Get in the Know

Learn the Dirt on Summer Turf

July 8th 6:00pm - 8:00pm

Manatee County Extension Office

Workshop topics include summer lawn pests, diseases, and maintenance. Register online for this free workshop at http://manatee.ifas.ufl.edu or call the Manatee Office at 722‐4524.

Smart Landscape - Planning & Care

July 15th 6:00pm - 9:00pm

Manatee County Extension Office

The key to smart landscaping is to develop the Florida‐Friendly Landscaping™ plan to save water, time, & money. We’ll think through and solve intended uses of your landscapes plus the care required to maintain healthy plants. Register online for this free workshop at http://manatee.ifas.ufl.edu or call 722‐4524. This class will satisfy the educational requirements for the Landscape Retrofit portion of the Manatee County Water Conservation Rebate Program.

Consult the Manatee County UF/IFAS Extension office with questions at 941-722-4524 or email michelleatkinson@ufl.edu.

Attract Wildlife

Florida has the third most diverse wildlife population of any state. But rapidly growing urban development, particularly in coastal communities, is destroying native wildlife habitat. As our communities expand, we lament the loss of birds and other wildlife, but often our own yards are partly to blame.

Your Florida-Friendly Yard can provide habitat for wildlife in two major ways:

1. By increasing biodiversity, in part by using a variety of plants in your yard’s design.



2. By creating landscaped islands and natural corridors of plants that connect bordering properties. Animals use these corridors to travel from one natural area to another, which in turn fosters and benefits wildlife on a larger neighborhood scale.

As you create a new landscape or improve your existing one, add a few features for wildlife, and you will bring your yard to life with birds, butterflies and beneficial insects. Just remember that food, water and cover attract wildlife, but providing habitat is not enough. You also need to maintain your yard so the impact it has on the environment is minimal.

Consult the Manatee County UF/IFAS Extension office with questions at 941-722-4524 or email michelleatkinson@ufl.edu.

Rain Barrel & Compost Combo Class

Saturday, July 18th 9:00am - 12:00pm

Cost $50

To sign up visit http://manatee.ifas.ufl.edu/class_registration/class-registration-form.shtml

or call (941) 722-4524

Take home a Rain Barrel and a Compost Bin and the know how to use them both!

Most of us take water for granted until it doesn't rain for a month or two and the city asks you to stop watering your lawn and garden. One of the best ways to help guard against this is by recycling rainwater. There are many ways to collect and recycle rainwater but one of the best and most cost effective is to setup a simple rain barrel.

Did you know you can have finished compost in just 3 to 4 weeks? By combining the right ingredients, your compost pile will not only heat up to 140 degrees (F) or more, but it will "cook down" to a fluffy material that is ready to use in the garden.

Mulch

A mulch layer around trees, shrubs, planted beds and covering bare ground provides many benefits. In areas that are difficult to mow, irrigate or otherwise maintain, use mulch to replace turf or groundcovers. Also consider placing mulch in shady areas where plants don’t grow well.

Mulch Facts:

• Organic mulch materials improve soil fertility as they decompose.


• Mulch buffers soil temperature, keeping soils warmer in winter and cooler in
  summer.


• Mulch helps maintain soil moisture by reducing evaporation. A layer of
  mulch also minimizes water needs for established plants.


• Fresh mulch inhibits weed germination and growth.


• Over time, many types of mulch improve soil aeration, structure and
  drainage.


• A mulch layer can inhibit certain plant diseases.


• Mulch around trees and shrubs (not against the trunk) eases maintenance
  and reduces the likelihood of damage from string trimmers.


• Mulch gives planting beds a neat and uniform appearance, adding a
  contrast of color and texture that complements plantings.

For well-drained sites, apply a 2–3 inch layer (after settling) of mulch around trees, shrubs and bedding plants. If there are drainage problems, use a thinner layer. Coarse materials, such as pine nuggets, may be applied to a depth of 4", but don’t allow mulch to accumulate to a greater depth. If mulch is already present, check the depth. Do not add mulch if there is a suffi cient layer in place (2"-3").

