New Bulletin - Build a Hydroponic "Column Pot" to grow veggies

HS1186 Solutions for Small Farmers and Home Gardens: Building a Low-Cost Vertical Soilless System for Production of Small Vegetable and Fruit Crops
HS1186, a 5-page illustrated fact sheet by Bielinski M. Santos, Teresa P. Salame-Donoso, and Shawn C. Arango, provides written and graphic instructions on how to build a homemade vertical soilless (hydroponic) growing system (also known as “bottle grow”) to produce vegetables and small fruit crops at a fraction of the cost of commercially available systems, without occupying premium agricultural land and by utilizing materials available in the home and local hardware store. Published by the UF Department of Horticultural Sciences, November 2010.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/HS/HS118600.pdf

Call for Applications: Fiskars’ Project Orange Thumb® Garden Grants and Makeovers
This year grant applicants may also apply for a Project Orange Thumb makeover
MADISON, Wis. (Nov. 2, 2010) – Fiskars, a leader in the lawn and garden industry, is happy to announce that its application process for 2011 Project Orange Thumb garden grants and makeovers in the U.S. and Canada is now open at www.fiskars.com/projectorangethumb. Applications must be received no later than December 31, 2010.

Fiskars’ Project Orange Thumb provides tools, materials and other support to help communities reach their goals for neighborhood beautification, community collaboration and healthy, sustainable food sources. Fiskars believes in contributing to the growing community garden effort, and since 2002, has provided over $1 million to 115 community groups and completed nine garden makeovers in the U.S. and Canada.

Historically, the locations of Fiskars’ garden makeovers have been selected separately from the grant process. This year, Fiskars is giving groups the chance to apply for a garden makeover in their area.

Fiskars will choose 11 recipients from the pool of grant applicants — 10 will receive $5,000 in cash and tools, and one lucky applicant will receive a complete garden makeover. With Fiskars tools, hundreds of vegetables and colorful perennials, Fiskars works with neighbors, business leaders, volunteers and community partners to transform a barren lot into a beautiful, productive community gathering space – all in a single day. Other garden makeovers for 2011 will include Fiskars’ hometown of Madison, Wisconsin and Montreal, Canada.

This year, when applying for a Project Orange Thumb grant, simply indicate whether you would like to be considered for a garden makeover. Please note that everyone who applies will be considered for a grant, but only those that specify they are interested and meet Fiskars’ criteria will be considered for a garden makeover.

Important Dates:
• Applications open: November 1, 2010
• Applications submission deadline: December 31, 2010
• Announcement of 2011 grant and garden makeover recipients: February 11, 2011
• Garden makeovers: May–July, 2011
Apply today for a Fiskars’ Project Orange Thumb garden grant and makeover at www.fiskars.com/projectorangethumb.

ABOUT FISKARS
Fiskars, the World’s #1 Scissors Brand™, is a leading global supplier of consumer products for the home, garden and outdoors. The group has a strong portfolio of trusted international brands including: Iittala, Gerber, Silva and Buster. Founded in 1649, Fiskars has over 360 years of product quality excellence and is Finland’s oldest company. www.fiskars.com



For more information:
Janelle Schwartz
608-294-4643
janelle.schwartz@fiskars.com

Great news, the new The Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Guide to Plant Selection & Landscape Design is now available on line. The Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Guide to Plant Selection and Landscape Design is intended as a companion to The Florida Yards & Neighborhoods Handbook. This guide will help you if you want to design your own Florida-Friendly Landscape. This guide has information on landscape design strategies, tips on how to solve landscaping design problems, and the new plant list that contains many of the UF/IFAS-recommended Florida-Friendly plants for each region of the state. The landscape design portion includes unique visual representations of transformed landscapes. Check out this website for even more information on Florida-Friendly Landscaping where you can find The Florida Yards & Neighborhoods Handbook.

Our last rain lasted a long time and the rain came down hard (not that we weren't all happy to get some rain.) When the rain comes down that hard and the ground is just bare dirt there is a lot of erosion that occurs. A great plant to use to hold the soil (no matter if there is a slope or not) is sunshine mimosa, Mimosa stigillosa. This native plant makes a great turf alternative, grows well in full sun and can also be mowed and edged!

If you are looking for a great groundcover that will stay low, attract butterflies and is native then you will want to plant some blue porterweed, Stachytarpheta jamaicensis. The groundcover can grow up to two feet in diameter, so give it room to spread. It's also a great nectar plant for butterflies!

Invasive Exotic - Beware!

The state already knows that the Mexican petunia (Ruellia brittoniana) is an invasive exotic yet it is still for sale in our garden centers. Though it is a tough plant (which is part of the problem) that produces attractive purple flowers - beware because it will spread all over your yard and it won't stop there! If you want a purple blooming plant check out the Tibouchina genus. They also have gorgeous purple blooms and the plants are well behaved and only grow where you plant them!

