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IFAS/CITRUS/UFL
Reference & Resources:
UF/IFAS - Solutions For Your Life:
www.SolutionsForYourLife.org
Citrus Co UF/IFAS Extension:
http://citrus.ifas.ufl.edu
Extension Connection
VOLUME 10, ISSUE 2
APR 2015
Extension Notes
by: BJ Jarvis, Extension Director/Horticulture Agent
VOLUME 10, ISSUE 2
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
TOPIC
--
Welcome to Spring in beautiful Citrus County!!
PAGE
Classes/Seminars
2-3
Summer Camps
4
Master Gardener
Seminar Schedule
5
Planning & Planting 6-7
Florida Friendly
Landscaping
8-9
Spring Cleaning
10-11
Women & Money
12
4-H : Food Science
13/14
4-H News
15
Gardening Tips:
April
16
Gardening Tips:
May
17
Gardening Tips:
June
18
Volunteer
Opportunities
19
Staffing Changes/
20
“UF IFAS Extension Citrus County”
We’re so excited to offer you another quarter of opportunities and provide
real-life answers to your questions and concerns.
Whether you are a part-year resident or enjoy our community year-round,
April is National Volunteer Month. We have incredible volunteers in our
organization for which we are eternally grateful. Volunteers take a number
of active roles in our day-to-day operation. For example, many Master
Gardeners staff a help desk where they answer questions that
residents have about lawns and gardens. Other Master Gardeners have
different jobs that suit their skill set. 4-H club leaders and volunteers are
teaching the UF curriculum to our younger generation. In some cases our
club leaders teach at schools during the day and the 4-H club in the
evening. Our newest group of volunteers is Florida Master Money
Mentors. These University-trained volunteers help citizens make choices
and take action to get out of debt and set realistic financial goals. Our
diverse volunteer base consists of highly educated and motivated
professionals and former professionals.
Consider volunteering in some way. Share your love of your vocation or
avocation. Not sure how you can fit in? Give us a call!
For those more tech-savvy citizens, you can keep up on what Extension has
to offer through Facebook. “Like” us to stay connected. Whether we see
you at a seminar, at a farmers market or other off-site opportunity, or you
serve as a volunteer, we hope to see you soon!
Sincerely, BJ
Classes & Seminars
Pre-registration is required for all classes. Unless otherwise noted,
all classes will be held at the
Citrus County Extension Office classroom:
3650 W Sovereign Path, Lecanto, FL 34461
“Right Plant, Right Place”
Tuesday April 14
Free Gardening Workshop
Florida Friendly Landscaping™
Contact Steven Davis at 527-5708 to pre-register.
2:00 pm - 3:30 pm
“Women & Money: Unique Issues””
$25 fee includes all 5 sessions
April 20 through May 18
Contact Sarah Ellis at 527-5713 to pre-register.
See Flyer
on
page 12
Begins Monday April 20
6:00 pm - 8:30 pm
“Responsible Pest Management”
Tuesday April 28
Free Gardening Workshop
Florida Friendly Landscaping™
Contact Steven Davis at 527-5708 to pre-register.
2:00 pm - 3:30 pm
“Closing Your Seasonal Home”
Free Workshop
Tips on leaving your home for extended periods.
Contact Sarah Ellis at 527-5713 to pre-register.
See Flyer
on
page 11
Wednesday April 29
2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Lakes Region Library
1511 Druid Road
“Turf Basics”
Tuesday May 12
Free Gardening Workshop
Florida Friendly Landscaping™
Contact Steven Davis at 527-5708 to pre-register.
2:00 pm - 3:30 pm
ServSafe® Food Manager’s Training and Exam
Cost: $110 for class & exam
$165 for class, book & exam
Wednesday May 13
8:45 am - 4:00 pm
Call 888-232-8723 to pre-register.
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Classes & Seminars
“9 Basic Principles”
Tuesday May 26
Free Gardening Workshop
Florida Friendly Landscaping™
Contact Steven Davis at 527-5708 to pre-register.
