Make Your Yard Florida Friendly

Follow these nine principles from the University of Florida/IFAS Extension to make your Florida yard thrive. Put the right plants in the right places. Choose plants that match each site’s soil, light, water and climatic conditions. Group plants with similar water needs. (Extension professionals and websites have numerous plant lists that fit many conditions, so feel free to call your local o ce and they can help you pick plants that fit your specific site.)

Water e ciently. Water early in the morning. If you have an automated irrigation system, calibrate it for maximum e ciency. Watch the weather; don’t water if it’s going to rain.

Fertilize appropriately. Select fertilizers with slow-release nitrogen and little or no phosphorous. Use UF/IFAS-recommended rates and application timings to prevent fertilizer leaking down through the soil rather than being absorbed by plant roots. Don’t fertilizer before a heavy rain and never fertilize within 10 feet of any body of water.

Mulch wisely. A 2- to 3-inch layer of mulch helps the soil retain moisture and inhibits weed growth, but leave a gap of at least two inches around tree trunks to prevent rot and fungal infection.

Invite wildlife. Provide food, water and shelter that welcome birds, butterflies, bats and beneficial insects, which help pollinate plants. Select plants that o er seeds, fruits, foliage, berries and flowers that animals can eat, and provide a water source, such as a bird bath.

Manage pests responsibly. Use as few chemicals as possible. If insecticides are necessary to control pests, spot treat only a ected areas and use selective insecticides (not broad spectrum) to address your specific pest concern.

Recycle yard waste. Don’t haul grass clippings, leaves and branches to the landfill. Compost them instead, and once decomposed, add them back to your soil to make it richer and more fertile.

Reduce runo . Use landscaping techniques (berms, swales) to slow runo from rain. Use permeable walkways and driveways whenever possible.

Protect water bodies. What happens in your yard doesn’t necessarily stay in your yard. Protect water bodies by maintaining at least a 10-foot maintenance-free zone around them, meaning no mowing, fertilizing or pesticide use in these areas. Keep grass clippings and pet waste out of water as well.

To learn more about using these principles in your own yard, download a copy of The Florida Yards & Neighborhoods Handbook at ifas.ufl.edu or call (352) 273-4518 to request a copy.

That doesn’t mean, however, that you can just buy native plants, plop them in the dirt and expect them to thrive.

As LeCroy explains, native plants have been here a long time and have proven themselves in this environment, but that environment is often significantly altered. For example, when you remove native topsoil and change the water pattern by installing irrigation, this can a ect how well a native plant does.

In addition, homeowners often mingle native and non-native and/ or exotic plants, which can expose the native plants to pests and disease problems they haven’t been associated with previously. This just means you still need to do your homework about proper planting and care, even when using reliable native species.

Get Growing

The good news is that you don’t have to be a pro to have a green thumb. You just have to be willing to learn.

“Plants selected for aesthetics, color and possible food production can be accomplished in most any landscape with a little homework and the assistance of local knowledgeable Extension professionals,” says Jarvis.

FYI, Extension horticulturists and trained Master Gardeners can help identify plant needs based on site conditions and make recommendations. These green thumb pros are usually happy to speak at homeowner association meetings or club events, so reach out and invite them!

Learn More:

› http://solutionsforyourlife.ufl.edu/ lawn_and_garden/calendar/

› https://fyn.ifas.ufl.edu/plants

› dis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep450

› floridayards.org

› davesgarden.com

› garden.bsewall.com

EVER HAVE THOSE DAYS WHERE YOU THINK JUST ONE MORE THING WILL PUT YOU OVER THE EDGE? YEAH, WE ALL DO. SOMETIMES YOU COME HOME TO FIND YOUR FURNITURE COATED (NOT LIGHTLY SPRINKLED BUT COATED) IN PET HAIR, OR MAYBE YOU'RE FINALLY CATCHING UP ON LAUNDRY ONLY TO FIND OUT YOUR MISSING LIPSTICK WAS IN YOUR JEANS POCKET AND HAS NOW PAINTED THE INSIDE OF YOUR DRYER. IF YOU'RE STRUGGLING WITH OBSTACLES AT HOME, THERE ARE SOME SIMPLE HACKS TO GET YOU THROUGH. THE SAME GOES FOR BEAUTY.

BY KATIE MCPHERSON

I managed to do my laundry today, but my lipstick was in one of the pockets.

Good news: Lipstick stains look scary, but you’re not as screwed as you may think. STEP ONE will be to pick up some WD-40 or Goo Gone, apply to a rag and wipe out any lipstick still in the dryer so your next load of laundry isn’t defiled, too.

STEP TWO: Assess the enemy. Lipstick stains are two-dimensional, so you’ll need to treat for dye and grease. In most cases, dye will come out with some pre-wash stain remover and a cold wash cycle (try dry cleaning fluid if this isn’t e ective). Next, apply a bleach-free detergent directly onto the fabric on the reverse side of the stain. Let sit for up to 30 minutes, then launder in the hottest water possible for that fabric.

NOTE: MAKE SURE ALL THE DYE IS GONE BEFORE TREATING FOR GREASE. OTHERWISE, THAT HOT CYCLE WILL SET THE DYE STAIN PERMANENTLY.

Source: home-ec101.com

Sinks

are damp, and many kitchen pans and utensils are metal. Put two and two together and stainless steel sinks seem made to create rust. Fortunately, it’s not a di cult problem to remedy. Grab your trusty vinegar and baking soda and mix to create a paste. Apply the mixture onto rusty spots and let sit for five to 10 minutes. Scrub o with a sponge, and, if it didn’t remove all the rust the first time, repeat.

Source: hgtv.com pick up a brow tint or fiber gel. They brush through the hairs like mascara to darken and volumize barely there brows. (This writer loves Benefit’s Gimme Brow Volumizing Fiber Gel, $24, benefitcosmetics.com.) If you’re feeling daring, use a pencil and spoolie to draw small strokes, which look like natural hairs, and blend out. See the technique in action by searching YouTube for a tutorial. And how, pray tell, can you rebuild a trusting relationship with your battered brows? Show some remorse by coating them in a growth serum—

Lena Dunham swears by RevitaBrow, for instance, available for $54 on amazon.com. While it’s unproven, many women online say massaging a small amount of castor oil into their eyebrows each day for a month made a significant di erence.

Olive oil or vitamin E oil may be helpful, too

Source: cosmopolitan.com