Roses for the Home Gardener
By Debbie Falton, Master Gardener Q. I would like to grow some roses. What advice can you give on their care and maintenance? A. Roses are the most popular flowers in the world and have been for centuries. In Florida they are high-maintenance plants because of our climate and abundance of insects. If you like to spend time working in the garden then growing roses can be a very...What is a Master Gardener?
By Joe Wolf, Master Gardener Very simply, a Master Gardener is a person who has been officially trained and certified, and who likes to share his or her knowledge of gardening with other people. People thinking about becoming a Master Gardener sometimes worry that they do not know enough, but that is where the training comes in. All that is really needed is the desire to learn. A...Polk County Master Gardener Training Sta...
Polk County Master Gardener training starts September 14th and training is held each Tuesday from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. through Dec. 7. Training is held at the UF/IFAS Polk County Extension Service (1702 US Highway 17 South in Bartow) and the cost for the classes (plus materials) is $125. For more information contact Dr. Shibles at (863) 519-8677. Master Gardeners are a group of...The Right Plant in the Right Place
By Joe Wolf My plant is not doing well, what is wrong? My question is: Is it planted in the right place? In my last article I wrote about the need to identify your plants. This is so you can find out how and where it grows best. Does this plant prefer shade, sun or filtered light? Does it want a lot of water or prefer it dry? How large will it grow? Is it native to this part of...My Plant Is Not Doing Well, What Is Wron...
By Joe Wolf This is a great question, but not an easy one to answer. I get this question all of the time and I have a hard time with it. It is just a little too general. So the first thing we have to do is figure out what the plant is. In fact, figuring out any problem in the garden requires you to know the identity of the plant. For example, if you are having a problem with your...Perennial Peanut Can Be a Great Substitu...
By Joe Wolf Q. I want to reduce the amount of turfgrass in my landscape. Can you suggest any alternatives? A. A good option is to go with a Florida Friendly yard which uses easy to grow and maintain plants that grow well in this part of Florida, are cold hardy, and drought and heat tolerant. Many but not all of the Florida Friendly plants are natives. Florida Friendly yards use some...Good Bugs – Bad Bugs
By Joe Wolf, Master Gardener There are over 13,000 species of insects here in Florida. Of those less than 1% are harmful to our plants or us. The other 99% are either helpful or just ignore us. We depend on insects. We all know that bees pollinate most of our fruits and nuts and without them these foods would be eliminated from our diets. Polk’s important citrus industry depends on...Beat The Heat With Summer Annuals In You...
Q. I am looking at my beautiful, colorful annual beds and thinking about what I will use to replace my snapdragons, dianthus and petunias as they fade in the heat. What will I replace them with to have color this summer? A. I like things that will last all summer through all of our heat, not things that will do well only until June. Below I have written short descriptions of only...Polk County Master Gardeners Present 4th...
The Polk County Master Gardeners present the 4th Annual Backyard Gardener’s Festival and Plant Sale on Nov. 6, a free event featuring educational workshops and presentations, ‘Ask the Expert’ gazebo, soil testing, garden tours, children’s activities and much more! Visit the educational booths and purchase Florida-Friendly and Florida Native plants, along with bromeliads,...When And How Should I Prune My Landscape...
There can be many reasons for pruning landscape plants (shrubs and trees) and the how and when depends on your reason for doing it. For example: in order to improve the plants health and vigor, to control its size and form, to increase flowering or fruiting, to rejuvenate an old plant, or to develop or maintain safety and structural soundness. Pruning can often be an effective way of...Landscape With Native Plants And Change ...
Gardeners and other lovers of nature often feel a frustration that there is nothing we can do to have a positive impact on our earth. Yet, there is a growing and positive trend of landscaping with Florida native plants that absolutely impacts our environment. Wonderful things happen with native plants: a more natural design in our landscapes; the appearance of birds, pollinators, and...Plant Propagation For The Home Gardener
Q. I lost many plants this winter during the long freeze. Is there some easy way I could grow my own plants to keep costs down instead of buying all new plants? A. This was bad winter for gardeners here in Polk County and in other parts of Florida. Many home gardeners and professionals lost annuals and tropical plants that were unable to survive the cold temperatures for prolonged...Plant Propagation For The Home Gardener
Q. I lost many plants this winter during the long freeze. Is there some easy way I could grow my own plants to keep costs down instead of buying all new plants? A. This was bad winter for gardeners here in Polk County and in other parts of Florida. Many home gardeners and professionals lost annuals and tropical plants that were unable to survive the cold temperatures for prolonged...Grow Fresh Herbs All Year
Q. My wife and I love to cook. This year we planted some vegetables in our garden. We are thinking of adding some herbs that we could use in cooking. Can you give us some ideas on herbs that we could grow in our garden? A. We are lucky to live in Florida where we can grow fresh herbs all year round. You can plant herbs in pots near your doorway or even tucked in your...Home-Grown Tomatoes Are Worth Effort
Home-Grown Tomatoes Are Worth Effort Every summer I plant tomatoes in my garden. They never seem to do well. Can you help me? A. Nothing compares to the taste of home-grown tomatoes. Here in central Florida tomato growers face many challenges with diseases, insects, and climate, but the results are well worth the effort. Two possible reasons why you have not been successful growing...Exotic, Beautiful Orchids Are Easy To Gr...
Q: I recently received an orchid plant as a gift. The flowers were so beautiful and lasted a long time. I’m thinking of acquiring some more orchids. Could you give me some information on some easy orchids to grow and how to care for them? A. Few flowers are as exotic and beautiful as orchids. They have become very popular with home gardeners. Whether you hang them from a...Keep Unwanted Snakes At Bay
Florida is home to a great variety of wildlife. It is not uncommon to encounter snakes in residential areas. They live all around us, especially since development has taken away much of their natural habitat. It’s almost impossible to keep snakes out of your yard especially if there is a good food supply and plenty of places to hide. The key is understanding and learning to identify...Spring Annuals
I don’t know about you, but after the grey days of winter, I’m ready for some color, and annual flowers fit right into my gardening plans. I’m going to choose annuals that are right for central Florida, though. You’re not going to catch me planting impatiens and then having to water them twice a day when spring warms up! All the plants listed in this article are...Pruning Landscape Trees and Shrubs
By Joe Wolf Polk County Master Gardener Q. When and how should I prune my landscape plants? A. There can be many reasons for pruning landscape plants (shrubs and trees) and the how and when depends on your reason for doing it, for example: in order to improve the plants health and vigor; to control its size and form; to increase flowering or fruiting; to rejuvenate an old plant; or...Bulbs that Beautify Your Yard
by Debra Falton Q. Could you give me some information on bulbs that I could plant in my garden now for spring and summer color? A. There are many kinds of beautiful and unusual bulbs that grow and flower in our climate. Bulbous plants have corms, tubers, thickened rhizomes or true bulbs. The bulbs are planted under the ground and emerge during the growing season. Bulbs are most...From the Publisher, Marialice Quinn
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