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Florida Gardening – By Violette Govan GET YOUR GARDEN READY, HERE COMES THE SUN!” If there’s one thing Floridians understand, it’s sunshine. For those of you with bright, sunny patios, perhaps a tendency to forget to water, or those who really don’t want to work too hard to reap the benefits of green scenery, indulge […]

Florida Gardening – By Violette Govan House Plants For Self-Labeled Brown Thumbs I’ve spent my entire life studying plant nomenclature, biology, reproductive methods, environmental impact, growth patterns, health, diseases, and mutation, so perhaps it’s unfair of me to be shocked each time I am told someone can’t grow plants. What do you mean you kill […]

What to do this week By Mark Govan, Host “Florida Gardening” on 970WFLA Live on Sunday’s 7-9am Landscape Plants That Produce Flowers That Change Color During The Day Anyone can go into a nursery and select flowering plants for their landscape but few of us may know the color, growth habits, and locations these plants […]

What to do this week By Mark Govan, Host “Florida Gardening” on 970WFLA Live on Sunday’s 7-9am How to Grow Olive Trees in Central Florida Many homeowners have been looking for a replacement for their citrus trees devastated by citrus greening. However, trying to plant something other than mangoes or avocados that will grow in […]

What to do this week By Mark Govan, Host “Florida Gardening” on 970WFLA Live on Sunday’s 7-9am Tampa Bay is ground zero for a new Palm Tree Killer. Here is what you need to know to protect your investment We all love palm trees for their stately beauty, and many of us have purchased them […]

What to do this week By Mark Govan, Host “Florida Gardening” on 970WFLA Live on Sunday’s 7-9am How to properly prune your Azaleas for peak flower production Another year has gone by, and our azaleas have finally finished their show of flowers. Some of them were fantastic, but others were not. You can tell several […]

What to do this week By Mark Govan, Host “Florida Gardening” on 970WFLA Live on Sunday’s 7-9am New Florida Turf Grass “ProVista” may be a Game Changer for Florida Residents Every dozen or so years, new varieties of turf grass are introduced to residents of the southern states. Some of these varieties promise greener color […]

What to do this week By Mark Govan, Host “Florida Gardening” on 970WFLA Live on Sunday’s 7-9am Brighten up your Central Florida Landscape with Annuals Most of our landscapes have been sleeping through the winter months, and color is very hard to find. Even though some of our plants may show a little life, we […]

What to do this week By Mark Govan, Host “Florida Gardening” on 970WFLA Live on Sunday’s 7-9am How to grow Pineapples in Central Florida I can still remember my first encounter with a homeowner who grew pineapples in Clearwater, Fl. This gentleman lived on a corner lot in a large mobile home park. His winding […]

What to do this week By Mark Govan, Host “Florida Gardening” on 970WFLA Live on Sunday’s 7-9am Plants that do well in the Shady areas of Central Florida Florida plant lovers tend to seek out ornamental plants that grow in full sun or need at least part-sun to produce the flowers and colors we like […]

What to do this week By Mark Govan, Host “Florida Gardening” on 970WFLA Live on Sunday’s 7-9am Ghost Ants and how to control them in Florida Heavy rains have given a rise to one of the most problematic pests’ homeowners in Central Florida have had to fight for quite some time. These pests invade our […]

What to do this week By Mark Govan, Host “Florida Gardening” on 970WFLA Live on Sunday’s 7-9am How to control Air Potato Vines in Central Florida   We have all seen them clinging to our plants, fences, and even trees. They start out small but rapidly grow in size to cover entire landscapes. Yes, I […]

What to do this week By Mark Govan, Host “Florida Gardening” on 970WFLA Live on Sunday’s 7-9am Problems with grubs, aphids, and scales in your lawn and landscape need to be addressed   Now that summer is officially here, it seems like there has been an explosion of insect activity throughout our landscapes. Tampa residents […]

What to do this week Re-Printed By Mark Govan, Host “Florida Gardening” on 970WFLA Live on Sunday’s 7-9am In Celebration of the Rose – America’s favorite flower keeps getting better and better. In Celebration of the Rose – America’s favorite flower keeps getting better and better. Re-Printed by Mark Govan, host of “Florida Gardening” heard […]

What to do this week By Mark Govan, Host “Florida Gardening” on 970WFLA Live on Sunday’s 7-9am Tampa Bay’s Landscape and Fruit Trees are being killed by Ambrosia Beetles. Find out how to protect them Trees throughout the Tampa Bay area are being eaten from the inside out by a small one-eighth inch long beetle […]

