Plant a Pollinator Garden.

September is National Pollinator Month so help out our hard working friends by establishing a pollinator garden. Pollinators need your help! There is increasing evidence that many pollinators are in decline.  However, there are some simple things you can do at home to encourage pollinator diversity and abundance.

Plant a Pollinator Garden. The most obvious need for pollinating species is a diversity of nectar and pollen sources.  Consider the following when choosing plants for your garden:

• Choose plants that flower at different times of the year to provide nectar and pollen sources throughout the growing season
• Plant in clumps, rather than single plants, to better attract pollinators
• Provide a variety of flower colors and shapes to attract different pollinators.  
• Whenever possible, choose native plants.  Native plants will attract more native pollinators and can serve as larval host plants for some species of pollinators. 

To create a design that will invite your favorite pollinators to your garden look at this chart.


Avoid or Limit Pesticide Use. Pesticides can kill more than the target pest. Some pesticide residues can kill pollinators for several days after the pesticide is applied. Pesticides can also kill natural predators, which can lead to even worse pest problems. Consider the following when managing pests in your garden:

• Try removing individual pests by hand if possible (wearing garden gloves)
• Encourage native predators with a diverse garden habitat
• Expect and accept a little bit of pest activity
• If you must use a pesticide, choose one that is the least toxic to non-pest species, does not persist on vegetation, and apply it in the evening when most pollinators are not as active. Read and follow label directions carefully.

Florida-Friendly Fence Plants

Click here and go to page 22

Looking for Florida-Friendly fence plants to create a screen?  Above is an excerpt from our Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Pattern Book.  The link shows a sample plan that offers variety creating a great screen and diversity in your yard.  The back of this book lists plant material that will thrive in Manatee County.  Attention needs to be paid to the light conditions, soil types and watering needs of each plant to match it to your site conditions.

Avoid the monoculture.  Planting a screen that consists of only one variety can cost you in the end.   Using one plant variety to create a hedge has been popular because it can provide even growth and a straight line
to guide pruning.  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.

Weekend Plans? Get Out and Enjoy our Wetlands

It is American Wetlands Month - Enjoy some this weekend!

Plant ID & Nature Tour - DeSoto Memorial/Riverview Preserve

May 14, 2011

Stroll through DeSoto National Memorial and Riverview Pointe Preserve with a Master Gardener volunteer to learn more about Florida's native plants and inhabitants of a coastal habitat.  This program is suitable for all ages. 

This tour is FREE and will take place from 9:00 - 11:00am.  Call the Master Gardeners at (941) 722-4524 to register.

Plant ID & Nature Tour - Robinson Preserve

May 15, 2011

Stroll through Robinson Preserve's salt marshes with a Master Gardener volunteer to learn more about Florida's native plants and inhabitants of a coastal habitat.  This program is suitable for all ages. 

This tour is FREE and will take place from 9:00 - 11:00am.  Call the Master Gardeners at (941) 722-4524 to register.

May is American Wetlands Month

Emerson Point

Identify your watershed and find the wetlands in your neighborhood. Learn more about them and share what you learn with someone you know! Encourage neighbors, developers, and state and local governments to protect the functions and values of wetlands in your watershed.

Although wetlands are best known for being home to water lilies, turtles, frogs, snakes, alligators, and crocodiles, they also provide important habitat for waterfowl, fish, and mammals. Migrating birds use wetlands to rest and feed during their cross-continental journeys and as nesting sites when they are at home. As a result, wetland loss has a serious impact on these species. Habitat degradation since the 1970s has been a leading cause of species extinction.

Wetland functions include water quality improvement, floodwater storage, fish and wildlife habitat, aesthetics, and biological productivity. The value of a wetland is an estimate of the importance or worth of one or more of its functions to society. For example, a value can be determined by the revenue generated from the sale of fish that depend on the wetland, by the tourist dollars associated with the wetland, or by public support for protecting fish and wildlife.

Visit http://wetlandextension.ifas.ufl.edu/ or  http://water.epa.gov/type/wetlands/outreach/facts_contents.cfm for more info.

Explore some of Manatee County wetlands at 
http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/recreation/areas/edwardchance-gilley.html
http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/recreation/areas/terraceia.html
http://www.mymanatee.org/home/government/departments/natural-resources/resource-management/preserves.html.        

Earth Day Count Down - Day 17

Choose Florida-Friendly!

Landscaping the Florida-Friendly way means using low maintenance plants and environmentally sustainable practices. Learn how you can have a beautiful landscape that could save you time, energy and money while protecting our future. Environmental protection begins in your yard. Visit http://manatee.ifas.ufl.edu/lawn_and_garden/ffl/index.shtml for more information.

Florida-Friendly Fertilizing

Sometimes Florida yards need fertilizer to help keep them healthy, but applying too much fertilizer, too often or at the wrong time can cause water pollution. 

