The Neighborhood Gardener – January
Happy New Year, and happy gardening!
Getting Your Tools Ready for Spring
The first of the year is a great time to clean up and fix up, before plants really get growing. A quick cleaning will help keep your garden equipment in the best shape possible to take on the battles of spring gardening. Start by taking stock of your equipment. Remove any equipment that is beyond repair or isn't useful in your garden. Next, check each type of tool and perform maintenance on them. More
Plant of the Month: Aglaonema
Aglaonema, also know as Chinese evergreen, is a versatile houseplant that requires minimal care. Some varieties have solid green leaves, but most cultivars have interesting variegation in shades of silver, gray, or light green. Plant aglaonema in a rich potting media and place in areas that receive medium to low light. These plants have low water requirements so it's important not to overwater, which may trigger other problems. More
January in Your Garden
Prune trees and shrubs, taking care with flowering plants—you don't want to trim off developing buds. Don't cut off cold damage until all chances of frost have passed. Deadhead camellias and pick up fallen blossoms to prevent disease. Start seeds indoors for warm-season annuals like tomatoes, marigolds, and others.
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? Friend: Spined Soldier Bug
Soldier bugs, also known as stink bugs, are known as pests as well as useful predators. While some eat plants, the spined soldier bug preys on many important economic pests, including the larvae of the Colorado potato beetle and the fall armyworm. Learn how to identify this "good-guy" stink bug. More
Extension Specialist Update
Email is a very important communication tool. Education and Media Coordinator Emily Eubanks shares tips about how to use it most effectively in this presentation, "Email Etiquette." More
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