What to do this week By Mark Govan, Host “Florida Gardening” on 970WFLA Live on Sunday’s 7-9am Mushroom Root Rot and what you need to identify this problem and tips on how to avoid it. Mushroom root rot or Armillaria is a deadly disease that kills trees and shrubs by attacking their root systems. Once […]

What to do this week By Mark Govan, Host “Florida Gardening” on 970WFLA on 970WFLA Live on Sunday’s 7-9am How to care for your plants after the Freeze The winter weather covering most of the country has finally descended upon us. Although the duration of this cold blast was not very long, freezing temperatures have touched […]

What to do this week By Mark Govan, Host “Florida Gardening” on 970WFLA on 970WFLA Live on Sunday’s 7-9am Camellias – A cold-hardy replacement for plants lost in the freeze!  With dead plants and freeze-scorched leaves in every landscape, I felt the need to show you a plant that will never freeze or brown out. This […]

What to do this week By Mark Govan, Host “Florida Gardening” on 970WFLA Live on Sunday’s 7am-9am Broadleaf Weeds, Weed Grasses, and how to Control them! Freezes, frosts, and lingering cool weather may have delayed our landscape plants from producing the blooms and foliage we normally see by now, but the weeds in our lawns […]

What to do this week By Mark Govan, Host “Florida Gardening” on 970WFLA Live on Sunday’s 7-9am Tampa Bay’s Landscape and Fruit Trees are being killed by Ambrosia Beetles. Find out how to protect them Trees throughout the Tampa Bay area are being eaten from the inside out by a small one-eighth inch long beetle […]

What to do this week By Mark Govan, Host “Florida Gardening” on 970WFLA Help Florida Citrus growers control Citrus Greening. Order your free biological control wasps now!  Citrus Greening is a disease that affects all cultivars of citrus and has become a real problem for both commercial citrus growers and backyard gardeners throughout the state […]

What to do this week By Mark Govan, Host “Florida Gardening” on 970WFLA Repairing your landscape, after the Storm Every resident in Central Florida has been affected by the storm in a different way. Although I could never dismiss the real horror some of us have gone through this past week, for this article, I […]

What to do this week By Mark Govan, Host “Florida Gardening” on 970WFLA How to apply pesticides and herbicides properly It would be hard for me to count the number of times I have recommended the application of products intended to control pests, weeds, or diseases. In most of these instances, the person inquiring of […]

What to do this week By Mark Govan, Host “Florida Gardening” on 970WFLA Chiggers – A Pest To Avoid Every so often, even the author of this article falls on the receiving end of a pest-control problem. While visiting friends in North Florida, I was the unfortunate recipient of several dozen chigger bites. Chiggers are […]

What to do this week By Mark Govan, Host “Florida Gardening” on 970WFLA Sod Web Worms And The Damage They Cause Ever since our afternoon rains returned with more frequency, our landscapes, including our turf grass are growing very quickly. Plants have been pushing out new growth and our lawns now require mowing weekly. This […]

What to do this week Re-Printed By Mark Govan, Host “Florida Gardening” on 970WFLA In Celebration of the Rose – America’s favorite flower keeps getting better and better. In Celebration of the Rose – America’s favorite flower keeps getting better and better. Re-Printed by Mark Govan, host of “Florida Gardening” heard on 970WFLA The rose […]

What to do this week By Mark Govan, Host “Florida Gardening” on 970WFLA Growing Sweet Potatoes Daytime temperatures in the upper eighties and low nineties severely limit choices we have to grow in the garden. One of my favorite plants, the sweet potato, is easy to grow and a great choice for summer gardens. Sweet […]

What to do this week By Mark Govan, Host “Florida Gardening” on 970WFLA How to Control Fleas in the Home and Yard Since October, the Tampa Bay area has received only forty-three percent of its’ average annual rainfall. The effects of this deficiency are quite obvious in the landscape. Our lawns, bushes, and even our […]

What to do this week By Mark Govan, Host “Florida Gardening” on 970WFLA Square-Foot Gardening, Double-Cropping, Vertical Gardening and Integrated Pest Management I have been working very hard planting out all of my spring vegetables, which have been growing in pots since late January. Gradually stepping up my seedlings into larger pots increases the size […]

What to do this week By Mark Govan, Host “Florida Gardening” on 970WFLA Palm Tree Cold Damage and what to look for – By Mark Govan, Host “Florida Gardening” on 970WFLA Florida enjoys a wide selection of palms, which many of us do not know are grown all over the country. These palms are shipped […]

What to do this week By Mark Govan, Host “Florida Gardening” on 970WFLA Lawn, Citrus, Fruit, and Landscape problems you need to address now! Even as we watch our northern friends toil with yet another snowstorm, our Florida landscapes are beginning to wake up from their short winter nap. March signals the end to any […]

