Florida Master Gardener Volunteer Program
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Research-based info on caring for plants and landscapes in a Florida-Friendly way. From the University of Florida's IFAS Extension.
Take a break from the holiday bustle and enjoy the December issue of the Neighborhood Gardener! We've got suggestions for a fragrance garden, sentimental passalong plants, a wreath-making tutorial and more. Grab a mug of something festive and read the full issue at our website: buff.ly/DqbLKs1
December 12, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Take a break from the holiday bustle and enjoy the December issue of the Neighborhood Gardener! We've got suggestions for a fragrance garden, sentimental passalong plants, a wreath-making tutorial and more. Grab a mug of something festive and read the full issue at our website: buff.ly/DqbLKs1
Even Florida experiences freezing temperatures (well, parts of it). There are many things you can do -- and avoid -- to make sure your plants last through the winter. More tips on preparing the landscape for cold weather at UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions: buff.ly/1qFe104
December 11, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Even Florida experiences freezing temperatures (well, parts of it). There are many things you can do -- and avoid -- to make sure your plants last through the winter. More tips on preparing the landscape for cold weather at UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions: buff.ly/1qFe104
Starting a new garden? Or maybe your plants aren't thriving? Soil testing is the most effective way to determine the nutrient status and pH of the soil in a home landscape or vegetable garden. If you're interested in a soil test, start by reading this helpful UF/IFAS publication: buff.ly/bE10Odj
December 10, 2025 at 2:03 PM
Starting a new garden? Or maybe your plants aren't thriving? Soil testing is the most effective way to determine the nutrient status and pH of the soil in a home landscape or vegetable garden. If you're interested in a soil test, start by reading this helpful UF/IFAS publication: buff.ly/bE10Odj
The celebration of year-round Florida gardening continues! Add some color to your winter landscape with cool-season annual flowers. Most winter annuals will perform well until warm weather arrives in April or May. More winter annuals at UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions: buff.ly/lkynYQJ
December 9, 2025 at 6:01 PM
The celebration of year-round Florida gardening continues! Add some color to your winter landscape with cool-season annual flowers. Most winter annuals will perform well until warm weather arrives in April or May. More winter annuals at UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions: buff.ly/lkynYQJ
Deck the halls with boughs of magnolia! Watch as MGV statewide coordinator Wendy Wilber takes you through a step-by-step guide to creating a wreath using foliage from the Florida native. Full video on our Gardening Solutions YouTube channel: buff.ly/beIsu5P
December 9, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Deck the halls with boughs of magnolia! Watch as MGV statewide coordinator Wendy Wilber takes you through a step-by-step guide to creating a wreath using foliage from the Florida native. Full video on our Gardening Solutions YouTube channel: buff.ly/beIsu5P
Plants are a gift that can be enjoyed long after the holidays. Potted Norfolk Island pines and rosemary can be given as a mini trees. Amaryllis and Christmas cactus would make festive flowers. And of course, poinsettias! More at UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions: buff.ly/VRQxJWP
December 8, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Plants are a gift that can be enjoyed long after the holidays. Potted Norfolk Island pines and rosemary can be given as a mini trees. Amaryllis and Christmas cactus would make festive flowers. And of course, poinsettias! More at UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions: buff.ly/VRQxJWP
For World Soil Day, we look at Florida's peatlands. "Peat" might bring to mind a bog in England, but the Everglades are a tropical peatland! This rich soil is the reason crops like sugarcane can grow in sandy Florida. Learn about Histosols (the scientific term): buff.ly/K0z4t1k
December 5, 2025 at 2:02 PM
For World Soil Day, we look at Florida's peatlands. "Peat" might bring to mind a bog in England, but the Everglades are a tropical peatland! This rich soil is the reason crops like sugarcane can grow in sandy Florida. Learn about Histosols (the scientific term): buff.ly/K0z4t1k
Speaking of cool-season veggies, kale is typically ready to harvest in December. Leaves can be picked individually as they become ready to use. Harvest the lower leaves, but no more than one-third of the plant at one time. More about kale at UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions: buff.ly/xBPJw0E
December 4, 2025 at 2:04 PM
Speaking of cool-season veggies, kale is typically ready to harvest in December. Leaves can be picked individually as they become ready to use. Harvest the lower leaves, but no more than one-third of the plant at one time. More about kale at UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions: buff.ly/xBPJw0E
One of the pleasures of Florida gardening is that we can plant all year long. Now is a great time to plant cool-season vegetables like broccoli, Brussels sprouts and more. Contact your county UF/IFAS Extension office to learn about varieties that are best for your part of Florida: buff.ly/PSAKOJP
December 3, 2025 at 2:01 PM
One of the pleasures of Florida gardening is that we can plant all year long. Now is a great time to plant cool-season vegetables like broccoli, Brussels sprouts and more. Contact your county UF/IFAS Extension office to learn about varieties that are best for your part of Florida: buff.ly/PSAKOJP
‘Tis the season for giving back. We suggest planting some December flowers for pollinators and other local wildlife. For the printable and text versions of this infographic, please visit UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions. buff.ly/c6Y3QqG
December 1, 2025 at 2:03 PM
‘Tis the season for giving back. We suggest planting some December flowers for pollinators and other local wildlife. For the printable and text versions of this infographic, please visit UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions. buff.ly/c6Y3QqG
We're lucky in Florida to have many vegetables and fruits to plant in December. And getting outside might give you the time to reflect on this past year and look forward to a new one. For text and printable versions of this infographic, visit UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions. buff.ly/qNftYyF
November 28, 2025 at 2:01 PM
We're lucky in Florida to have many vegetables and fruits to plant in December. And getting outside might give you the time to reflect on this past year and look forward to a new one. For text and printable versions of this infographic, visit UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions. buff.ly/qNftYyF
Lettuce be thankful and turnip the gratitude ! We appreciate your engagement with UF/IFAS and the Florida Master Gardener Volunteer program. Happy Thanksgiving!
November 27, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Lettuce be thankful and turnip the gratitude ! We appreciate your engagement with UF/IFAS and the Florida Master Gardener Volunteer program. Happy Thanksgiving!
Do you want to:
Stay informed on Florida gardening?
Get inspired?
Learn something new?
Sign up for our monthly e-newsletter, the Neighborhood Gardener! This is our way of serving the community, by providing Florida residents with science-based content on gardening-related topics. buff.ly/2IzkHae
Stay informed on Florida gardening?
Get inspired?
Learn something new?
Sign up for our monthly e-newsletter, the Neighborhood Gardener! This is our way of serving the community, by providing Florida residents with science-based content on gardening-related topics. buff.ly/2IzkHae
November 26, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Do you want to:
Stay informed on Florida gardening?
Get inspired?
Learn something new?
Sign up for our monthly e-newsletter, the Neighborhood Gardener! This is our way of serving the community, by providing Florida residents with science-based content on gardening-related topics. buff.ly/2IzkHae
Stay informed on Florida gardening?
Get inspired?
Learn something new?
Sign up for our monthly e-newsletter, the Neighborhood Gardener! This is our way of serving the community, by providing Florida residents with science-based content on gardening-related topics. buff.ly/2IzkHae
Not only do Florida gardeners have to deal with invasive plants, we have animal invaders as well. In fact, more species of reptiles and amphibians have invaded Florida than anywhere else worldwide. Learn about some of these invasive animals at UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions: buff.ly/OlJyXbJ
November 24, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Not only do Florida gardeners have to deal with invasive plants, we have animal invaders as well. In fact, more species of reptiles and amphibians have invaded Florida than anywhere else worldwide. Learn about some of these invasive animals at UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions: buff.ly/OlJyXbJ
Ever noticed a tree or shrub that is wilting or brown, seemingly overnight? Armillaria root rot, also called mushroom root rot, feeds on roots, causing the plant to weaken and even die. More about the symptoms and management of this fungus at UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions: buff.ly/p9xfuo9
November 21, 2025 at 2:03 PM
Ever noticed a tree or shrub that is wilting or brown, seemingly overnight? Armillaria root rot, also called mushroom root rot, feeds on roots, causing the plant to weaken and even die. More about the symptoms and management of this fungus at UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions: buff.ly/p9xfuo9
Mulching is an essential part of the Florida-Friendly landscape ; it not only looks nice, it also keeps plants and soil healthy. There are several types of mulch to try, from pine straw to fallen leaves. More on choosing and using mulch on UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions: buff.ly/CDRyv3k
November 20, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Mulching is an essential part of the Florida-Friendly landscape ; it not only looks nice, it also keeps plants and soil healthy. There are several types of mulch to try, from pine straw to fallen leaves. More on choosing and using mulch on UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions: buff.ly/CDRyv3k
You probably know that trees provide shade for your home, but did you know they also cool air temperatures, filter water and increase property values? Trees provide many ecosystem services that save money and even improve wellbeing. Learn more at UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions: buff.ly/TQ4f1vh
November 19, 2025 at 2:02 PM
You probably know that trees provide shade for your home, but did you know they also cool air temperatures, filter water and increase property values? Trees provide many ecosystem services that save money and even improve wellbeing. Learn more at UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions: buff.ly/TQ4f1vh
There’s a lot of terminology out there when discussing water quality. This new UF/IFAS publication explains “concentrations” and “loads,” what they are, and why we should care: edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/...
SL532/SS747: Water Quality Notes: What are concentrations and loads, and why do they matter?
Water quality is a broad term used to describe a range of physical, chemical, and/or biological characteristics of water. Many different factors contribute to water quality. The decision of whether th...
edis.ifas.ufl.edu
November 17, 2025 at 7:16 PM
There’s a lot of terminology out there when discussing water quality. This new UF/IFAS publication explains “concentrations” and “loads,” what they are, and why we should care: edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/...
Shumard oak is a native tree ideal for urban landscapes. It tolerates drought, compacted soils, air pollution and poor drainage. And after providing shade in the summer, its leaves turn a burnished reddish-orange in fall. More on Shumard oak at UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions: buff.ly/tgWwvPk
November 17, 2025 at 2:06 PM
Shumard oak is a native tree ideal for urban landscapes. It tolerates drought, compacted soils, air pollution and poor drainage. And after providing shade in the summer, its leaves turn a burnished reddish-orange in fall. More on Shumard oak at UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions: buff.ly/tgWwvPk
In this gratitude-filled issue of the Neighborhood Gardener, we extol the virtues of trees (including providing refuge for wildlife), frolic in the fall foliage of Shumard oaks and remember that plants connect us, even across oceans. November's newsletter at our website: buff.ly/H0hwtIZ
November 14, 2025 at 2:01 PM
In this gratitude-filled issue of the Neighborhood Gardener, we extol the virtues of trees (including providing refuge for wildlife), frolic in the fall foliage of Shumard oaks and remember that plants connect us, even across oceans. November's newsletter at our website: buff.ly/H0hwtIZ
It's time to winterize the water garden. Avoid cleaning ponds until spring; this allows frogs and snails to burrow in the organic matter and maintains bacterial cycles. You can also feed your fish less frequently in the winter. More on pond care at UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions: buff.ly/fpMzgk2
November 13, 2025 at 2:02 PM
It's time to winterize the water garden. Avoid cleaning ponds until spring; this allows frogs and snails to burrow in the organic matter and maintains bacterial cycles. You can also feed your fish less frequently in the winter. More on pond care at UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions: buff.ly/fpMzgk2
Terrariums bring gardening indoors and and making one is fun project to do with kids! Small, slow-growing plants are best. Decorate with rocks or driftwood. Ta-da! This Ask IFAS publication will show you how, step by step: buff.ly/tfOwol5
November 12, 2025 at 2:04 PM
Terrariums bring gardening indoors and and making one is fun project to do with kids! Small, slow-growing plants are best. Decorate with rocks or driftwood. Ta-da! This Ask IFAS publication will show you how, step by step: buff.ly/tfOwol5
Today we honor all who have served. Thank you, veterans, for your courage and dedication to our country.
November 11, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Today we honor all who have served. Thank you, veterans, for your courage and dedication to our country.
If you are in an area predicted to reach freezing temperatures, don't forget to protect your plants! Remember, ghosts not lollipops: use a cloth to cover the plant all the way down to the soil. buff.ly/ZGWQSCG
November 10, 2025 at 11:00 PM
If you are in an area predicted to reach freezing temperatures, don't forget to protect your plants! Remember, ghosts not lollipops: use a cloth to cover the plant all the way down to the soil. buff.ly/ZGWQSCG
Asteraceae is an enormous family of plants, including asters. Of the 400+ species of asters found in Florida, 41 of them are *only* found here! We've shared a few asters, but visit UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions to learn of a few more surprising members of the family: buff.ly/AttADOm
November 10, 2025 at 2:04 PM
Asteraceae is an enormous family of plants, including asters. Of the 400+ species of asters found in Florida, 41 of them are *only* found here! We've shared a few asters, but visit UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions to learn of a few more surprising members of the family: buff.ly/AttADOm