathered the storm, and we’re going to help them stand upright.”

Wesley Chapel residents Maleena Newcomb, 14, Allie Black, 14, and Ana Anderson, 24, might have been volunteering at an annual coastal cleanup, if not for Irma.

But, they were happy to find themselves being useful at the farm instead.

“It’s a good effort,” said Black. “You get community service hours. It’s all good.”

Gayle Womer and her daughter, Jenny Konow, attend First Baptist Church in Dade City. Konow is a 4-H leader.

Konow said they had some experience with blueberry plants. “We’re small hobby farmers,” she said. “We kind of know the struggles if you need help.”

But, it was her 11-year-old son, Archer Konow, who told his family that they had to volunteer. He loves everything about farming.

“It’s good to help people after hard things come through,” he said. If it’s a business, he added, “You need to help out.”

Roney Webster, 17, is a Pasco High senior. He volunteered around his community to help neighbors with cleanup.

This was one more chance to help.

“It’s just giving back,” Webster said. “I’ve been outside pretty much every day helping people.”

Published September 27, 2017

We’re on the lookout for water-wise landscapes

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Pasco County Extension and Tampa Bay Water are looking for yards that demonstrate practices that reduce the waste of water, while still presenting a lovely oasis.
(Courtesy of Whitney C. Elmore)

The Pasco County Extension Office and Tampa Bay Water are looking for attractive landscapes with irrigation systems or techniques that minimize water waste and represent the best in Florida-Friendly Landscaping.

We would love to present your outdoor oasis for relaxation and a haven for wildlife as a powerful environmentally friendly example of Florida-Friendly LandscapingTM.

Florida-Friendly Landscaping is a concept based on the use of low-maintenance plants and environmentally sustainable practices.

  • Using the right plant, in the right place
  • Watering efficiently
  • Fertilizing appropriately
  • Mulching appropriately
  • Attracting wildlife
  • Managing yard pests responsibly
  • Recycling yard waste
  • Reducing stormwater runoff
  • Protecting the waterfront

When planning, establishing, and maintaining a Florida-Friendly Landscape, the appropriate use of each of these principles can produce a beautiful landscape that’s low maintenance, cost efficient and environmentally friendly.

A Florida-Friendly yard is a win for everyone and for the environment, as it helps to conserve and protect our water.

Many Pasco residents already incorporate these practices into their landscapes. Some have done so without expending much time, effort or money.

By using these principles, many Pasco County residents have produced relaxing outdoor spaces — worthy of gracing the front page of a lawn and garden magazine.

When the right plant is planted in the right place, it can thrive without excessive watering. You can use micro-irrigation to deliver water where it is needed, and use mulch to conserve moisture and reduce weeds.
(Courtesy of the University of Florida)

In Pasco County, the UF/IFAS Extension Office has a Florida-Friendly Landscaping Program Manager and Program Coordinator, funded by our partners at Tampa Bay Water.

As part of Tampa Bay Water’s efforts to conserve water, they offer the Water Wise Awards each year to recognize attractive, water-conserving landscapes at homes, businesses, industry and government.

In conjunction with our UF/IFAS Pasco Extension professionals, a winner is selected during landscape evaluations, and that winner is acknowledged with a beautiful, handmade mosaic stepping stone and recognition from the Pasco Board of County Commissioners.

If you would like to submit your landscape for an evaluation, simply go to TampaBayWaterWise.org, and click on the entry link.

The deadline for Water Wise Award applications is June 30, 2017.

It’s quick, simple, and a fun way to recognize the work that you’ve done to create your personal oasis.

Dr. Whitney C. Elmore is the UF/IFAS Pasco County Extension director and an Urban Horticulture Agent III.

Want to know more about gardening?
Check out these workshops:

                      

#101 Propagation From Seeds
June 3, 10 a.m., Pasco Extension Office 36702 State Road 52, Dade City: Learn how to create an attractive and productive garden at this free workshop. Learn how to successfully germinate seeds. Registration is required. (The same workshop is also being offered June 8 at 2 p.m., at Centennial Park Library, 5740 Moog Road in Holiday).

Bonsai: The Art & Technique
June 6, 6:30 p.m., Hudson Library, 8012 Library Road, Hudson: Free seminar focuses on an introduction to the art of bonsai, a unique combination of horticulture and art. Registration is required.

Colorful Container Gardening
June 10, 9 a.m., Land O’ Lakes Community Center, 5401 Land O Lakes Blvd., Land O’ Lakes: Learn how to plant flowers, foliage and herbs in containers at this free workshop. Registration is required.

Attracting Pollinators to your Garden
June 10, 10 a.m., Zephyrhills Library, 5347 Eighth St., in Zephyrhills: Learn what elements are needed in the home garden to attract butterflies and hummingbirds at this free seminar. Registration is required.

