UF Ext. Service for Okaloosa County

by Larry Williams Many of our favorite woody shrubs and herbaceous plants can be started from cuttings. Here is an easy method that can be used to root dozens of plants at home. You’ll need the following supplies: Sharp hand pruners. Clean plastic nursery pots (1, 2 or 3 gallon size) with drain holes. Well-drained sterile media such as perlite, vermiculite ...

by Larry Williams Not every fruit tree will grow and reliably produce fruit in North Florida. Temperature is the most important factor determining where certain fruits can be grown. It’s the reason why apples and blueberries do not do well in South Florida. It’s also the reason why people living in the northern part of the state find it difficult to ...

by Les Harrison Fertilizing a lawn properly in the summer can enhance the landscape without inducing disease or harming the environment . One universal activity is seasonal lawn and landscape maintenance. While some consider it a chore, many view it as a means to enhancing their personal environment. The list of tasks are, for the most part, standard with few surprises. Raking leaves ...

Basic Goat Production Workshop If you are interested in learning more about goats for a 4-H Project with your kids, or your small herd for your farm, make plans now to attend a workshop on July 13, 2017 from 9:00 AM –  4:00 PM at the UF/IFAS Jackson County Extension Office. This training is open to both adults and youth ...

by Mark Mauldin Every year as the temperatures get warmer the number of calls related to weed problems in fish ponds increases. That was the case this year also, with one notable difference; the calls started coming in March and April, not June and July as they would during a “typical” year. Aquatic weeds typically die back or have greatly reduced ...

June 6, 2017 by Larry Williams There are numerous reasons why maintaining a North Florida lawn is challenging and ultimately frustrating. One such reason is ground pearls. Ground pearls, small scale insects that bother lawn grass roots, are soil dwelling pests that are not much of a problem in northern lawns. But they are quite the problem here in our North ...

Thursday, June 8, 2017 at the Okaloosa Extension 3098 Airport Rd. Crestview, FL 32539 Cost: $30.00 To register contact: Sheila Dunning sdunning@ufl.edu  (850) 689-5850 Educational Program Workshop This workshop is designed to provide training in Best Management Practices (BMPs) for anyone working in the lawn, landscape, pest control, or municipal grounds areas. The Best Management Practices are focused on reducing ...

Okaloosa and Walton Counties are offering a class on managing pastures for hay and grazing. See the flyer below for more details!

May 22, 2017 by Larry Williams The University of Florida has offices in all 67 Florida Counties. These Extension offices are part of the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences and they offer you the “front door” to UF experts. UF/IFAS Extension in Okaloosa County now offers assistance to citizens with lawn, landscape and garden questions at ...

May 15, 2017 by Larry Williams A little imagination, a decorative container and appropriate plants can turn a bare spot into a splash of color. Consider using a container of annuals to add color to a backyard deck or a paved entrance way. Or what about that area under the tree where grass doesn’t want to grow and where it ...