2:00 pm - 3:30 pm
“Residential Landscape BMP”
Tuesday June 16
Free Gardening Workshop
Florida Friendly Landscaping™
Contact Steven Davis at 527-5708 to pre-register.
2:00 pm - 3:30 pm
“Basic Soil Science”
Tuesday June 30
Free Gardening Workshop
Florida Friendly Landscaping™
Contact Steven Davis at 527-5708 to pre-register.
2:00 pm - 3:30 pm
Do you have an interest in raising chickens?
The University of Florida has a monthly newsletter full of information from candling, quality standards,
health and safety, to how to get started with raising chickens. For more information, consider visiting this
website, and signing up for the monthly e-newsletter. http://baker.ifas.ufl.edu/FeatheredFacts.html
Did you know there is a name for the fear of chickens? The first 15 correct answers will win a prize!
Building a Strong Financial Foundation
Tuesday, April 16, 12:00 to 1:00 p.m.
Discussion of crucial elements of financial stability, finding balance in your financial life,
and planning ahead for “what ifs.” Registration: http://bit.ly/BSFN2015
Protecting your Home Investment
Tuesday, April 30, 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. The benefits of homeownership, importance of planning for
large purchases, maintaining
and improving your home. Registration: http://bit.ly/YHome2015
Credit: Myths & Realities
Thursday, May 7, 12:00 to 1:00 p.m.
Learn cost effective strategies for using credit. Topics will include evaluating loans
and credit scores. Registration: http://bit.ly/realcred
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Summer Youth
Camps 2015
Looking for something fun (and interesting!) to do when school gets out? Join Citrus County Extension for
summer camps. Come to one or come to all! Get on our mailing/registration list by calling 352-527-5700.
Camps held at the UF/IFAS Citrus County Extension Office 3650 W Sovereign Path, Lecanto, FL 34461
except for “Filling Florida Forks” which begins and ends each day at the Extension Office, and the Sewing
Camp which will be held at the Citrus County Canning Center. Space is limited. Pre-registration and
pre-payment required at least two weeks prior to camp start date.
Please make checks payable to “Citrus County BOCC”.
“Filling Florida Forks” Day Camp
Cost: $50, includes all materials,
but bring a lunch each day except Friday.
Monday - Thursday June 1 - 4
Friday June 5
8:30 am – 4:30 pm
8:30 am – 1:30 pm
Get outside and explore agriculture in your own backyard!! Citrus County youth, 8-12 years old,
are invited to attend this week long day camp led by UF/IFAS Extension Agents. Campers will
travel around Citrus County to learn about agriculture including visits to a local dairy, state forest,
agriculture fields and pastures. On the final day of the camp, campers will prepare a delicious,
nutritious meal using locally sourced ingredients to share with their families. Each camper may
invite 2 family members to lunch on Friday.
Sewing Day Camp
Monday - Thursday June 15 - 18
Cost: $40, includes all materials and snacks,
but bring a lunch each day.
This camp is for youth ages 8 - 16, and is limited to 20 participants.
Sustainability: Simple Steps to Green
Cost: $25, includes all materials,
but bring a lunch each day.
8:30 am - 4:00 pm
Citrus County Canning Center
3405 West Southern Street
Lecanto, FL 34434
Tuesday June 23 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
Thursday June 25 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
In the new millennium, being a resident of Planet Earth means taking take care of our home,
community and Earth. As our population grows, natural resources can become impacted if we do
not use them wisely. Activities and discussions about the steps each of us can take to lead a more
sustainable lifestyle, including recycling, water, food and saving natural resources.
Personal Management Camp
Wednesday - Thursday July 8 - 9
9:00 am - 4:00 pm
Cost: $25, includes merit badge pamphlet; please bring a lunch each day.
Boy Scouts can obtain their merit badge by attending this camp. This camp is open to the public.
Personal management is about mapping a plan for your life that will involve setting short-range and
long-range goals and investigating different ways to reach those goals. To achieve your goals, you
will choose the best path and make a commitment to it, while remaining flexible enough to deal with
changes and new opportunities.
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Expert Advice
A P R I L , M AY, J U N E
Master Gardener volunteers share their knowledge at local
farmers markets, retail outlets, and seminars at local libraries.
Please see dates and locations below:
Inverness Farmers Market
212 W Main St.
1st & 3rd Saturday
9:00 am - 1:00 pm
Home Depot/Crystal River
1st & 3rd Saturday
9:00 am - 1:00 pm
Wal-Mart/Inverness
2nd & 4th Saturday
9:00 am - 1:00 pm
Monthly Extension Master Gardener Seminars offer an opportunity for residents to explore
timely garden topics. No registration required. Attend one of these free informative seminars
at your local library. You may also bring your problem plants and questions for expert help.
If you can’t attend the Master Gardener seminar, email your questions to:
[email protected]
April:
May:
June:
1st Wednesday
2nd Wednesday
3rd Wednesday
2nd Friday
2nd Tuesday
4th Tuesday
Shade Gardening
Pollinators
Poisonous Plants
2:00 p.m.
1:30 p.m.
1:00 p.m.
1:30 p.m.
1:00 p.m.
2:00 p.m.
Floral City Library
Central Ridge Library
Citrus Springs Library
Coastal Region Library
Lakes Region Library
Homosassa Library
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Floral City
Beverly Hills
Citrus Springs
Crystal River
Inverness
Homosassa
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5
FAMILY Horticulture
& CONSUMER SCIENCES
Urban
Planning, Planting, and Pruning
BJ Jarvis, Director and Horticulture Agent
W
hen the weather warms up this spring, it is tempting to jump in and prune every
winter-weary plant. But patience and planning is key for many plants. Some plants
take a while to recover from the latest cold snap. Other plants just don’t need to be pruned
even though we see even the ‘’professionals” do this daily.
Many citizens have heard me talk about “crepe
murder,” the annual ritual of hacking Crepe
Myrtle shrubs into a few stout sticks. Residents
and professionals alike chop back this iconic
garden plant until the plant is a monstrosity or it dies.
While some believe this process increases
flowering (it doesn’t), others prune because
the Crepe Myrtle has gotten bigger
than anticipated in our landscapes.
Selecting a plant to suit the space
and other site conditions is the
first principle of a Florida-friendly
landscape.
What we assumed was a mannerly border plant starts
to act like a two-year-old on a tantrum – a little out of
control.
Now I know there are weeping forms, and even
some dwarf forms of Loropetalum, but these are
not so common in garden centers. What is typically
offered for a mere $9.99 investment can quickly
become a multi-trunked, small tree
in less than a decade, and often
where we didn’t want a “tree.”
If the gardener had applied the first
principle of Florida-Friendly
Landscaping - Right Plant, Right
Another beautiful shrub that
Place - then all would have been
routinely gets pruned because
good. Sufficient space would have
of poor selection, but shouldn’t,
been allocated. The plant would be
is the Chinese Fringe-bush.
located away from sidewalks,
Loropetalum, its botanic or other
the dining room window or away
common name, is another plant
from the corner’s line of site in
Chinese
Fringe-bush
or
Loropetalum
we love to torture. These gorgeous
community plantings. The intended
pink-blooming shrubs are routinely
location would have had a bit of
sold in small pots for very reasonable prices. We
shade and enough space to allow growth up to 12’ tall
are wowed by their intensely-colored, feathery
with a canopy width of 8’.
flowers. At home they are plopped into narrow
medians, under windows in foundational
Residents needing a striking spring bloomer with
plantings, and in other less-than ideal spots, then
these site conditions would benefit from including
we are shocked when they prolifically send up
Loropetalum. But be admonished that sufficient
shoots of 3-4 feet each year.
room to grow is needed for a year or two.
(Continued on page 7)
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FAMILY Horticulture
& CONSUMER SCIENCES
Urban
(continued from page 6) PLANNING
Never add extra plants around the bottom
unless you are ready to pull them out as the
Chinese Fringe-bush reaches its real potential
in a couple years. And never torture the shrubbery!
Given proper site conditions and cultural care,
Crepe Myrtle, Loropetalum, and many other
attractive plants will flourish in Citrus County
landscapes without shearing. Plan ahead when
selecting a conducive site for these plants to grow
to beautiful multi-trunked small trees, requiring
little maintenance, attracting few pests, and
requiring little to no fertilization, as nature intended.
Or be prepared for an annual maintenance ritual
and a shorter-lived plant.
You just have to plan ahead!
Extension’s Learning Landscape
gets a new lease on life!
Wednesday, May 6 10:15 am
UF/Citrus Extension’s learning landscape is once
again a beautiful hidden gem. Join us on Wednesday,
May 6 for the grand reopening of the Florida Friendly
Landscape garden rededication.
Lots of hands and effort have returned the garden to
a beautiful ½-acre of smart gardening ideas. The
ribbon-cutting takes place at 10:15 am followed by
informal tours, displays and CAKE!
Join us if you can on May 6. If you can’t come then,
be sure to stop back any day to see what’s in flower,
watch the butterflies and hummingbirds sipping
nectar, or just enjoy solitude in the shade of the
Extension Learning Landscape.
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7
FAMILY
& CONSUMER
SCIENCES
Florida-Friendly
Roadmap
Garden pests from the “other” list
Steven Davis, FFL Program Coordinator
T
he “other” list still drives people crazy. Typically creatures from the “other” list don’t
particularly devour our ornamental plants. They create severe anxiety in ways other
than those created by traditional garden pests. Identification and control of those on the “other” list often
elude the Florida homeowner and cause excessive head shaking and foot stomping.
The pocket gopher is the first example of a pest I
consider for this category. This creature is one
vegetarian that nobody likes. It is often called the
sandy-mounder or salamander, because of the
continued production of dirt piles it produces as it
crosses back and
forth across your
property. When
will it just go away?
The cute little
creature has fur
lined cheek pockets
it uses to carry
food. Its diet
Mounds created by pocket gopher
consists of plant
roots, tubers, rhizomes and bulbs it collects when
creating its vast system of
tunnels. Its favorite food
is thought to be bahia
grass rhizomes, but some
soil vegetables as well.
Insecticides will not
eliminate its food source;
therefore not an effective
control. This little ‘fella’ is
a native non-game wildlife
species. It is illegal to bait
or fumigate without a
poison permit from FWC.
Trapping is the most preferred method. In order to be
successful you must find an active tunnel. Fresher
the better. Place the trap in the tunnel, attached to a
stick for easy removal, cover the opening and hope
for the best.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/uw/uw08100.pdf
Imported fire ants make the “other” list and are
often mistaken for the previous offender, due to the
pile of sand they
leave on the soil
surface. Always be
cautious when approaching this
critter. It could be a
Fire ant mound
painful experience.
Wear shoes and socks and watch were you step. If
you want to locate some fire ants just walk outside
bare footed in the warm season. It shouldn’t take
long to locate a colony.
Control strategies must include several measures of
control, not eradication. These methods include bait
applications, mound treatments, a combination of
both and barrier treatments for exclusion. Carefully
read all labels prior to application of pesticides.
Again, read the label for accurate control measures.
(Continued on page 9)
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FAMILY
& CONSUMER
SCIENCES
Florida-Friendly
Roadmap
(continued from page 8) OTHER PESTS
It may take a colony several months to establish.
Once this occurs a queen can lay 2,000 eggs per day.
The eggs hatch 20 to 45 days later and can survive
with life spans up to 9 months. That’s the good
news. Queens live an average of 6-7 years. That’s
not so good. The least harmful or toxic methods of
control should be considered. Boiling water. This
method may control the mound killing workers and
queens as the water percolates through the mound.
Boiling water may also damage surrounding plants
and cautious application is suggested.
Granule application methods may be effective and
should be complimented with other baiting and
broadcasting methods to control infestations. Many
ineffective
methods may not
eliminate the
mound only
causing relocation
of the infestation.
Foot stomping is
not an effective
method for
control. Head
shaking is still
acceptable.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/lh059
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The New Gardening Solutions App
The University of Florida has released a new
gardening app created to help homeowners stay
on top of their lawn and garden maintenance.
The Gardening Solutions app provides Florida
residents with the ability to create a personalized
virtual landscape. The app will send helpful
maintenance notifications to users based on their
zip code and the plants in their virtual landscape.
The Florida Gardening Solution app is free to
download and is available for both iOS and
Android mobile devices.
The mobile web application has an annual cost of
$1.99 a year and is available at
https://ffl.ifas.ufl.edu/plants
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UF/IFAS Extension
SolutionsForYourLife.com
FAMILY & CONSUMER
CONSUMERSCIENCES
SCIENCES
Spring Cleaning
Sarah Ellis, Extension Agent, Family and Consumer Sciences
T
he other night I heard my first Chuck-wills-widow, a sure sign that spring is finally
here! When spring arrives it always encourages me to do some spring cleaning and
get my home in order. Most of us lead pretty hectic and busy lives and things can quickly get out of hand if
you’re not paying attention!
Wasting time trying to find things in your home, that
you know you own, is the first sign that you need to
get organized. I know many people feel overwhelmed with the thought of getting organized
They have no idea where to start! Ultimately, we
need to first identify the problem before we can
focus on how to solve it.
The first step in getting organized is to analyze why
there is a problem. Is there actually a place to put
everything in your home? Is that place easily
accessible? Do you have too much stuff? There
really should be a place for everything and
everything put in its place. Bills, bank statements,
and taxes should be filed away so you can quickly
locate them when needed. Items should be stored
where you need them, use them, and should be
easily accessible. If you have too many things it
might be time to take a household inventory and get
rid of excess items.
Next, ask yourself if your storage areas are filled with
things you use often, or are they filled with things
that you hope to use again? We should only be
keeping items that are practical, in good working
order, or that have sentimental value. But these
items need to be kept manageable and organized.
Ask yourself why you want to get organized. It could
be a simple answer such as I don’t want to look for
my keys before work any longer or I want to get rid
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of clutter. But if you don’t feel there is a need, you
probably won’t set up or maintain a storage system.
Once you identify what you want to achieve through
organization you can use this as motivation to help
you achieve your goal of an organized home.
Planning your organization strategy is the next step.
Start by listing each room in your home, what activities occur, what supplies are needed, and what storage is needed. Here is an example:
Room: Living Room
Activity
Supplies
Watching TV
TV
remotes
Playing video
Controllers
games
games
Reading
Books
Magazines
Storage needs
TV cabinet
Storage cabinet
Book shelf
Use this list to help you determine if you have the
storage you need or do you need to purchase some.
You may have a TV cabinet, but if there is no storage
for video games or controllers you need to determine
where these items are going to be stored.
Remember, items that are used frequently should be
stored so they are easily accessible.
(Continued on page (11)
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FAMILY & CONSUMER SCIENCES
(continued from page 10) CLEANING
Once you have a plan it’s time to start getting
organized. Try to tackle one room at a time. Have
five large containers, either laundry baskets or boxes,
ready. Use one container for garbage, one for
recycling, one for donations, one for yard sale, and
one for items you are keeping but need to be put
away. As you are going through stuff ask yourself:





How long has it been since I last used this?
Do I like this?
Is it broken?
Do I have several of these? How many do I need?
If I keep this what can I get rid of to make room
for it?
These questions will help you determine what you
want to toss, donate, or recycle.
It’s ok to start small, tackling one problem area at a
time, just be consistent. If you start working on the
hall closet don’t move on to another area until that
area is completely clean and organized. Remember,
you can’t put things away until it has a home; if it
does not have a home you are just creating more
clutter.
Between newsletters, stay connected with your
local Extension experts through Facebook.
Like us “UF IFAS Extension Citrus County”
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The Power of the Experiential Model in 4-H: Food Science
Dr. Marnie Ward, 4-H Agent
4
-H youth development incorporates the experiential learning model to teach youth how
to learn and to prepare them to become life-long learners. How does this happen? 4-H
programming focuses on what our young people know and that base knowledge is used as a
foundation to build an experiential learning infrastructure.