Easy to Grow Native Plants & Their Pollinators
June 20, 2 p.m., New River Library, 34043 State Road 54, Wesley Chapel: Learn about native plants that are easy to grow and find out about these plant’s pollinators, too, at this free workshop. Registration is required.

Registration for workshops can be made through EventBrite. Search under the name of the seminar, it should pop up.

Published May 10, 2017

Pollinator gardens attract bees and other wildlife

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Obviously, pollinators are important.

An estimated one-third of the food we eat comes from plants pollinated by animals.

Bees, wasps, flies and hummingbirds are vital pollinators.

Calamint resembles rosemary and has tiny white flowers. The leaves have a sweet, minty fragrance. (Photos courtesy of Nicole Pinson)
Calamint resembles rosemary and has tiny white flowers. The leaves have a sweet, minty fragrance.
(Photos courtesy of Nicole Pinson)

Scientists have found that it takes eight or more visits by a bee to a watermelon flower to produce a single watermelon.

So, please consider planting a pollinator garden to increase populations of these beneficial insects.

Similar to butterfly gardens, pollinator gardens incorporate the use of plants, such as host and nectar plants, that attract butterflies. However, they differ in that selected plants also attract other pollinators such as native bees, flies and hummingbirds.

Bees need nectar and pollen, both of which are provided by flowers. Nectar serves as the primary source of carbohydrates for bees, and pollen is essential to brood production, young bee development and hive growth. Interestingly, all pollen is not created equal, and “pollen from different floral sources has different quantities of each component” (Ellis, et al, 2013).

Recognizing that pollinators are important, local Lutz Girl Scout Troop No. 360 worked in partnership with the UF/IFAS Extension Hillsborough County to plant a pollinator demonstration garden at the extension office while earning their Silver Awards.

Girl Scout Troop No. 360 planted a pollinator demonstration garden.
Girl Scout Troop No. 360 planted a pollinator demonstration garden.

Silver Awards encourage the cadettes to design their own community project and understand how they impact their community. Obtaining the award requires completing an approved cause and issue service project that is at least 50 volunteer hours.

The purpose of this project is to teach youth and their families about the importance of pollinators, and the relationship between plants and pollinators. This project promotes Florida-Friendly LandscapingTM principles, especially with regard to reducing stormwater runoff, attracting wildlife, reducing pollinator risk when using pesticides, and beautifying our community while preserving and conserving resources such as water.

In addition to planting the pollinator garden, the Girl Scouts wrote newspaper articles and press releases, installed micro-irrigation, created a pollinator display and provided docent tours to the public.

The tiny, white flowers of frogfruit attract many different pollinators. The plant also serves as a larval host plant for white peacock butterflies.
The tiny, white flowers of frogfruit attract many different pollinators. The plant also serves as a larval host plant for white peacock butterflies.

The Girl Scouts learned that there are many plants that attract pollinators. Examples of great Florida-Friendly LandscapingTM plants include buttonsage lantana Lantana involucrata, blanket flower Gaillardia pulchella, pink swamp milkweed Asclepias incarnata, frogfruit Phyla nodiflora, rayless sunflower Helianthus radula, calamint Calamintha ashei, and white top aster Oclemena reticulata.

Pollinators are important because they help increase fruit set, quality and size, and these benefits can also translate to economic impacts. The U.S. Department of Agriculture in 2014 estimated bee pollinated commodities accounted for $20 billion in annual U.S. agricultural production. Pollinator gardens are unique and these gardens can teach residents and youth how to attract pollinators to their landscapes, while reducing negative environmental impacts associated with landscape management practices.

You can visit the extension office to learn about plants that attract pollinators. The extension office is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Visitors can tour the pollinator garden, along with the Bette S. Walker Discovery Garden and the perennial garden, for free.

Children and their parents can check out pollinator backpacks that contain insect and flower sketch plates, field identification cards, magnifying lenses and books. There is something new to see each time you visit the gardens, and we hope you are inspired to create a pollinator garden of your own.

Sources for this column:

  • Sanford, M. and J. Ellis. (2016). Beekeeping: Watermelon Production. IFAS Publication Number ENY-154. Gainesville: University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. Retrieved from http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/aa/aa09100.pdf.
  • Ellis, A., J. Ellis, M. O’Malley and C. Nalen. (2013). The Benefits of Pollen to Honey Bees. IFAS Publication Number ENY-152. Gainesville: University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. Retrieved from http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in868.

For additional information, contact or (813) 744-5519, ext. 54145.