What to do this week By Mark Govan, Host “Florida Gardening” on 970WFLA How to build your own Grow Box and mix great soil in central Florida Growing your own food can be a lot of fun and is a good exercise for those participating in this national pastime. Unfortunately, many of us think gardening […]

What to do this week By Mark Govan, Host “Florida Gardening” on 970WFLA Drought, Fertilizer, and Caring for the Vegetable Garden With just over a couple of inches of rain falling since this past October, many of our plants, including our lawns are showing the symptoms of drought stress. There are several products you should […]

What to do this week By Mark Govan, Host “Florida Gardening” on 970WFLA Flowering Perennials for full Sun Gardens If you are tired of looking at the same-old flowering plants that every homeowner seems to grow because you cannot find plants that will sustain our hot summers, or you just do not know where to […]

What to do this week By Mark Govan, Host “Florida Gardening” on 970WFLA Bed Bugs and Household Mites: How to ID and control them This week I have been inundated with questions about pests and insects that infest our homes. As you know, there are many pests, some are worse than others. In this article, […]

What to do this week By Mark Govan, Host “Florida Gardening” on 970WFLA Garden Tips to Save Time and Money Some of the most interesting plants you will ever run across in the landscape are the Tillandsias, also known as air plants. You probably pass by a few of these plants every time you walk […]

What to do this week By Mark Govan, Host “Florida Gardening” on 970WFLA Strawberries – How to grow and care for them in the garden Many of us have started our fall vegetable gardens or at least are in the process of growing our seedlings to plant in the garden this October. Some of my […]

What to do this week By Mark Govan, Host “Florida Gardening” on 970WFLA Garden Tips to Save Time and Money Every nurseryman or woman has learned their trade by working with the plants they sell to keep them healthy and green. Some of the procedures we have learned could be called “trade secrets.” In this […]

What to do this week By Mark Govan, Host “Florida Gardening” on 970WFLA Chinch Bugs, Caterpillars, and Whiteflies June is the month we really start to see changes in the landscape. Some of these changes are pronounced as many of our plants begin their flowering or fruiting seasons. Unfortunately, with all good things, there has […]

What to do this week By Mark Govan, Host “Florida Gardening” on 970WFLA Vines which work well in the garden and those that do not Selecting a flowering vine to cover a wall or pergola should be fairly uncomplicated. Just go to a garden center and pick out one you like, right? Well, it is […]

What to do this week By Mark Govan, Host “Florida Gardening” on 970WFLA Fertilizing your lawn and planting your Spring Vegetable Garden As our weather starts to moderate and the cold days of winter begin to fade, there are several things you should be doing now to keep your landscape healthy and green. Fertilizing your […]

What to do this week By Mark Govan, Host “Florida Gardening” on 970WFLA The Zika Virus and what you need to know to Protect Yourself – Last month Florida Governor, Rick Scott declared a Health Emergency in four counties, Miami-Dade, Lee, Hillsborough, and Santa Rosa counties due to the spread of this mosquito borne virus. […]

What to do this week By Mark Govan, Host “Florida Gardening” on 970WFLA Sugar Ants, Crazy Ants, and Household Ants One of the most frequent calls made to our company revolves around ants infesting the home. Some people describe these invaders in many different ways, “they are everywhere,” “there is a trail of them walking […]

What to do this week By Mark Govan, Host “Florida Gardening” on 970WFLA Rats and Insects feeding on your Citrus Trees – February is one of my favorite times of the year. During this season, many of our citrus fruits begin to ripen, and because many of us have backyard citrus trees, the morning grapefruit […]

What to do this week – By Mark Govan, Host “Florida Gardening“ Palm Tree Deficiencies and Fertilization Palm trees are a great addition to any landscape. Their beauty and stature can give your home that “Florida feel”. Some palms can be used as a privacy screen, while others may be used as small specimen plants to […]

What to do this week – By Mark Govan, Host “Florida Gardening“   October brings us an important time of the year with specific tasks we must perform to keep our landscapes healthy. Fertilization of our lawns and ornamental plants need to be completed now to give them the nutrients they need to grow and […]

What to do this week – By Mark Govan, Host “Florida Gardening“   Plumerias Our summers are very harsh on our landscape plants, and turf grasses. Those of us fortunate enough to receive some rain can keep our plants hydrated and healthy. Unfortunately, many of us that live along the beaches or areas which do […]

What to do this week – By Mark Govan, Host “Florida Gardening“   Fruiting Landscape Plants As a garden enthusiast, I frequently tour homeowner gardens to see what types of plants they grow and how they perform in our area. Many of the plants I see, remind me of plants I have grown in the […]