Recent studies have shown that rising nitrate levels in many local water bodies can be traced to fertilizer. Nitrate is a form of nitrogen that is found in inorganic fertilizers. When fertilizer is needed and applied correctly, the lawn absorbs the nitrogen. However, fertilizers applied improperly can run off lawns and into local water bodies, harming water quality and threatening the plants and animals that depend on clean water for survival.

You can help protect water quality while having a beautiful lawn. Learn more with steps 1–5 or by ordering our free Do-It-Yourself Guide to Florida-Friendly Fertilizing. 

Fertilizer applications vary depending on grass species, your location in the state and your desired level of lawn care. For more detailed information, visit University of Florida/IFAS.

It's Time to Skip a Week!

During the winter months of December, January and February, your yard only needs about 3/4” of water every 10-14 days. So turn your irrigation timer off when you want to skip a week and turn it on the week you want to water.

Find out more at http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/conservation/irrigating/

Click here to view a short video on how to reset your irrigation timer.

New Florida-Friendly Resources

Great new publications for you to use in your Florida-Friendly Landscape™.  Check out:

Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Pattern Book - zone 9A
Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Pattern Book - zone 9B

Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Planting Selections & Landscape Guide

Mowing 101

Groundcovers can be an alternative to turfgrass and reduce maintenance in areas that are not heavily foot trafficked.  To find Florida-Friendly Groundcovers for Manatee County click here.

With our summer rains the turfgrass is growing which means you are mowing, if you have turfgrass.  There are some important things to consider before you start making laps with your mower.

1. Mowing height - this will be determined by the variety of your turfgrass.  Turfgrass undergoes physiological stress with each mowing event, particularly if too much leaf tissue is removed. Effects of “scalping,” or removal of too much shoot tissue at one time, can produce long-term damage to the turf. This can leave turf susceptible to other stresses such as insects, disease, drought, and sun scald. Mowing also greatly influences rooting depth, with development of a deeper root system in response to higher mowing heights. Advantages of the deeper root system are greater tolerances to drought, insects, disease, nematodes, temperature stress, poor soil conditions, nutrient deficiencies, and traffic. Mowing below the recommended heights for each species is a primary cause of turf death and should be avoided.
See the table 1 at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/lh028 to determine appropriate mowing height for your turf.
2. Clippings - On most lawns, grass clippings should be returned to help recycle nutrients to the soil. If the lawn is mowed frequently enough, clippings cause few problems. Although many people believe that clippings contribute to thatch, research has shown that clippings are readily decomposed by microbial action.
3. Mowing Equipment - keep the blade sharpened to prevent a ragged cut.  A ragged cut stresses turfgrass making it more susceptible to insects and disease.
4. Good Practices -

• Pick up all stones, sticks and other debris before mowing to avoid damaging the mower or injuring someone with flying objects.
• Never mow wet turf with a rotary mower because clippings can clog the machine. Mow only when the turf is dry.
• Sharpen the mower blade frequently enough to prevent a ragged appearance to the turf.
• Mow in a different direction every time the lawn is cut. This helps prevent wear patterns, reduces the grain (grass lying over in the same direction), and reduces the possibility of scalping.
• Do not remove clippings. If clumping occurs, distribute these by remowing or by lightly raking. A leaf blower can also be used to distribute clippings.
• Check your mower every time it is used. Follow manufacturer's recommendations for service and adjustments.
• Adjust cutting height by setting the mower on a driveway or sidewalk and using a ruler to measure the distance between the ground and the blade.
• Never fill a hot mower with gasoline.
• Always wear heavy leather shoes when mowing the lawn.
• Wash mower after use to reduce rusting and weed seed movement.

For more information visit http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/yourfloridalawn/ or visit the Master Gardener Plant Clinic at the Manatee County Extension Office.

Compost Facts - Compost Awareness Week

Yard trimmings and food residuals together constitute 24 percent of the U.S. municipal solid waste stream. That's a lot of waste to send to landfills when it could become useful and environmentally beneficial compost instead!

Register for a Compost Workshop at ManateeFYN.eventbrite.com The Earth Machine Compost Bin is sold at this workshop for $25 to Manatee County Residents.

Earth Day Count Down - Day 20

#20 Buy Local!
Local food production can be thought of in concentric circles that start with growing food at home. The next ring out might be food grown in our immediate community - then state, region, and country. Buying local goes for more than just food, buying local saves on transportation costs and has a positive impact on our carbon footprint. For more information visit http://www.manateeedc.com/Buy-Local.aspx or http://farmlink.org/ to find local food & farms.

