The Neighborhood Gardener – April

Happy gardening!

• Sign up for our e-newsletter

Checklist of FFL Practices

A Florida-Friendly yard is attractive, functional, and ecologically sound. Creating your own can be simple, thanks to a new EDIS publication, "Checklist of Florida-Friendly Landscape Practices." The practices are grouped into three tiers, from easiest to most expensive and/or labor intensive. Even the simplest efforts can have significant, positive impacts on your landscape and the environment. More

Epcot Flower & Garden Festival

By Marina D'Abreau, Hillsborough County Urban Horticulture Agent
Get a firsthand look at a not-so-faraway place called Garden Town and how Master Gardener volunteers are making a difference at the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival. The festival runs from now through May 15. More

Ample Harvest

By Bill Hoffman, NIFA/USDA
Approximately one out of every six Americans has little to no access to fresh produce. AmpleHarvest.org is a nationwide anti-hunger effort created by Master Gardener Gary Oppenheimer which enables millions of Americans who grow food in home gardens to find a local food pantry eager for their garden surplus. More

Plant of the Month: Pineapple Guava

Also known as feijoa, pineapple guava is an evergreen shrub with attractive silvery foliage, unusual flowers, and edible fruits. It can be grown throughout Florida and even tolerates salt spray. Pineapple guava is low maintenance, and will grow in full sun to part shade. There are self-fruiting varieties available that perform well in Florida, like 'Coolidge'. More

Barred Owls

Across the eastern half of the United States, the barred owl makes its home in mature trees of woodlands and swamps. It's named for the feather patterns, which are barred with the alternating colors of white and brown, located on its head, chest and back. The vocalization of this owl sounds like a powerful voice saying, "Who cooks for you? Who cooks for you all?" More

April in Your Garden

Plant heat-tolerant annuals, such as coleus, vincas, and portulaca. New varieties of coleus do well in sun or shade and provide vivid colors and patterns for months.

For more month-by-month gardening tips, check out the Florida Gardening Calendar. Three different editions of the calendar provide specific tips for each of Florida's gardening regions—North, Central, and South. More

Friend or Foe? Foe: Venomous Spiders

Five species of venomous spiders occur in Florida: the Southern black widow, Northern black widow, red widow, brown widow, and brown recluse. Anyone bitten by a spider should preserve it in rubbing alcohol for positive identification. Most spider bites are not considered dangerous, but if you suspect a venomous spider, seek medical attention immediately. More