The Neighborhood Gardener – November
Happy gardening!
Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Recruits a Master Gardener
by Michelle Atkinson, Manatee County Florida Yards & Neighborhoods Coordinator
When Carol Smith and her husband built their home in 1988, the one-acre yard consisted of bahiagrass and foundational plants. After enduring endless hours of mowing and pruning, Carol began to look for a way to reduce her maintenance. This is when she came across the Florida Yards & Neighborhoods program.
Grant Alert: Fiskars Project Orange Thumb
Do you work with a community garden? Apply for a grant from Fiskars Project Orange Thumb. Selected groups receive tools and other gardening materials to help them reach their goals. And a chosen few receive garden makeovers! The deadline to submit an application is December 31.
Plant of the Month: Hoya
Also called wax plant, hoya is an easy-care houseplant with small clusters of sweet-smelling, star-shaped flowers. Hoyas are trailing vines with thick, fleshy leaves that are waxy and give the plant one of its common names—wax plant.
November in Your Garden
Create a display of fall colors with cool season plants. Some to try are calendula, pansies, and ornamental cabbages. Many bulbs like to get their start in cool weather. Bulbs to plant this month include amaryllis, crinums, and daylilies.
Friend or Foe? Foe: Citrus Greening
Citrus greening, or Huanglongbing, has recently been discovered in Florida. This bacterial disease can rapidly destroy almost all varieties of citrus, and there is no cure. Infected trees show yellow leaves, twig dieback, and mottled or blotchy leaves. Fruit are sparse, small, and green, and the trees stop producing usable fruit within a few years. If you suspect your trees have been infected with citrus greening, call your local Extension office. Do not bring samples to an Extension office or plant nursery—you could infect other trees.
Bird Feeders
Bird feeders are mutually beneficial—they provide food for the birds and the enjoyment of watching wildlife to you. If you want to feed birds, provide them with three essential elements: the right variety of quality seed, fresh water for drinking and bathing, and safe cover, preferably provided by native plants.
Master Gardener Specialist Update
This month, we are featuring an update from Dr. Amy Shober on soil pH and how it impacts our plants. (Please note that this presentation requires the free Windows Media Player.)
Success Stories
- We're looking for inspiring, Florida-Friendly success stories from your county. Submit yours today at gardening@ifas.ufl.edu.