Have You Heard of Chinch Bugs?

If you live in Florida, chances are you've heard of chinch bugs--small insects that can cause serious problems in St. Augustinegrass lawns in the spring and summer months. New University of Florida research shows that using excess amounts of fertilizer on your lawn can trigger a chinch bug population explosion. UF/IFAS can help you to keep the chinch bug damage in check by providing you tips for identification, preventive maintenance, and removal techniques. Read more about chinch bugs and fertilizers. For identification and removal help with chinch bugs, read Southern Chinch Bug Management on St. Augustinegrass. For other lawn problems, check out Your Florida Lawn.

Avoid planting grass in areas that are too shady, too dry or wet, or too steep to be mowed safely. Use a ground cover and other plants better suited to these areas. If you are looking to reduce your landscape maintenance and/or conserve water in your landscape you might want to replace some of your turf areas with ground covers or landscape beds.

Want to learn more? Attend:

Smart Landscape - Planning and Care on Sept. 16th from 6:00pm-8:30pm. or

Magnificent Maintenance on Oct. 22nd from 6:00pm - 8:00pm.

Both courses will be offered athe the Manatee County Extension Office located at 1303 17th St W Palmtto. Register at http://manatee.ifas.ufl.edu or call 941-742-5986.

For more information please contact Michelle Atkinson, Florida Yards & Neighborhoods Coordinator at michelleatkinson@ufl.edu.

Florida Friendly Landscaping Presentations

Check out these great new presentations:

The Nine Principles of a Florida Friendly Landscape

How to Use the Florida Friendly Plant List

This new web site is awesome, spend some time and search around:

Florida Friendly Living

Manatee Upcoming Events

Help us fill our chairs!
Taking the Mystery Out of Micro-Irrigation.
August 15th 11:30am - 12:45pm
August 26th 9:00am - 11:00am
Home Composting Workshop $10
August 21st 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Dazzling Designs
August 27th 6:00pm - 8:00pm

**October 3rd** Blooming Success! Best Plants in Town! - Annual Master Gardener Plant Fair.

Beware of the Monoculture Hedge

Many of us like the look and/or privacy a hedge can provide. In planning your hedge it is important to choose a variety of plants to accomplish the job.

Using one variety of shrub to make a wall or screen is a monoculture hedge.

A monoculture hedge does have a few problems. What if an insect or disease strikes your hedge? All of your shrubs could be lost or you could end up with random large dead holes.

A better alternative is to plant a hedge using a variety of large and small shrubs and trees. Generally, something that requires screening will need it the year round, so evergreens naturally predominate in any list of screening plants. But don’t be afraid to add a deciduous plant. A few deciduous plants can provide wonderful color.

When choosing plants for screening, check the available space carefully and know the mature height and width of the plant. Be sure that the plants you choose will fit in the allotted space without an undue amount of maintenance. If you have to frequently prune your plants to keep them in check, it’s more than likely you used the wrong plant for that location. Also, when mixing several different types of plants, be sure to choose ones with similar growth and water requirements.
The choice of plants for a screen is practically unlimited. Flowering shrubs can be used effectively. For something a little unusual, add a fruiting plant to your hedge. For a change in texture, consider adding ornamental grasses. Don’t forget our native plants. A Florida Friendly Landscape attracts wildlife - this is a great opportunity to supply food and shelter.

For help with plant selection visit the Plant Database at http://www.floridayards.org/ or consult the UF Florida Friendly Plant List at fyn.ifas.ufl.edu/materials/list.pdf. If you would like more information about the Florida-Friendly Landscape recognition program please visit manatee.ifas.ufl.edu and browse the FYN Program or call Michelle Atkinson at 941-722-4524