What to do this week – By Mark Govan, Host “Florida Gardening“   Fall Gardens   One of the first signs I look for in determining when I should be getting ready for the fall planting season is when the commercial growers start getting their fields ready. Over the past few weeks, I have observed […]

What to do this week – By Mark Govan, Host “Florida Gardening“   Army and Sod Web Worms The afternoon rains we have been receiving are a great change over last year. Normally, we have to wait until summer officially begins in order for our rainy season to bring us the precipitation necessary to keep […]

What to do this week – By Mark Govan, Host “Florida Gardening“   Spring is here! Our temperatures are starting to rise, and our landscapes have begun to respond with new growth. If you have been following my advice, then you should have already pruned your plants to remove any freeze damage or diseased and […]

What to do this week – By Mark Govan, Host “Florida Gardening“   Many of us have planted our spring gardens and have been watching the steady growth of our seedling plants as they begin to mature in the garden. If you had planted your gardens early enough, then some of you may have fruit […]

What to do this week – By Mark Govan, Host “Florida Gardening“   As a garden enthusiast, I frequently tour homeowner gardens to see what types of plants they grow and how they perform in our area. Many of the plants I see, remind me of plants I have grown in the past, which you […]

What to do this week – By Mark Govan, Host “Florida Gardening“ Our Spring Vegetable planting season is right around the corner. This means we have to get focused on preparing our gardens for planting and selecting the seeds we are going to be growing. This week I will go over a few of the […]

What to do this week – By Mark Govan, Host “Florida Gardening“ Over the last few weeks, the weather has been pretty chilly, and as we delve further into our Holiday Season, we can count on several bouts with even colder temperatures with the possibility of a freeze. This change in temperatures can be helpful […]

What to do this week – By Mark Govan, Host “Florida Gardening“ With so many things going on in the garden this month, I feel compelled to go over three specific items you need to be working on in the garden. These items are – checking on and maintaining your seedling vegetables, feeding your lawns […]

What to do this week – By Mark Govan, Host “Florida Gardening“ I was visiting a garden center this past week when a gentleman stopped me and asked about the different varieties of plugs available to help repair his lawn. Unfortunately, he did not know what type of grass he had, and he seemed a […]

What to do this week – By Mark Govan, Host “Florida Gardening“ Gardening in the fall and winter is something everyone should try. Temperatures are cooler and there are many plants that we should be trying in our gardens. Best of all, the pests and diseases we have been fighting during the summer months are […]

What to do this week –By Mark Govan, Host “Florida Gardening” One of the things I enjoy about gardening in Florida is that we have multiple planting seasons throughout the year. With so many times to plant different vegetables in our gardens, we need to know what to plant and when to start the seedlings […]

What to do this week –By Mark Govan, Host “Florida Gardening” This week I have decided to go over some specific turf problems many of you have been asking about. How to cure hardpan soils, when I need core aeration, and should I verti-cut or dethatch my lawn, seem to be questions I receive regularly. […]

What to do this week –By Mark Govan, Host “Florida Gardening” Bulbs can add a great burst of color to any landscape. Right now there are several bulbs in bloom and many more getting ready to add color to the garden. If you are looking for a relatively carefree plant that can give you years […]

What to do this week –By Mark Govan, Host “Florida Gardening” Now that our gardens are growing and our landscape plants have come to life with an explosion of growth, we need to add the depleted nutrients these plants need back into the soil to help them thrive. Our vegetable gardens, landscape plants, and turf […]

What to do this week –By Mark Govan, Host “Florida Gardening” The first day of spring this year was March 20th and if you have been following my planting calendar then many of you should have some good looking plants already growing in the garden or at least pots of seedlings ready to be transplanted […]

What to do this week –By Mark Govan, Host “Florida Gardening” I have had several requests this past week to talk about small flowering trees and plants which could add additional winter color in the garden. Because most of our plants are still in dormancy and many have lost their leaves, our landscapes have lost […]

What to do this week –By Mark Govan, Host “Florida Gardening” Cooler weather is upon us now and many of our plants are going dormant. Unfortunately, there are only a few plants that continue to give us color this time of year. Some people believe this is just the changing of seasons and there is […]

During the winter months our lawns go into a slow growth mode or depending on how cold the temperatures are they may go into complete dormancy. For those of us who cut our own lawns this is a relief. We do not have to get the lawn mower out of the garage every week or sometimes twice a week to perform our ritual mowing of the turf grass.