August Classes on Edible Landscaping Topics

I have some upcoming classes in the next two weeks and realized why not post them here! Here is a listing of the classes (they all cost $5)that I have scheduled for August.
Tues the 17th Cocoa Beach Library on Growing Herbs from 10-11 a.m.
Tues the 17th Central Brevard Library in Cocoa on Vegetable Gardening from 2-3 p.m.
Wed. the 18th W. Melbourne Library on Growing Herbs from 2-3 p.m.
Thur. the 19th Suntree/Viera Library on Grow Your Own Fruit from 2-3 p.m.
Mon. the 23rd Mims/Scottsmoor Library on Grow Your Own Fruit from 2-3 p.m.
Tues. the 24th Satellite Beach Library on Vegetable Gardening from 2-3 p.m.
To register just go to http://brevard.ifas.ufl.edu/ and scroll down to the Class Registration link and click there to fill out the form. Hope to see you there!

Tree roots cut for Sidewalk repair

Large trees planted close to sidewalks usually result in the heaving and buckling of sidewalks. The recommendation for large growing trees is to plant them at least 12 feet away from driveways, sidewalks and roads. As you can see from these pictures, these two oaks were planted way too close to the sidewalk. Tragically, when the sidewalk was repaired they cut some of the large, woody roots that hold this tree upright in a storm. Hopefully, these trees are protected from high winds coming from the west, otherwise this house may get damaged!

UF Plant Propagation class offered in Ft. Pierce

A Plant Propagation course is being offered at the University of Florida Indian River Research and Education Center in Fort Pierce where you will learn how to produce plants from seed or cutting, how to graft gardenias and many other techniques in plant propagation.

The course, which will be from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. beginning Aug. 25, will be taught by Sandy Wilson, who holds a Ph.D. and is an expert in propagation of native and non-native plants.

Wilson said the course will meet once a week until mid-December and will include lecture and laboratory work. The course is being offered to degree and non-degree-seeking students.

To enroll, contact Student Support Services Coordinator Jackie White at (772) 468-3922, ext. 148,or by e-mail at jkwhite@ufl.edu. The course content and syllabus can be viewed at http://irrecenvhort.ifas.ufl.edu.

Squirrels gnawed branches

It was evident that at the base of all of the branches that had died that the bark had been gnawed off by squirrels as you can see in this photo. While I was looking up at the second tree I even caught a squirrel peering down at me. I saw a lot of chewing damage throughout the tree so these oaks have to put up with a lot of abuse from these squirrels. Since this discovery, I have noticed other trees with dead branches throughout the canopy so I figure our squirrel population is doing well.

Tree branches dying

I recently received a call about oak trees on Merritt Island dying. I was given two locations so as I was out and about I stopped by to see what was going on. At both locations I saw the same thing and that was branches that had died out here and there throughout the canopy. These were older trees and the branches that had died were way up in the canopy so I couldn't see anything from the ground. Luckily, I had my binoculars in my car so I got them out and started looking at the branches that had died and I discovered the problem - squirrels! See the next post for another picture and explination.

Ladybug Larvae Eating Aphids!

This is Mutual of Omaha in action (on a quieter scale that is) and I got it on film. My fennel plant has been overrun with aphids (I'm blaming the drought) and I was waiting for the good guys to show up and they have arrived. These are larvae from the genus Scymnus and at first glance you may think they are mealybugs but they aren't! In Florida, adults and larvae of only 13 species feed primarily on aphids, compared to 75 species that feed on scale insects. There are noticable differences between these two groups as pointed out be Dixon (2000). The aphid eaters develop quicker, age faster, move faster, are generally larger and lay their eggs in clusters. Those that feed on scale generally develop more slowly, live longer, are slower moving, typically smaller in size and lay their eggs singly. If you are interested in insects check out our Featured Creature site (the link is in the right hand column of this blog under Useful UF Websites)

Fringetree full of fruit

This native fringetree is full of ripe berries for some lucky bird or two. This is one of my favorite native trees because it not only attracts wildlife but it also is small growing, deciduous and produces attractive white flowers in the spring. Because it is small, every yard has room for one!

New Bulletins from the University of Florida Specialists

ENH1151/EP412 Rainlily, Zephyran-thes and Habranthus spp.: Low Main-tenance Flowering Bulbs for Florida Gardens
A 12-page illustrated fact sheet describes these small flowing bulbs that flower within a few days after a rainfall — where to plant them, how to care for them, how to propagate them, and common species and selections. Includes references. No-vember 2009.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep412
ENH1156/EP416 Right Plant, Right Place: The Art and Science of Land-scape Design: Plant Selection and Siting
A fact sheet that provides an overview of functional, aesthetic, and environmental requirements to consider in selecting and placement of plants in the landscape. February 2010.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep416
ENH1155/EP415 Natural Area Weeds: Mexican Petunia (Ruellia tweediana)
An illustrated fact sheet, describes this herbaceous perennial that is popular with consumers, landscapers, and growers — Iits preferred habitat, dispersal, hybridiza-tion, cultivars, invasive status and distri-bution in natural areas, IFAS Assess-ment, and control. December 2009.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep415
ENH03/LH013 Establishing Your Flor-ida Lawn — Revised!
An 8-page illustrated fact sheet that de-scribes the two primary methods of es-tablishing turfgrass — seed and vegeta-tive propagation (sodding, sprigging, and plugging) — as well as post-planting care, fertilizing, mowing, and renovation. January 2010.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/lh013
ENH860/EP110 Fertilization and Irriga-tion Needs for Florida Lawns and Landscapes Revised!
A fact sheet that outlines environmentally friendly approaches to fertilizing and irri-gating Florida lawns and landscapes. December 2009.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep110