There are a few important steps in attracting wildlife to a garden. The first step is to reduce the amount of lawn grass in your yard. The second step is to have a constant, clean water source such as a bird bath or fountain. Next, consider layering your plants so you have some ground cover, then perennials followed by shrubs and finishing with trees. Birds and butterflies need places to hide from predators and often seek shelter under leaves and tree limbs. Think about providing plants with leaves for the caterpillars to eat such as milkweed, parsley, dill and/or citrus. Have plenty of flowers for nectar and pollen. Wildflowers, such as thistle, might also be incorporated which attract finches and other small birds. READ MORE FROM NASSAU COUNTY, FLORIDA HORTICULTURAL AGENT, REBECCA JORDI...
How To Plant a Florida Bird & Butterfly Garden
From Florida Gators to Gardenias
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Elephant Ears, Lawn Bees, Growing Beans
Florida Lawn Watering Restrictions
Residents in the St. Johns River Water Management District in Florida are limited to watering landscapes twice a week (and never water during the day between 10 am and 4 pm). You may be able to shave some dollars off your water/sewer bills, if you comply with the regulations and set sprinkler systems accordingly. Your watering days depend on whether your home has an even or odd-numbered address. The water management district is large, and stretches from Fernandina Beach, Florida in the northeast, down the coast to Vero Beach, and as far west as Gainesville. READ MORE...
New Florida Law Bans Certain Lawn Fertilizers
St. Augustine Sodded Lawn, Florida
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No Green Thumb? WANTED: Pitiful Plants. Nassau County Plant Clinics
The Nassau County Extension wil be starting their helpful, free plant clinics February 2, 2009 (which run from 10 am to 2pm). Residents are invited to bring tired, diseased and pitiful-looking plants any time during the session to the Extension satellite office in Yulee. Please be sure to place the sick plant specimens in a plastic bag to prevent spreading any potential diseases. Also, with a freeze coming, it's time to think about protecting those tropical plants you've nutured all year...READ GARDENING TIPS AND GET 2009 SCHEDULE OF PLANT CLINICS...
Plumbago Tips, Winter Lawn Care in Northeast Florida
Winter lawn care tips for northeast Florida: Allow your lawn to go dormant from October through February here in the northeast part of Florida. Cut back on watering lawn during the cooler months to once every 10-14 days. Do not be tempted to keep the same watering schedule as during the growing spring and summer months because this can contribute to disease issues. Also read tips about caring for plumbago -- the lovely periwinkle blue, flowering shrub seen in gardens around the Amelia Island area. READ MORE FROM HORTICULTURE AGENT, REBECCA JORDI....