What to do this week –By Mark Govan, Host “Florida Gardening” My fall vegetable garden is coming along very nicely right now and most of my plants are starting to produce. This is a great time of year because you can spend more time in the garden without breaking a sweat and when you feel […]

What to do this week –By Mark Govan, Host “Florida Gardening” As we March towards spring I know many of you have started to plant your spring gardens. Tomatoes, eggplants, pole beans, and peppers are favorites many of us have planted in the past and are about to plant again. This week I would like […]

What to do this week –By Mark Govan, Host “Florida Gardening” When warm temperatures get people motivated to get out into the garden, my email starts lighting up with questions on just about every subject you can imagine. This week I am going to go through of few of the problems you, my readers have […]

What to do this week –By Mark Govan, Host “Florida Gardening” February is here and it is time to start growing our tomatoes for your spring vegetable gardens. Seeds started now inside the home will grow and be the right size for putting them into the garden around the first or second week of March. […]

What to do this week –By Mark Govan, Host “Florida Gardening” January is the time of year when many of our landscape plants have gone dormant. As cooler weather prevails, plants slow their growth and for most plants, color fades from the landscape. Because many of our residents spend their summers up north, they never […]

What to do this week –By Mark Govan, Host “Florida Gardening” January is the time of year many of our plants have gone dormant. Turf grasses, ornamental bedding plants, and even our vegetable gardens have either slowed down their growth or are at the end of their growth cycles. Although you may think that finally […]

What to do this week –By Mark Govan, Host “Florida Gardening” My last two articles have covered problems associated with citrus. My first article covered citrus diseases and my second article covered citrus insect problems and the proper care you must do to prevent these diseases and insects from limiting your citrus crop. In this […]

What to do this week –By Mark Govan, Host “Florida Gardening” In my last article I covered several of the diseases affecting citrus trees and the proper care you must perform to prevent these diseases from limiting your citrus crop. Because many of the diseases I mentioned last week can be easily confused with insect […]

What to do this week –By Mark Govan, Host “Florida Gardening” Over the last several weeks I have been inundated with questions regarding citrus trees, their diseases, and the proper care they need to produce a good crop. In order for me to give you the information you need to care for your trees, you […]

What to do this week –By Mark Govan, Host “Florida Gardening” There has been a significant increase in the number of people adding fruit and vegetable gardens to their landscapes. Citrus trees are hard to keep in stock because so many homeowners are replacing older declining trees with new varieties they prefer to grow. Cocktail […]

What to do this week –By Mark Govan, Host “Florida Gardening” This week I would like to touch on the importance of proper fertilization for our turf grasses, our ornamental plants, and our vegetable gardens. Even though winter is approaching, many of us have been unable to fertilize our plants during the summer due to […]

This past week I had the opportunity to attend several plant shows which were packed with homeowners picking out plants to use in their yards and gardens. I love seeing people selecting new additions for their gardens but there are a few things that I feel are important to bring to your attention. This week […]

It is hard to believe that October is here and those of you that have followed my articles should already see your vegetable gardens starting to take shape. Even though you may have started your fall gardens, there is still much more to do. This week I want to go over a few additional plants […]

This week we really need to dive into the garden and get our plants growing to make sure we get as much from our fall harvest as possible. If you read my last article you know it is time to plant your fall garden. This week I want to go over some of the leafy […]

  Can you believe September is already here? Seems like this year is passing so quickly but we still have a lot to do in the garden. Right now you should be planting your fall vegetable garden. If you have not started your plants yet, you are still in luck as you can purchase plants […]

There are few fruiting plants that can be grown as easily as the pineapple. Pineapples can be a great specimen plant for the garden or accent for any porch or walkway. I have several pineapples growing in my landscape and they make an attractive border plant. The great thing about pineapples is that not only […]

Flowering and fruiting foliage vines can add a wonderful buffer in the landscape but if you do not know the growth habits of the vine, the flowering habits, or whether or not they may produce an edible fruit, then picking out the right vine may be difficult. Most of us just want to cover a […]

Two weeks ago we talked about propagation techniques you can use to grow your own herbs and spices. Although we covered many of the topics associated with growing herbs there is one part I left out, the harvesting and storage of herbs you are now growing. This week I will go into some detail on […]

In my last article I gave you a brief description on how you can grow herbs and spices in your garden. That article included steps you needed to take in soil preparation, site selection, growing in containers, and growing for color. Some of the sections included ideas of how to lay out your herb garden […]

Herb gardening can be a challenge if you do not follow the basic rules for proper site selection, soil preparation, and the choice of the herbs you will use in the garden or at your table. I have talked to many people that pride themselves on the many varieties of herbs they grow but if […]

During the past week I had a call from a client that wanted my company to come out and identify a problem he was having on his hibiscus. These types of calls are normal for us so we dispatched a technician to help identify the problem. The hibiscus plant was indeed stressed because the plant […]