For example; in a photo a loaf of bread is identifiable
and both flour (dry ingredient) and water (wet
ingredient) are recognized as components of the
bread; however, youth may not have knowledge of
the chemistry involved in bread production. Lessons
in food science provide knowledge of physical/
chemical properties and reactions, but 4-H
curriculum expands on the basic knowledge to focus
on the experiences of learning. This can be
illustrated in the figure below:
However, their texture, consistency and taste will
depend on the type of flour used in the recipe and
the proteins formed. Flour contains the proteins
gliadin and glutenin; when these are mixed or
kneaded with water the protein gluten is formed.
Gluten provides elasticity and structure to baked
goods.
The more a dough is kneaded, the more gluten is
formed and the greater the elasticity. Why, you
might ask? As the proteins are stretched and pulled
during the kneading process, they begin to line up in
an ordered pattern, so that long strands of protein
are formed. To see this process for yourself, try a
little science in your home. The 4-H youth in this
Consider the new Food Science 4-H curriculum; youth project are also conducting similar experiments.
can experience the science of baking, protein
You will need:
chemistry and chemical/physical changes in fruits and
vegetables. 4-H began the year learning about food
Flour (all purpose, cake, bread and/or whole wheat)
science and the functions and “jobs” of leavening
Water
agents in baked goods (e.g. breads, pastries, biscuits, Bowl
etc.).
Spoon for mixing
(Continued on page (14)
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13
(continued from page 13) FOOD SCIENCE
Combine 1 cup of flour with 2 tablespoons of water
in a bowl. Stir the mixture, adding water gradually,
to make a stiff dough. With your hands, form the
dough into a ball and then knead the dough for 5-10
minutes until the texture is smooth.
Ask yourself, how did the dough feel before it was
kneaded? After it was kneaded? (Try this activity
with all 4 types of flour, so you can compare your
observations).
The ball of dough contains starches and the formed
gluten (protein). In order to see the gluten strands
the starch will have to be removed, so place your
ball of dough into a bowl of water. As you push and
squeeze the dough ball, the starches will dissolve
into the water turning it a milky white. Change the
water and continue to rinse the dough ball until the
water is clear. Once all the starch is removed, the
gluten strands will remain.
Ask yourself, what does the gluten look like? Does
the amount of gluten produced differ between
all-purpose, cake, bread and whole wheat flours?
Why do you think there are differences? (Again,
compare all 4 types of flour).
Through observations made during the mixing and
kneading of the dough, self-reflection and
experiences with food items of different textures
youth engaged in this project are able apply their
knowledge gained about proteins to other
circumstances. For example, if presented with a
situation that asks them to choose between a high
gluten flour or a cake flour in a home-made cookie
recipe, they would choose the cake flour because of
its lower protein content and their desire for a
cookie with a soft texture.
For more about 4-H and Food Science contact
Marnie Ward, 4-H Agent.
The amount of gluten produced will depend on the
protein content of the flour. Here are some
numbers to keep this in context. Protein content in
flour varies from low in cake (~7%), all purpose
(~10%), and bread (~12%), to higher in whole wheat
(up to 14%). Very high gluten (40-45%) flours are
used for bagels and chewy pizza crust.
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14
UPCOMING CITRUS COUNTY 4-H EVENTS
Apr 11th
May 16th
National 4-H Conference
Washington, D.C.
4-H Buc Bay Day
Weeki Wachee Springs - Buccaneer Bay
9:oo am - 5:00 pm Parking Free.
4-H ONLY Pricing: Ages 5 & under FREE, Ages 6-12
$5.00, Ages 13 & up $10.00
Reservations and payment are due in YOUR HOME
county 4-H Office no later than May 1, 2015 or at
District Events May 2, 2015.
Apr 21st
Ag Literacy Day
Volunteers will be reading to students in area
schools about agriculture and how it affects their
daily lives.