Earth Day Count Down - Day 16

#16 Choose Florida-Friendly!
Landscaping the Florida-Friendly way means using low maintenance plants and environmentally sustainable practices. Learn how you can have a beautiful landscape that could save you time, energy and money while protecting our future. Environmental protection begins in your yard. Visit http://manatee.ifas.ufl.edu/lawn_and_garden/fyn/index.shtml for more information.

Compost Bins Are In!

The new style compost bin is now available to Manatee County Residents at The Manatee County Extension Office!  After taking one of our "Compost Happens" workshop you are eligible to purchase the Earth Machine Compost Bin for $25.00.

Upcoming Classes:

Saturday

April 17th 9am - 12pm
Rain Barrel & Compost


Thursday
May 20th 2pm - 4pm
Compost only


Saturday
June 12th 9am - 12pm
Rain Barrel & Compost

To register for an upcoming workshop go to manateefyn.eventbrite.com or call Linda at 941.722.4524

How to Help Your Lawn Survive the Chill

Certainly when we think of living in Florida, we do not generally think about losing our lawns to freezing temperatures. However, some homeowners in Florida may find themselves needing to replace portions of their lawns in the spring of 2010 due to the freezing temperatures! Here are some tips about how to prevent or reduce winterkill by preparing your lawn for the winter months and how to let your lawn recover from the big chill with minimal damage.

Preparing Your Lawn for Winter
All of our warm season lawngrass species go into some degree of “dormancy” during the winter months. This means that they slow their growth down and may or may not stay green. This is a natural cycle, regardless of where you live in the state. In north and even central Florida, lawn may stay green or may turn brown, either of which can be normal. Even in south Florida, lawns do not grow as quickly (less mowing required!) in the winter, even though they may remain green. Regardless of where you are in the state, you should work to keep your lawn as healthy as possible through your mowing, irrigating, and fertilizing practices. For more information on how to properly manage your lawn, please refer to EDIS publication ENH979, Homeowner Best Management Practices for the Home Lawn (http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep236).

Lawns in south Florida are typically fertilized year-round with no problems. However, central and north Florida lawns should not be fertilized after mid to late September. The last fertilization should be done with a fertilizer high in potassium (the 3rd number on the bag) relative to nitrogen (the first number on the bag), such as 15-0-15 or something with equal or higher potassium to nitrogen. This helps to impart some stress tolerance to cold or freezing temperatures and may enhance spring greenup. In central Florida, do not fertilize lawns between October and the end of March. In north Florida, avoid fertilizing from mid-September through mid-April. Keep mowing height high year-round (3.5 to 4” for most St. Augustinegrass cultivars and bahiagrass and 2 to 2.5” for centipedegrass and coarse-textured zoysiagrass lawns) for additional enhanced stress tolerance.

Coming Out of the Freeze
Freezing temperatures will turn lawns brown. Do not panic, this is a normal part of winter dormancy. When the days become longer and temperatures start to warm up in the spring, the growing points will become active, bringing green growth to the lawn again. Do not fertilize your lawn in the winter to try to green it up after a freeze – wait for the natural cycle of events to occur in the springtime. Fertilizing after a freeze will do more harm to your lawn than waiting for spring greenup. Do not apply a weed and feed product for preemergence weed control during the winter in central and north Florida. Lawns generally do not require as much irrigation during winter months, so scale back your irrigation systems. In central Florida, you may need to irrigate weekly or every other week, while in north Florida, it may be every 3 to 4 weeks. You will not need to mow for some time; when you do need to mow again, be sure to cut at the highest recommended height for your grass type. Do not scalp the lawn, as this makes it less able torecover from freeze damage.

How can you tell if your grass has truly succumbed to a winter freeze or if it is only dormant?
One way is to cut small plugs of the grass (with roots and shoots attached) and plant them in a pot, put it in a warm spot with natural sunlight and see if the grass regrows. If your lawn does not recover come springtime, remove the decayed vegetation from the affected areas and replace with either sod pieces or plugs. Do this before weeds have a chance to germinate and take hold of the ground. It is possible that not all of your lawn will be affected, perhaps just those areas that are most exposed to the cold temperatures. Following these tips will help your lawn survive freezing temperatures. For more lawn care tips, go to  http://www.yourfloridalawn.ifas.ufl.edu/.

This information was prepared by L.E. Trenholm, Associate Professor, Environmental Horticulture and
J.B. Unruh, Associate Professor, West Florida Research and Education Center

Florida Friendly at the Fair

Come out to the Manatee County Fair to learn more about Fabulous Florida-Friendly Landscaping. Mini presentations will be given on January 15th @3:00pm and January 18th @6:00pm. Stop by the Horticultural Learning Center (HLC) for presentations daily at 3:00pm and 6:00pm. The HLC is open during fair hours, come wander through the displays which include the Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Doll House demonstration.

The New FYN Handbook is Here

The new Florida Yards & Neighborhoods Handbook is now available online. If you would like a printed copy please visit your local extension office.