Palm trees are one of the plants we grow that homeowners believe are drought tolerant and basically trouble free. In fact, many of the varieties of palms we grow here in central Floridaincluding our state tree, the Sabal Palm, are trouble free and easy to maintain in most landscapes. However, few of us are able […]

This week I was walking through my greenhouse and I started thinking about how warm it was. Generally speaking April is a nice warm month with cool nights and many of our plants should just be waking up and putting on their foliage. Well, just three weeks into spring and I have had to prune […]

During the plant show I attended this past week at the University of South Florida Botanical Garden, I had the opportunity to discuss at length the culture and growth habits of blueberries with Ken and Patsy Frier of Berry Blue Farms and Nursery, LLC., located in Plant City. Having the growers available to answer questions […]

I have grown sweet potatoes for many years and now I would like to share with you a few of the secrets of growing this hearty plant. Florida enjoys a perfect climate for growing sweet potatoes and with an extended planting season (February through June) you too can enjoys this desirable vegetable in your own […]

Each of us knows someone who travels to Floridaeach year during the winter to evade the cool temperatures up north. Who can blame them? All I need to do is see pictures of three or four foot snow drifts and cars stuck on the side of the road to reinsure me that Florida is a […]

Winter’s grip has abandoned us to the warm days of spring. I can hardly believe what a mild winter we have had and as the first days of March are here, we need to start bringing our lawns and plants out of their winter dormancy. Some of us have probably noticed our lawns and plants […]

February is here and now is the time to start another crop few of you have tried before, potatoes. Growing potatoes can be fun and if you have never grown them before than this is one crop you just have to try growing. If you have grown them before let the kids give this one […]

This week I had the pleasure of interviewing author, Fred Dortort. Fred recently finished his new book “Succulent Plants of the World” available at local bookstores. Most of us have probably grown succulents without even knowing what they were. Succulents are known for their distinct ability to survive and thrive in some of the worst […]

The first big freeze of the season has past and many of our lawns and ornamental plants are showing signs of its cool breath. Bahia and St. Augustine lawns have browned out and the weeds which were green have withered and died. Even those nasty carpet grass weeds in our lawns have browned out beckoning […]

Gardeners from throughout the country have moved to Florida and found the diversity of plants grown here to be lacking. What they found to be lacking are the plants they grew up with are not grown here. Floridahas a tropical climate and many of the plants grown here are beautiful but they are not the […]

Roses have to be one the most widespread ornamental plants used to give color in the landscape. Everyone can and should grow at least one variety of a rose and there are many varieties to choose from. Whether used in containers, as hedges, flowing on arbors, or planted in mass, roses can be a delight […]

Growing fruiting plants at home can help you to offset your grocery bill for the entire year. The more plants you have in your garden the better off you are going to be. One thing you must do is to have diversity in the plants you are growing or propagating. A continual supply of fruits […]

Well, December is finally here and as our cool weather settles in, one of our favorite fruit trees begin to show off their wonderful blooms. Mangoes begin to bloom this time of year and depending on the variety you have your tree could either just be starting to go into bloom or your tree could […]

If you have been interested in starting a fall flower garden and you do not know where to start then this article is for you. This week I am going talk about the differences between annuals, biennials, and perennials. I will also let you know how to prepare the soil in your garden or landscape […]

Well it is hard to believe that we are in November and the day and nighttime temperatures are getting cooler. This change in seasons gives us an opportunity to do a few things in the garden the high temperatures of summer would not allow us to do. Weeding the garden, thinning out the rows of […]

There are many plants I like to use in the landscape that can produce an edible fruit. One plant in particular, the edible fig tree, does not get enough use in the landscape. With the ease of propagation this plant offers everyone should have at least one. This week I am going to tell you […]

Many of my readers have expressed an interest in a few plants that can withstand the cool weather this fall and winter will bring. Well, I have a few ideas of plants that I think you will like and be able to use in your landscape. These plants will not mind any of the cool […]

No matter what type of landscape plant you are growing, there is a pest that you need to be aware of, thrips. Thrips are very small insects with rasping sucking mouthparts which damage plants by tearing the leaf or flower surface with their mouthparts then sucking the plant juices which seep out. This feeding causes […]

If you grow vegetables, citrus, or even ornamental plants, then you have probably had a fungus disease that you have had to deal with. I get questions daily from homeowners asking me what the problem is on their plants and often this brings up fungal diseases. I have to ask, is the fungus on your […]

This week I would like to talk about another of my favorite plants, the Hibiscus. Hibiscus has been grown in Florida gardens for many years however the plant originated in the Pacific islands and Malaysia. A lot of people think of Hawaiiwhen they see the colorful blooms and tropical look, this is why you should […]

