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The Neighborhood Gardener – March

Happy gardening!

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Spring Flower Beds

Hot pink vincaSpring is an excellent time to freshen up your flower beds. The warm days and cool nights are perfect for planting annuals and perennials for both sun and shade. In your local garden center, look for wax begonias, angelonias, impatiens, zinnias, and periwinkles. More

Basic Guide for the Backyard Chicken Flock

Have you been thinking about keeping chickens in your backyard? Brooding, housing, types of feed, and descriptions of different breeds are all covered in this EDIS publication, a basic guide for homeowners.  More

Plant of the Month: Carolina Jessamine

Carolina jessamineThis native vine blooms with fragrant yellow flowers in late winter to early spring, and is lovely to train up fences and trellises. Plant Carolina jessamine in full sun for maximum flowering. Home gardeners may wish to look for the popular double-flowered cultivar 'Pride of Augusta' (sometimes known as 'Plena') that features a longer blooming season. More

Master Gardener volunteers Help Restore Mackay Gardens

Polk Master GardenerBy Cathy Butcher, Polk County Master Gardener
In 2005, the Master Gardener volunteers of Polk County became involved in a project to help preserve the gardens of the historic Alexander Mackay estate in Lake Alfred. This work continues today and the gardens have become an outdoor classroom where Master Gardener volunteers can put into practice the training they have received. More

March in Your Garden

Plant summer bulbs, tubers, etc. to ensure great summer color. They're excellent choices for small areas where your grass won't grow. Best choices include lilies (blood, crinum, day, rain, and spider), caladiums, cannas, amaryllis, and society garlic.

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: Armadillo

Professor holding armadilloSince armadillos are mainly nocturnal, not everyone realizes the damage they can inflict on a yard, burrowing into flower beds and lawns for insects and roots. Gardeners who have problems with these odd-looking creatures have a few options for dealing with them. More

Sweetbay magnolia

Success Stories

  • We're looking for inspiring, Florida-Friendly success stories from your county. Submit yours today to Wendy Wilber.

Other Resources

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