The Neighborhood Gardener – July

yellow-white frangipani flowers

Happy gardening!

safesubscribe logo

Service Award Reminder

Master Gardener Volunteer Coordinators, don't forget to submit the names of your Master Gardener volunteers for service awards. Florida Master Gardener volunteers who have donated 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, or 35 years of continuous service will be recognized and receive a service award.


Cuban Oregano

variegated Cuban oreganoCuban oregano (Plectranthus amboinicus) is an herb of ambiguous origin and many names. Mexican mint, Spanish thyme, and Indian borage are just a few; some people even call it "Vicks plant," because its camphor and menthol aroma is similar to the cough salve. More


DIY Seed Balls

Hands mixing mudMaking clay seed balls can be a fun summer project that will help keep you connected to your gardening when the temperatures make working outside difficult. This DIY tutorial will walk you through the steps for constructing seed balls. This is a great summer project for kids and adults alike. Not only is this an interesting and effective way of preserving seeds for your garden, the finished seed balls can make a unique and fun gardening gift! More


Wendy's Wanderings

Wendy WilberFor most Florida gardeners, vegetable gardening season is coming to a close. Hopefully your harvest has been bountiful. If you are holding on to those last tomato plants that are trying to ripen a couple more fruit, let me encourage you to let it go. More


Plant of the Month: Mulberry

mulberry fruit Mulberry (Moras spp.) is a fruit producing tree that can provide gardeners tasty fruits and a rich history. Native red mulberry trees (M. rubra) have been enjoyed by people in North America for centuries; however there are also introduced white and black mulberry trees. The quality of fruit varies between trees with black mulberry trees producing the best fruits. Black mulberry trees have another quality that home gardeners often prefer—their mature height is much more appropriate for a home landscape than the quite tall native red mulberry tree. More


July in Your Garden

coleusPlant heat-loving annuals like coleus and ornamental pepper, and be sure to water regularly. Continue planting palms while the rainy season is in full swing. Support large palms with braces for 6-8 months after planting. Nails should not be driven directly into a palm trunk.

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.


Vacation Plant Care

using watering can to water young container plantsGetting ready for a trip involves a fair bit of preparation, and considering the needs of your plants while you're away is part of that. Whether you're taking a summer sojourn to the beach or a long cross-country trek, your plants can be kept happy and healthy while you're away. More


New Whitefly

whiteflie photo by Lance Osborne, UF/IFASWhile the B-biotype whitefly has been in Florida since the mid-1980s, the Q-biotype whitefly was recently discovered in Palm Beach County. This new whitefly biotype is likely to cause problems for growers and even gardeners in Florida. If you suspect an infestation contact your local Extension office; they will have specific instructions on bringing in plant samples. NEVER bring live insects to the Extension office. For more information on whiteflies, visit the UF/IFAS Mid-Florida Research and Education Center's website.


What's Going On?

If your Master Gardener program or Extension office is having an event, be sure to share it with us.