While growing up in Michigan, the only fungus we had to worry about came from locker room floors. What a change Floridabrings when you talk about fungus here you have to be specific. Is the fungus on your lawn, your fruit tree leaves, the fruit, the bark, on your vegetables, or in the soil? So […]

I have been hearing a lot of comments from homeowners seeing occasional invaders entering their homes. Occasional invaders include earwigs, millipedes, and ants. There are many theories as to why these occasional invaders enter our homes at certain times of year such as migrations, overpopulation within the insect colonies, and seeking out food sources. While […]

Over the past few weeks I have been inundated with people asking me the proper way to start tropical fruit trees from seed. In this article I am going to explain to you the proper way to grow Mangoes and Avocado trees from seed. I will also discuss how to keep your plants growing once […]

The end of July marks the point of time when we need to look at our fall vegetable gardens. Planning what types of vegetables or spices you are going to be using and getting your beds ready for these new crops needs to start now. Most of us plant from seed so you will need […]

Well July is finally here and the summer heat will not let up for at least several more months so I want to stay on my theme of plants that work well in this dry weather. This week I have decided to talk about my favorite plant, the plumeria. Plumerias could be your answer to […]

Well this past week has been very hot and many of our plants have shown certain types of stresses such as droopy leaves or fungus diseases. Some plants will respond well to a little water and others may need to be sprayed with a fungicide. Because it is so hot to work in the sun […]

Heat can be a killer for many of our garden plants and as our daily temperatures continue to climb into the ninety degree range you may have seen your tomato plants withering, your impatiens drooping, and your begonias looking pale. How would you like to try a few garden plants that can take the heat […]

Our summer months are just around the corner and there are few things I would like to share with you to help you maintain your turf grass during the summer. Because of new ordinances which have been passed in many communities, there are new restrictions on fertilizer use during the summer. There have also been […]

Many of us have areas of the garden we do not like to look at such as unattractive fences, rails, or posts which we can not eliminate because of pets or children but we can cover these areas and make them part of the garden. Vines are nature’s tablecloth. We plant some vines to accent […]

Magnolia trees can be a wonderful addition to any landscape. Their large fragrant flowers and attractive glossy green leaves can give any landscape a focal point to build around especially during the flowering season. Homeowners looking to add a tree to their landscape will rejoice in the fact that magnolias are also cold hardy. Magnolias […]

During the month of April there are many things you should be doing in the garden. Planting vegetables like beans, cantaloupes, and squash can give you an endless supply of delight when you begin to harvest them so let’s get busy. If you have not started your seed liners yet, that’s ok. There are many […]

Bananas are one of my favorite plants to use in the landscape. Their large leaves can make a great screen to give homeowners privacy around swimming pools or lanais. When used as a specimen plant bananas can be very attractive and add that tropical look to any landscape. Many varieties grow large and stately while […]

Well the temperatures are warming up, the grass is starting to grow, ornamental plants are starting to bloom, and the trees are putting on their new leaves. Unfortunately, with all this new growth the pollen count is climbing and many of us with allergies are feeling the pain. Itchy eyes, stuffy noses, and coughing are […]

March is right around the corner and there are a few things we need to do to get our lawns ready for spring. As our temperatures raise turf grass root activity increases. This is the time to fertilize our lawns and shrubs in order to give them the nutrients they need for proper plant growth. […]

Well we have had several days with temperatures in the 80’s. Can you believe that? I am seeing the first signs of winter’s retreat and the warm days of spring may fast be approaching. Does this mean we are done with the cold weather? I can only tell you to plan on more cold weather […]

Trees add character and balance to any landscape. Some trees also provide either an aesthetic or economical value to a home or business. Flowering trees can help to add splashes of color which can be very pleasing to the eye. If the flowering comes at a time of year when few plants are in bloom, […]

Mangos are one of the worlds most commonly eaten fruits. The mangos ripe peach colored flesh is juicy, high in sugars, and is a favorite of many Floridians. The fruit can have a color from pale green to yellow with a hint of red depending on the cultivar you have. Sizes of the fruit can […]

  Many of us receive poinsettias (Euphorbia pulcherrima) for the Christmas season and hydrangeas (Hydrangea macrophylla) for the Easter season. What do you need to know about these plants and how can you help them survive if you plan to use these plants in the landscape around your home?  Here is some information I know […]

  In my last article I talked about what you can do to protect your landscape plants from the cold weather we were expecting. Many of you did a good job and will have minimal problems if you were diligent in protecting your plants during each night of the cold weather but some of you […]