If mulch is piled against the trunk, pull it back several inches to uncover the base of the trunk and the root fl are. Mulch piled against tree trunks holds moisture against the trunk, and stems and trunks that remain constantly wet are prone to root rot. Mulch piled high against the trunks of young
trees may also create habitats for rodents that chew the bark and can girdle the trees.

Consult the Manatee County UF/IFAS Extension office with questions at 941-722-4524 or email michelleatkinson@ufl.edu.

Fertilize Appropriately Part 2 (Landscape Plants)

In the soil, roots of trees, shrubs, turfgrass and bedding plants intermingle and compete for water and nutrients. In fact, the roots of a single mature tree may extend 60 feet or more out into your lawn or flowerbeds. Fertilizer applied to one plant is often absorbed by the roots of a nearby plant. Every treatment you apply to your lawn (fertilizer and herbicide, for example) can impact your trees and shrubs. Conversely, treatments applied to a tree, such as pruning and fertilizing, can influence the appearance and health of underlying turfgrass.

In areas where tree or shrub fertilization zones overlap with lawn fertilization zones, fertilize for one or the other of the plant types, but not both. If trees and shrubs are not located near fertilized turfgrass, you can apply additional nitrogen to enhance growth of established trees and shrubs.

Broadcast fertilizer uniformly over the desired areas of the landscape. Apply watersoluble fertilizers at no more than ½ pound of actual nitrogen per 1,000 square feet per application. Application rates of controlled-release fertilizers depend on release rates of the product.

Palms have different nutritional requirements than other landscape plants. Fertilize landscaped areas within 30 feet of large established palms with a 4-1-6-2 Mg (N-P2O5-K20-Mg) ratio fertilizer (an 8-2-12-4 Mg is an example of a fertilizer using this ratio). Nitrogen, potassium and magnesium should have equivalent percentages of each nutrient in controlled-release form. If you use a
fertilizer with a ratio other than specifi ed, you may bring about or intensify nutrient deficiencies in palms.

Fertilize lawns, trees and plants only to maintain health. Over fertilizing aggravates pest problems and stimulates excessive growth. When excessive fertilizer is applied, it can leach past the root zone and into the groundwater, the source of our drinking water. Excessive fertilizer application also contributes to pollution in Florida's springs, rivers, streams, lakes and bays. Consult the Manatee County UF/IFAS Extension office with questions at 941-722-4524 or email michelleatkinson@ufl.edu.

Fertilize Appropriately Part 1 (turf)

At the most basic level, fertilizers feed plants, helping them to grow better. Fertilizing can be done by applying composted organic material, packaged fertilizer or a specific mineral, such as iron. Different types of plants benefit from different fertilizers.

Lawns

Grass that receives appropriate levels of fertilizer — not too little and not too much — produces a dense root and shoot system capable of filtering out impurities or other components of leachate or runoff. A properly fertilized lawn absorbs nonpoint source pollutants, helps stabilize soil, reduces ambient air temperatures and promotes a healthy ecosystem of its own. Since it grows more vigorously, a properly fertilizered lawn might also require fewer cultural or chemical controls for weeds, insects or diseases.

Overfertilizing can aggravate pest problems, stimulate excessive growth and require frequent watering. In addition, when people use too much fertilizer on their landscapes, it can seep through the ground, past the root zone of the grass, plants or trees and into the aquifer. It can also be washed off by rainfall directly into surface water or via stormwater systems. Before you apply fertilizer, it is very important that you read and understand the label.

Look for slow-release fertilizers, or fertilizers that have a high percentage of slow-release nitrogen in them. These products have less potential to leach or run off into Florida’s waterways than quick-release sources. Nitrogen promotes shoot growth, so if you use slow-release nitrogen, you’ll have less growth surge. In lawns, that means less thatch accumulation following fertilizer application — which ultimately means less mowing. Look at the fertilizer sources listed on the back of the bag and fi nd the amount of nitrogen that is “slow-release.” The higher the percentage of slow-release, the less chance of leaching — and less thatch and mowing!