Nicole Pinson is an Urban Horticulture Agent in Hillsborough County. The author gratefully acknowledges Lynn Barber for contributing to this article. Barber is a Florida-Friendly LandscapingTM Agent, UF/IFAS Extension Hillsborough County.

Revised September 22, 2016

Growing beautiful tomatoes in Central Florida

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Tomatoes are one of the most popular veggies to eat, but trying to grow them can be one of the most frustrating experiences for new gardeners in Central Florida.

Luckily, it doesn’t have to be exasperating, and it can be quite fun.

With just a little bit of knowledge, any home gardener can grow beautiful and bountiful tomatoes.

For successful tomatoes, there are a few simple concepts to keep in mind.

First, remember the one principle that underpins them all for Florida-Friendly Landscaping (and veggie growing, too); plant the right plant in the right place. I normally add one more caveat to that phrase when it comes to veggie gardening: Plant at the right time.

Tomatoes exemplify this principle. Put them in the right place at the right time and you’ll get great tomatoes with little effort.

With Florida’s warm weather, we can plant tomatoes in late winter and early spring – but not in the summer.

In Florida, we can have two crops of tomatoes — not just one.

Try to be patient, and plant them after the threat of frost has passed.

Growing healthy tomatoes in Central Florida is as easy as choosing the right plant and growing it at the right place — and at the right time. (Courtesy of UF/IFAS Tyler Jones )
Growing healthy tomatoes in Central Florida is as easy as choosing the right plant and growing it at the right place — and at the right time.
(Courtesy of UF/IFAS Tyler Jones
)

Remember, you can start seeds indoors and transplant when the soil warms, and you can use hanging baskets and containers. That allows you to move them around for protection if a frost is coming.

Another key concept is to ensure you plant early enough to get fruit before the summer temperatures get high – once the nighttime temperatures hit 80 degrees, your tomatoes are done.

There are some exceptions though like grape and cherry tomatoes, which can often tolerate the summertime temperatures.

Larger-fruited varieties will not endure the high heat and humidity that ushers in pathogens that like our tomatoes as much as we do.

Do a little research on the variety you choose – do they need 70 days to mature? Or do they need 80 days?

Let this info help guide your planting schedule.

For most of Pasco County, planting tomatoes in late February is usually a good bet to avoid frost in the spring. Late September or early October is a good time to plant in the fall to avoid cold damage before fruiting.

Besides planting at the right time, make sure you plant in the right place. Tomatoes need plenty of sunlight, so put them in a sunny location where your garden gets at least 4 hours to 6 hours of full sunlight daily.

And, since tomatoes prefer soil pH to be between 6.0-6.5, a soil test is a great idea before you plant.

Your local UF/IFAS Extension office can help you with a soil test kit.

If you need to adjust your soil with organic matter, be sure you do so well in advance of planting, sometimes months in advance if you’re using manures.

Also, give your tomatoes the space they need. Some tomatoes, called intermediates, become very large plants that easily topple over – these need support and possible pruning.

While they’ll produce fruit over several months, their size can be a limiting factor. Determinate varieties are best for those with limited space – these are more like small bushes. Staking or using a trellis is good for both types though, as it’s important to keep the fruit off the group.

Choose varieties bred for Central Florida’s climate. They’ll be more tolerant of common insect and disease problems.

When you purchase tomatoes, look for the two to three-letter abbreviations on the label.

These abbreviations refer to the more common problems and let you know those plants have some resistance to that particular problem.

For example, if you see “VF” on the label, those cultivars are resistant to verticillium and fusarium wilt, both common problems in Florida.

To care for your tomatoes once they are in the garden, scout early and often for problems. It’s OK to remove a sick looking plant to prevent spreading a potential disease to the others. Catching an insect problem early is much better than later as well – we can control insects and diseases more effectively when they are caught in the earliest stages.

Scouting early and often affords us that opportunity.

Tomatoes do need fertilizer, especially in our nutrient-poor soils.

Since organic matter/compost is not fertilizer but a soil stabilizer, applications of fertilizer are required to produce healthy plants.

Fertilize soon after planting, then on a regular schedule through the growing season using a 6-8-8 or similar formulation. A well-balanced fertilizer doesn’t have to be expensive to be effective. You can use liquids or granulars, just go for a controlled-release version so that you’ll get the most bang for your buck, and you won’t contribute to nutrient pollution in waterways through leaching or runoff during heavy rains.

Keep your plants watered with one inch to two inches of water per application. Soaking them is preferable to frequent light watering. Mulching can help lock in moisture and prevent weeds – just keep the mulch a few inches away from the stems of the plants and no more than 2 inches to 3 inches deep. Planting the right plant in the right place at the right time is all it takes for successful tomatoes in Central Florida.