Many of you may be feeling the change in the air. This change is a warning sign for some plants and a helpful hand to others. Orchids and tropical plants do not like cool weather and need protection when temperatures fall below 45 degrees. However, a citrus tree likes the cooler weather as this helps […]

Some of my favorite flowering plants belong to the largest family of flowering plants, these are the Orchids. With as many as 35,000 species, everyone can pick their own favorite. Although many people think orchids are hard to grow, when properly grown under the shade of a tree or overhang, orchids can grow with minimal […]

Fall is a great time to work in the garden but most of the plants we look at have stopped blooming and the garden becomes a patch of mainly green plants. Well, Florida gardeners do not have to wait for color if they plan ahead. There are many plants which can give us bright colors […]

With morning temperatures a mere 67 degrees and afternoon temperatures in the upper 70’s to low 80’s, you need to get out into the garden and do a few maintenance chores. Those of us that planted our gardens in September should be seeing the results of our labor. Vegetables are growing and so are the […]

Well, October is finally here and so are the cooler temperatures. This means if you have not started to plant your Fall vegetable gardens, you still have time. Florida has two growing seasons Spring and Fall. The Fall season is perfect for growing your leafy vegetables such as Cabbage, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Collard Greens, and […]

Well, October is finally here and so are the cooler temperatures. This means if you have not started to plant your Fall vegetable gardens, you still have time. Florida has two growing seasons Spring and Fall. The Fall season is perfect for growing your leafy vegetables such as Cabbage, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Collard Greens, and […]

Weed control has always been an issue for homeowners wanting a lush green blanket of grass. But did you know that there is a half- a- ton of weed seeds for every acre of grass in the world? And most of these weed seeds are carried by animals or float on the air currents? Well, […]

I have been doing a lot of work in the garden these last few weeks not only making room for additional plants that I will be putting out in a few weeks but also scouting for insects and diseases on the plants I have growing now. Even though our temperatures have cooled slightly and pest […]

  What to do this week   byMark Govan, Host “Florida Gardening”                   In my last article I covered several of the diseases affecting citrus trees and the proper care you must perform to prevent these diseases from limiting your citrus crop. Because many of the diseases I mentioned last week can […]

Over the last several months there has been a massive invasion of a plant killing pest that has been ravaging our palm trees, ornamental plants, and even many of our hardwood trees. This pest, the Rugose Spiraling Whitefly, entered the southern regions of our state in 2009 and has been steadily moving North through Central […]

The end of August marks a great time of year for gardeners. This is the time of year we need to be looking at both conditioning the soil of our fall vegetable gardens for new plants and starting our vegetables from seed so they are ready for the mid-September planting season. Conditioning your existing garden […]

I have been harvesting so many tomatoes, beans, peppers, and squash that I have lost count. Even though many of my plants are nearing the end of their productive cycle, I am still expecting to continue harvesting many more before these plants succumb to the summer’s heat. Now, as these plants start to fade you […]

Plumerias have always been one of my most favorite plants to grow in the landscape. Because of their tolerance to heat and their tropical look, Plumerias can be an attractive addition to any garden. Most of my plants are already in full bloom and some are strikingly beautiful. This week I want to share with […]

June is here and we are in the middle of our dry season. Without the daily afternoon thunderstorms we receive in July and August, our lawns and plants rely on us to monitor just how much water they are receiving. Most of us have probably noticed how quickly our potted plants and vegetable gardens are […]

Fertilization of our ornamental landscape plants and turf grasses are very important to root formation and the disease fighting characteristics of these plants. When plants are stressed due to irrigation problems such as drought or insect infestations, their root systems start to shut down causing further damage. Proper fertilization can enhance the ability of plants […]

Flowering trees can be a beautiful addition to any landscape. Trees add beauty and because of the shade they offer, give homeowners the opportunity to enjoy their outdoor spaces. There are several large and medium sized flowering trees that can not only give you the shade you so desperately desire, but as the trees begin […]

Over the next two months you will be seeing advertising for some of the most anticipated Spring Plant Festivals of the season. This is the time of year all of the garden clubs, plant societies, and even the Botanical Gardens gear up to sell their plants to the general public. These shows are fun, informative, […]

Spring is finally here and most of us are tending our new vegetable gardens and watching them grow. My Tomatoes, Lima/Pole beans, Cucumbers, and Squash are growing up quickly. For me this is an exciting time because there are so many things happening all at once. Every day I walk out into the garden to […]

The weather seems to be warming up a bit and most of us have been working in the garden pulling a few weeds and fertilizing our young plants. Most of my tomatoes plants have medium tomatoes growing and my squash is looking very nice. Although I could write this entire article talking about things I […]