Apr 22nd - May 3rd
Help raise money for your local 4-H clubs!
Paper Clover Campaign
Tractor Supply
3826 S Suncoast Blvd
Homosassa, FL
Apr 25th
Area C Horse Show
Sumter Equestrian Center
6742 W. County Road 476
Bushnell, FL 33513-8604
May 29th - 31st
Introducing Cool Experiences (I.C.E)
Camp Ocala 4-H Center
Jun 15th - 19th
4-H Legislature
Capitol Building
Tallahassee
Jun 21st - 26th
National 4-H Shooting Sports Invitational Matches
Grand Island, Nebraska
May 2nd
District Events
UF/IFAS Marion County Extension Auditorium
2232 NE Jacksonville Rd
Ocala, FL 34470
For more information or to volunteer
to help with 4-H events, please
contact Marnie Ward, 4-H Agent at
352-527-5712.
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15
gardening
tips
gardening
tips
APRIL
What to Plant:
What to Do:
Spring is officially here and the chance of
frost is past. Warm season plants can go in
the garden now.
Pests: Monitor landscape plants weekly for aphids
on tender new growth. Pinch to eliminate, hit with a
strong jet of water or use a low-toxicity pesticide
such as “triple action” or horticulture oil.
Annuals: New varieties of
coleus do well in sun or
shade and provide vivid
colors and patterns for
months.
Flowering Plants: Check for thrips if leaves and/or
flowers of gardenias and roses are damaged.
COLEUS
DAYLILY
Bulbs: Planting early-,
mid-, and late-blooming
varieties of daylily will
insure months of color
from these low
maintenance plants.
Herbs: Add nasturtiums to your herb garden. The
leaves and flowers add a peppery zest to salads.
Vegetables: Continue planting warm season crops
such as bean, melon, and tomato. Mulch well to
prevent weeds and retain moisture. Provide
water if the weather has been dry.
Divide perennials and bulbs: Divide clumps of bulbs,
ornamental grasses, or herbaceous perennials to
expand or rejuvenate garden beds or to pass-along
To friends.
Lawn Problems: Many lawn problems mimic insect
damage. Confirm the source of damage before
applying a pesticide. A clogged irrigation system is
just one problem that can mimic insect damage.
Shrubs: Choose from a wide variety of shrubs to add
to the landscape now.
Lawns: Apply fertilizer after new growth has started.
Choose a fertilizer (not a "weed and feed") with little
or no phosphorus (the middle number) unless a soil
test indicates the need
for it. A fertilizer with
controlled-release
nitrogen yields
longer-lasting results.
For specific gardening information, be sure to contact our office.
527-5700
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gardening
tips
gardening
tips
MAY
What to Plant:
What to Do:
Annuals: Choose plants that can take summer
heat in sunny places such as salvia and ornamental
pepper or in shady places choose torenia, wax
begonia, and coleus.
Likes
the
sun.
SALVIA
Gardenias: While some yellowing of older leaves is
normal, yellowing of new growth usually indicates a
micronutrient deficiency.
Oleanders: Chewed or ragged leaves indicate oleander caterpillars at work.
ORNAMENTAL
PEPPER
Prefers a shady spot!
WAX BEGONIA
TORENIA
Pests: Harmful insects become more active as the
weather warms. Watch for thrips, scale, and mites
on ornamental plants.
Tomatoes: Watch for pests, disease, and nutritional
disorders on tomato plants.
Prevent lawn diseases: Prevent or minimize disease
by following proper cultural practices when caring
for lawns. Water only when necessary.
Trees: Prepare for hurricane season by checking
trees for damaged or weak branches and prune if
needed. Hire an ISA certified arborist.
COLEUS
Bulbs: Some lilies do better when their roots are
crowded. Try planting Amazon, Aztec, and Clivia
lilies in containers to increase blooming.
Herbs: Plant heat loving herbs, including basil,
Mexican tarragon, and rosemary.
Vegetables: Only a few vegetables can handle
summer’s heat. Southern favorites to plant now
are okra, southern pea, and sweet potato.
