September 19, 2016 by Larry Williams I always enjoy being outdoors and watching butterflies and hummingbirds as we move into late summer and fall. Fall is the peak season for butterflies in the Florida Panhandle and there are a surprising number of hummingbirds that migrate to our area as they seek out our mild weather during the winter months. In ...
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September 12, 2016 by Larry Williams As we move into September, we can expect some relief from summer’s heat and humidity. This change offers a time to possibly catch up on landscape jobs. September also offers a favorable time to purchase and plant some landscape plants. And the Okaloosa County Master Gardeners can assist with this. They are holding a ...
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by Larry Williams We are fortunate to be able to grow some sort of vegetables year round in Florida. But not all vegetables will grow year round. Planting time is critical. Cool-season crops tolerate and require lower temperature. Many of these cool-season vegetables, sometimes called fall or winter crops, can be planted this month. The below recommended planting dates are ...
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by Jennifer Bearden August 24, 2016 Fall armyworms were found this week in clover food plots in Okaloosa County. This pest can completely defoliate a field in an about a week. They have a wide range of host plants such as grasses, clovers, cotton, soybeans, corn, peanuts, and tomatoes. Fall Armyworms overwinter in southern Florida and southern Texas. The moths or ...
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by Larry Williams Q. I noticed small brown moths flying low to the ground in my lawn. Should I be concerned about this? A. Yes and no. These are probably adults of the tropical sod webworm. Moths have a wingspan of about ¾ inch and are a dingy brown. Moths do not cause damage. So don’t bother trying to control ...
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by Larry Williams August 15, 2016 Would you like to grow more of your own food? If so, you may be interested in an upcoming gardening seminar being offered at the UF/IFAS Extension Office in Okaloosa County. Karen Harper and Marg Stewart, Okaloosa County Master Gardeners, will present an amazing look into their quests to grow more of their own ...
Read More »Preventive maintenance is key to preparing for storms An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of care when it comes to preparing for hurricanes. Compared to many areas of the United States, we live in a fairly high-risk area for storm damage and as a result should be prepared. One of the most important preventive measures is to periodically ...
Read More »What type of fertilizer should be used on lawns? This may be rotary spreader the most difficult question to answer without a soil sample. In the absence of a soil sample, it is best to use a fertilizer with a 3-1-2 or 4-1-2 ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Examples of fertilizers with these ratios are 12-4-8 and 16-4-8. These ...
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August can be a tough month in the North Florida landscape. Heat, humidity, insects and diseases can take their toll on both the landscape and the gardener. But there are things to do now that can make a big difference in your landscape in the near future. Now is a good time to cleanup roses for fall flower production. Disease-prone ...
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