The Neighborhood Gardener – July

Close view of the orange and purple bracts of the bird of paradise plant

Happy Gardening!

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Groundcovers for Shade

Dark green leaf of Algerian ivyEveryone associates Florida with sun; after all, we are the Sunshine State. Despite all the talk of our sensational sunshine, we can’t forget about the challenges growing in the shade presents. Finding the right groundcover for a shady area can seem like a struggle but never fear—there are many options, from dense, low-growing plants to taller, more dimensional options. Read more about groundcovers for shade that can be used throughout Florida.


Downy or Powdery Mildew?

The underside of a leaf with downy mildew on it; photo by Laura Sangorski Mildew isn’t usually something you want to think about, but when you have it in your garden you may find it consumes your thoughts. As when treating any disease in the garden, it’s important to know exactly what you’re working against before selecting a course of treatment. A potential spot for further confusion is when plant diseases have similar names, like downy mildew and powdery mildew. Learn the differences between these two mildews, as well as how they can be treated, and better yet, prevented. More


Wendy's Wanderings

Wendy WilberWhile it has been said that “the best stories are found between the pages of your passport,” some of your best plants can be found on the road, too. Most gardeners know their local nurseries and garden centers like the back of their hand, so when they're traveling, they look for cool nurseries to visit. Florida has many garden centers that can broaden your horticulture horizons beyond the big box stores. More


Plant of the Month: Begonia

White flowers of wax begoniaBegonias are a popular bedding plant that can provide striking color in the landscape throughout the year, and handle shade quite well. The begonia family contains more than 1,300 species and hybrids, but the begonias that do best in the landscape generally fall into three groups: wax begonias, cane or angel-wing begonias, and rhizomatous begonias. These tropical plants can be grown in USDA hardiness zones 8b to 11. If you live in a cooler part of the state, be sure to protect your outdoor begonias from frost. More


Tropical Sod Webworm

A green webworm Florida lawns can face challenges from a variety of sources, including tropical sod webworms. These pests are most active from spring to fall, so we’re right in the middle of the time of their potential damage. Find out more about these hungry caterpillars, as well as how active Master Gardener volunteers can help a UF graduate student conducting research on tropical sod webworms. More


It's Not Easy Being Green(ery)

A light green square with a hint of yellow stating color of the year 2017, Pantone, Greenery, 15-0343Deep in the midst of summer is the perfect time to sing the wonders of greenery, but it was back in winter when Pantone announced the Color of the Year as Greenery. Gardeners are well aware that greenery is, as Pantone put it, "nature’s neutral." Greenery in the garden can create the perfect backdrop for your statement plants, or it can shine on its own as a delightful and inspirational force. More


July in Your Garden

Nice palm in a yard It’s not too late to use summer heat to solarize your vegetable garden soil in preparation for fall planting. Solarization takes 4 to 6 weeks and is a great way to kill weeds, diseases, and nematodes, giving you a fresh start for your fall vegetable garden. Continue planting palms while rainy season is in full swing. North and Central Florida gardeners can start their Halloween pumpkins from seed, but watch out for mildew diseases.

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.


What's Going On?

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