Some parts of Florida have year-round growing seasons; other parts have dormant lawns for parts of the year. Apply fertilizer when grass is actively growing, not when it is dormant. Do not apply too much nitrogen at one time in summer months when grass is already growing rapidly. Consult the Manatee County UF/IFAS Extension office with questions at 941-722-4524 or email michelleatkinson@ufl.edu.

Water Efficiently

Even though watering restrictions are commonplace throughout Florida, many homeowners still overwater. Overwatering does more than deplete the water supply, it also makes plants prone to pests and adds to stormwater runoff, which pollutes our water systems. By choosing and operating a watering system correctly, you can reduce water bills, insect and disease problems, and maintenance requirements. For example, the more you water your lawn, the faster it grows and the more it needs to be mowed.

Most watering restrictions limit irrigation to certain days and times. But realize that even if it is your assigned day to irrigate, that does not mean you must irrigate. Scheduled watering can waste time, money and resources. Don’t let the calendar tell you when to water look to your plants for telltale signs of water needs. Water lawns when 50 percent of the lawn shows signs of wilt: leaf blades folded in half, blue-gray color and footprints remain on the lawn.

Reduce the need for watering by choosing water-efficient and drought-tolerant plants, including hose native to your site, and plant them in the right place. If you group plants according to their water (and light) needs, you can simplify watering methods and systems. For example, separate turf irrigation zones from tree and shrub zones.

For more information on this topic and other Florida-Friendly tip visit http://manatee.ifas.ufl.edu/lawn_and_garden/fyn/index.shtml

Right Plant, Right Place

Achieving a healthy, low-maintenance home landscape starts with putting the right plant in the right place. Select plants that match a site’s soil, light, water, and climatic conditions. Buy quality plants that welcome wildlife, consider plant size when you make your purchase, and aim for a diversity of trees, shrubs, groundcovers, and flowers. Once these plants are established, they’ll require little—if any—supplemental water, fertilizer, or pesticides, saving you time and money.

Have you ever bought a plant that looked great at the nursery or garden center, only to have it die once you planted it? One way to avoid this heartbreaking scenario is by putting the right plant in the right place — matching the plant to the site conditions. This encompasses far more than simply putting sunworshiping plants in your yard’s sunny spots. You also need to consider things like maintenance and water needs.

Know Your Zone!
The USDA and American Horticultural Society (AHS) describe plants in terms of the lowest and highest temperatures where they can be grown. To use this information, you need to know:
■ Your zones for heat tolerance and cold hardiness. Discover that information at these links:
For cold: http://www.usna.usda.gov/Hardzone/hzm-se1.html
For heat: http://www.ahs.org/publications/heat_zone_finder.htm
■ The zones for plants you want to grow. Unearth that information on plant tags, in reference books or on the EDIS website at edis.ifas.ufl.edu or the FYN website at fyn.ifas.ufl.edu. Match the plants you want to grow with your growing zones and you will improve your odds of gardening success.

Florida-friendly Landscaping

Raised bed vegetable gardening. This is a beautifully designed area that houses efficient low volume irrigation on a separate zone than the rest of the landscape beds. This concept allows the homeowner to water the vegetable garden more often without wasting water on the landscape beds which do not require as much water.

Introduction

The mission of the Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Program is to educate Floridians about science-based, environmentally friendly landscaping practices and to encourage them to conserve and protect our water resources by applying Florida-Friendly Lanscaping™ Principles in their landscapes.

A Florida-friendly yard doesn’t merely offer a beautiful landscape — it also becomes an asset to the environment, protecting natural resources and preserving Florida’s unique beauty. Recognizing that the home landscape is part of a larger natural system will help in creating a Florida-friendly yard.

The University of Florida’s Florida Yards & Neighborhoods (FYN) Program provides science-based education to the public on how to create a Florida-friendly yard. A properly maintained Florida-friendly yard can help homeowners conserve water and reduce pollution of water resources. The Florida-friendly approach to landscaping emphasizes nine interrelated principles.

We will explore each of the nine principles in upcoming posts. I am looking forward to helping you create a beautiful, Florida-friendly landscape!