Dr. Whitney Elmore is the UF/IFAS Pasco County Extension Director and an Urban Horticulture Agent III.

Groundcovers offer a great option for Florida landscapes

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“Why didn’t I come to you first?”

That’s a commonly uttered question at our Pasco County Extension office, when homeowners come in with landscape problems.

Usually, this question is preempted by a “put the right plant in the right place” discussion.

This Florida-Friendly LandscapingTM (FFL) principle is simple to grasp, but not obvious until someone puts it in plain English by saying “you didn’t put the right plant in the right place.”

It’s often an “ah ha” moment for folks that’s followed by remorse.

Liriope, also known as monkey grass, is a good ground cover for areas with partial shade. (Courtesy of Whitney C. Elmore)
Liriope, also known as monkey grass, is a good ground cover for areas with partial shade.
(Courtesy of Whitney C. Elmore)

Most landscape woes can be prevented by simply doing a bit of homework to determine if a particular plant will be happy in a particular spot in the yard.

One of the more common issues leading to landscape remorse is the urge to use turfgrasses in shady locations.

We do not have any turfgrasses for Central Florida that are adapted to shade. St. Augustine grass and Bahigrass, the most common in our home lawns, need at least five hours to six hours of full sun daily to thrive; anything less leads to a weak plant. Remember the first principle of FFL – turf in a shady spot is putting the “wrong plant in the wrong place!”

No matter how many times you sod or seed that same area, lack of sunlight will limit vigor and have the same result every single time – remorse.

But, there’s good news – better yet, great news! There are alternatives to turfgrass in shady locations.

Groundcovers are an excellent option for shady spaces.

A groundcover is a low-growing plant used to cover areas where grass can’t grow or isn’t preferred, such as a shady spot.

Groundcovers not only cover bare soil; they also can be beautiful focal points and even provide a more functional use of the landscape, such as redirecting foot traffic.

Groundcovers also serve as practical lawn alternatives with many benefits.

One advantage is the ability to use them in areas where mowing isn’t easy — especially where there are narrow strips of soil along sidewalks, driveways or walls.

Groundcovers also help prevent soil erosion on slopes.

The right groundcover in the right place can lower maintenance costs, reduce weeds, provide color during winter months, and reduce overall landscape maintenance.

There are several considerations to keep in mind when selecting a groundcover, such as: plant type (evergreen, flowering plant, vine, shrub, etc.), growing conditions and maintenance.

Select a plant type that will satisfy your needs and aesthetic desire. Ornamental grasses, vines, flowering plants, and small shrubs all can serve as groundcovers.

Like other plants, sunlight needs for groundcovers can vary.

For example, if you need a low growing, spreading groundcover where there’s plenty of sunlight, select shore juniper or dwarf yaupon holly. These are handy in areas where you need to direct foot traffic.

The beach morning glory and the beach sunflower can provide a nice pop of color in sunny spots and even attract butterflies.

Perennial peanut does great in full sun and provides excellent contrasting colors and textures.

Our native coontie is a nice addition in full sun or shade along with brightly colored daylilies, which produce a nice focal point or dramatic effect in the landscape.

Another plant that does well in partial shade or full sun is the purple queen, which produces small, pink flowers and succulent stems.

In partial shade, choose Mondo grass or Liriope, aloe plants, false heather, or Dwarf Asiatic jasmine. Asiatic jasmine does have a tendency to “creep and leap,” so be prepared to do some frequent maintenance to keep it from overtaking other plants and sidewalks. In dense shade, choose holly fern, cast iron plant, or Algerian ivy for a contrast in texture and color.

Arrangement and spacing will depend on the growth patterns for each of these plants. In general, staggered row plantings will provide the quickest coverage, and a 2-inch to 3-inch layer of mulch will help reduce weeds and will lock in moisture.

Some groundcovers can be planted 2 inches to 3 inches apart, while others need more room, some requiring 3 feet to 4 feet of space between plants, like the native coontie.

Spacing depends on the plant itself, so plan to do a little research to be sure of your desired plant needs prior to purchase.

Water and fertilizer needs also depend on the plant type, so do your homework on that, as well.

You can plant most any of these groundcovers anytime in our area, but do plan to add organic matter to the soil prior to planting, which helps increase water holding capacity and nutrient availability.

You can use compost, peat moss, and even well-rotted manures incorporated into the soil 6 inches to 12 inches deep.

Once established, most groundcovers will be low-maintenance, long-term, grief-free additions to your landscape.

For more information about ground covers, call the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Pasco Extension Office at (352) 518-0156.

By Whitney C. Elmore

Whitney C. Elmore is the UF/IFAS Pasco County Extension director and Urban Horticulture agent.

Published November 18, 2015