Any suggestions on trees that grow moderately fast, are not messy, tolerant of s... [Article]
Live oak (Quercus virginiana) would be one of the best trees for these requirements, although some find the leaf drop (and eventually acorn drop) it goes through in late winter or early spring an an
- What are Mangroves? [Article]
There are more than 50 species of mangroves found throughout the world. Three species of mangroves are native to Florida: Red mangrove (Rhizophora mangle), Black mangrove (Avicennia ger
- How can I find out if the mushrooms I've been commonly finding are the pois... [Article]
Here is a link to information about identifying mushrooms: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ddis3. This publication also mentions the “death angel” m
- I have tomato plants in earth boxes- Something is getting the fruit just as it s... [Article]
If the damage to the fruits appears to happen overnight the problem is likely rats. If the damage consists of large bites taken out of the fruit and is happening during the day it is likely squirrel
- I am loosing young fruit from my mango tree. Is there something needed to "... [Article]
Mangos can drop some to many of the immature fruits for several reasons. Some varieties tend to drop the majority of fruits that set, carrying as few as one fertilized flower out of 150 to fully matur...
- Is there a fertilizer that will work for lawns, bushes, trees, and flowers? [Article]
A fertilizer with equal amounts of nitrogen (the first number in the 3 numbers of the fertilizer analysis) and potassium (the third number) and little or no phosphorus (the middle number) can be used ...
- What are the benefits of composting, and how do I begin making my own? [Article]
Yard wastes make up about 20% of collected
- How do I prevent a shallow root mass, which doesn’t seem to have a plant associa... [Article]
The most likely explanation for what you have encountered is that these are the roots of a tree or shrub that is growing in your yard or a neighbor’s yard. Roots of trees and shrubs commonly e
- What can I grow in place of St. Augustine in full sun? [Article]
- What are the bright green very small, caterpillars in my yard that are suspended... [Article]
You are likely seeing oak leafroller or oak leaftier caterpillars. They feed primarily on oaks soon after the trees produce new leaves in the spring. There is only one generation (which lasts a few
- Are there any restrictions on shipping home grown citrus fruits to other states?... [Article]
Homegrown citrus currently can be shipped from Florida to other states if it has been packed by a commercial packing house. During the commercial packing process, fruit is removed of plant debris, w
- What type of mulch and how much should I use in my plant beds? [Article]
We recommend a two to three inch layer of organic mulch be maintained in plant beds. These mulches include those made from eucalyptus, pine bark, melaleuca, scrap lumber, recycled yard waste, and pine...
- What causes the leaves on my azaleas and sycamore to have a bleached-out appeara... [Article]
Both azaleas and sycamore are susceptible to damage caused by insects called lace bugs. Damage results from the insect sucking out cell sap, resulting in a mottling of the leaves. The black tar spot
- When do I start cutting back cold-damaged plants/trees? [Article]
With cold-damaged shrubs and trees you have two choices. You can either prune out the dead portions now or you can simply wait for new growth to emerge and then cut back to just beyond the new growt
- What kind of native plants can I use for a tall privacy hedge? The location re... [Article]
There are a number of native Florida plants that can grow into a privacy hedge. Besides screening a view and increasing privacy in your garden, these plants will provide small fruit and cover for bird...
- What causes the green leaves on my ficus tree to fall off They have small white ... [Article]
From the description, the problem is most likely fig whitefly. This sap feeding insect has been established in south Florida for a couple of years but was only detected in Pinellas County late this
- While I was gone this summer my Ficus tree began to lose its leaves. What can I... [Article]
Although there is more than one possible cause of leaf drop, I would suggest checking the Ficus tree for the presence of fig whitefly. This insect has been present in south Florida for a few years b
- Most of the flowers turned black and fell off of my Mango tree, and many of the ... [Article]
It appears your
- What are some of the more common tropical fruits that can be grown in the centra... [Article]
- When do Avocados and Mangos ripen? [Article]
The kinds of avocados that are commonly grown in Florida can ripen as early as late May (such as ‘Donnie’) to as late as early March (such as ‘Brookslate’). Avocado fruits do