Discover all 9 Principles of the FYN program and utilize them in your yard to create a Florida-Friendly Landscape.
1. Right Plant, Right Place
2. Water Efficiently
3. Fertilize Appropriately
4. Mulch
5. Attract Wildlife
6. Manage Yard Pests Responsibly
7. Recycle Yard Waste
8. Reduce Stormwater Runoff
9. Protect the Waterfront

For more information please contact Michelleatkinson@ufl.edu or call the Manatee County Extension office at 941-722-4524.

Florida-Friendly Holiday Tips

While holiday shopping and decorating this year keep the enviroment in mind. Look for things that do not have harmful impacts on our ecosystems.

These ornaments hold air plants to keep a little green indoors.

Using items found in your landscape can give a fresh look. When the season is over simply compost your displays.

Looking for a hostess, teacher or co-worker gift. These southern magnolias are a great option.

For your family and friends rain barrels, compost bins, bird feeders, bird bath or house, garden bench and trellises are gifts that are enjoyed all year.


Gift projects that can be done with kids; paint a rain barrel, make stepping stones with hand prints and/or glass pebbles, make a bird feeder or house, make a wind chime.

Have a Fabulous Florida-Friendly Holiday!

Adopting a Florida-Friendly Landscape

Adopting a Florida-Friendly Landscape: Steps for Converting a Typical Development Landscape to a Florida-Friendly Landscape

Florida homeowners have many reasons to consider converting their existing residential landscape to a Florida-Friendly Landscape. Most importantly, a Florida-Friendly yard is an environmentally sound yard that conserves and protects Florida's waterways, soil, wildlife, and energy. Using the right plants in the right place can filter harmful stormwater runoff, improve the landscape's soil, provide wildlife habitat, and create shade for energy efficiency in the home. Landscaping also adds beauty and creates pleasant outdoor living spaces to increase the value of residential property.

For more information visit http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/EP396 or contact Michelle Atkinson at michelleatkisnon@ufl.edu or 941-722-4524

Did you know that half of all potable (drinking) water in Florida is used for irrigation?

Did you know that half of all potable (drinking) water in Florida is used for outdoor irrigation? You can cut outdoor water use substantially by installing water-conserving plants and applying Florida-friendly landscaping principles in your outdoor spaces. Florida-friendly landscaping conserves water and protects the environment through the use of native and drought-tolerant landscaping, with proper maintenance and water-wise irrigation. Follow the nine principles of Florida-friendly landscaping, and you’ll be well on your way to saving water and enjoying your beautiful Florida yard!

Florida-friendly landscaping is vibrant, alive and colorful. Many lush and tropical-looking plants are among the list of native or drought-tolerant plants appropriate for Florida’s unique climate. They will add to the beauty of your landscape while conserving water. Consult your nursery professional for information on which of these plants are appropriate for our region.

Florida-friendly landscaping saves time, money, water and our environment!

Model Language for Community Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions can be found at http://www.dep.state.fl.us/water/nonpoint/docs/nonpoint/ffl-mo-ccr-1-09.pdf

Managing Landscapes using Reclaimed Water

Reclaimed water from a water treatment facility can hold high salt levels. To help reclaimed water recipients manage their landscape, here is a list of common landscape plants grouped by their chloride salt tolerance level. When referring to the plant list, please note the list is intended as a general guide and the chloride salt tolerance level for many landscape plants has not been documented. A more comprehensive listing of Florida-friendly plants that includes information on salt tolerances is located in the Florida-friendly plant listing developed by the University of Florida or at www.FloridaYards.org. For other specific lawn and gardening information, contact a Master Gardener at the Manatee County Extension Office by calling 941-722-4524.

Landscapes irrigated with reclaimed water should be monitored to determine what, if any, modifications to fertilizer and irrigation practices may be needed. While the reclaimed water treatment process retains usable levels of nitrogen and phosphorus that work as fertilizer, micro-nutrient corrections may be necessary for some acid-loving plants. Reclaimed water also contains higher levels of chloride salts than potable (drinking) water. These salt levels vary due to the time of year, time of day and other factors.

Leaf burn and wilting, commonly mistaken for leaf damage associated with chloride salts in reclaimed water, are also well-known indications of over watering. Allowing water to pool on foliage in direct sunlight, regardless of the water source (rain water, potable water or reclaimed water), may also cause foliage to yellow.

Poor drainage and pooling water may also allow accumulation of salts in the soil. Adjust slopes, eliminate compacted soil and amend soil structure to help improve landscape drainage problems. If leaf yellowing occurs, sprinkler heads may need to be adjusted so the spray pattern avoids direct contact with plant foliage. If leaf yellowing persists, it may be necessary to use drip irrigation to water the more sensitive plant varieties.