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For specific gardening information,
be sure to contact our office.
527-5700
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gardeningtips
tips
gardening
JUNE
What to Do:
What to Plant:
Annuals: Annuals that can take full sun during
the increasingly hot summer months include
celosia, portulaca, and vinca. In shady sites, many
plants may not get enough
sunlight to flower.
Consider plants with
variegated leaves or other
interest, such as flax-lily,
gingers, ferns, caladium
and coontie.
Flax-Lily
Palms: Summer’s warm, rainy months are the
perfect time to plant palms.
Herbs: Plant heat loving herbs, including basil,
Mexican tarragon, and rosemary.
Vegetables: Vegetables to plant now are okra,
southern pea, calabaza, Malabar spinach, and
sweet potato.
For specific gardening information,
be sure to contact our office.
527-5700
Between newsletters, stay connected with your
local Extension experts through Facebook.
Like us “UF IFAS Extension Citrus County”
Pests: Monitor the garden weekly for harmful insects.
Knowing which insects attack a plant can aid in
identification and treatment.
Irrigation: June is normally the start of the rainy
season, but if rainfall is spotty, monitor lawns for
drought stress and water as needed. Focus on new
plantings andfollow watering restrictions. When rains
begin, shut down irrigation system.
Propagation: Now is a good time to produce more
plants by air layering, grafting, division, or cuttings.
Palms and cycads: Watch for nutrient deficiencies or
other problems and use an appropriate treatment.
Pruning: Summer flowering shrubs, like hibiscus,
oleander, and crape myrtle, bloom on new growth;
lightly prune often during the warmer months. Azaleas
can still be pruned without harming next spring’s buds.
But don’t prune past June or flowers will suffer next
year.
Rejuvenate lawn areas: For
areas where grass doesn’t
grow well, try replacing with
versatile ground covers.
Soil Solarization: Clean up
your vegetable garden and
solarize the soil to kill pests,
such as nematodes and
weeds, and disease.
Soil Solarization
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Volunteer opportunities
F
Current Volunteer Opportunities
or veteran volunteers or for those who may not have volunteered in the past, we invite
you to participate in the following volunteer opportunities:
Web Master - Do you have IT skills? We need help updating our website.
Learning Landscape Volunteer Assistance
Receptionist Volunteer:
******************************************
*******************************************
The Florida-Friendly Learning Landscape is a vital
educational tool for Citrus County Extension.
Citrus County Extension is seeking help at the
reception area to:
Volunteer assistance is needed to maintain an
aesthetically pleasing landscape and horticultural
learning center at Citrus County Extension located
at 3650 West Sovereign Path, Suite 1, Lecanto.

Activities include planting, trimming, weeding,
applying mulch and other functions related to the
design and upkeep of the landscaping.
Work schedule: Monday to Friday - during working
hours 8 am - 5 pm.
Welcome visitors by greeting them, in person or
on the telephone; answering or referring inquiries.
 Direct visitors by maintaining employee and
department directories; giving instructions.
 Maintain safe and clean reception area.
 Catalog and index newspaper articles written by
agents.
Choose one or more opportunities:
Work schedule:
Thursday 3 pm - 5 pm, Friday noon - 5 pm
For additional information for any of these volunteer opportunities,
please contact Betsy at 352-527-5700.
4-H Volunteers:
To sign up to volunteer for any 4-H events/activities,
please contact Marnie Ward, 4-H Agent at
352-527-5700.
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Staffing
changes
Clay Cooper, UF/IFAS Agriculture Program Assistant
Clay Cooper just joined us, focusing his attention on
agriculture, small farms, and pesticide testing. Clay
grew up on a small family farm raising beef cattle.
He is nearly finished with his degree in Agri-business
Management from the College of Central Florida, and
intends to pursue his Masters.
If you have an agri-business or are thinking of starting
one, feel free to contact Clay at our Extension Office.
352-527-5700
All programs and related activities sponsored for, or assisted by, the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences are open to all persons without discrimination with
respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations, genetic information and
veteran status as protected under the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Act.
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