Planting Pinellas

Is your landscape storm-ready? (Part 2)

pinellascountyextension.org (pinellascountyextension.org) — Wed, 30 May 2012 19:36:00 +0000

Planting Wind Resistant Trees in Your Landscape

Dr. Ed Gilman, Professor of Environmental Horticulture, University of Florida, consulting with a resident on wind resistant tree selection.

This week's blog was written by guest blogger Jane Morse. Jane Morse is the Pinellas County Commercial Horticulture Extension Agent. This is part two of a three-part series.

After you have selected a tree for your yard and are getting ready to plant it, you need to picture it full grown. Make sure mature trees will have lots of space, both in the air and in the soil, which gives them a better chance of surviving storms. Plant smaller trees near homes, power lines and other structures.

All trees need a certain amount of root space based on their mature size. Trees smaller than 30 feet tall need a soil area of at least 10-by-10 feet and should be at least two feet from paved surfaces. Medium trees with a height and spread less than 50 feet need at least 20 x 20 feet should be six feet from pavement. Trees with a height and spread greater than 50 feet need at least a 30-by- 30 foot area and should be 10 feet from pavement. More space is needed if there is a high water table and the roots have less than a depth of 3 feet for rooting.

When planting for shade it is more important to shade the east and west walls of a house than the roof. Small trees planted fairly close to the house for wall shade will be less hazardous than large trees which can fall on the house. For more information, see these links: Urban Design for a Wind Resistant Urban Forest and Choosing Suitable Trees for Urban and Suburban Sites.

If you are a do-it-yourself landscaper, dig the hole wide and shallow so that the top 10% of the root ball is above ground level. The outer inch or so of the root ball should be shaved off to remove all circling roots, and mulch should be applied 3 inches thick and in an area 2 feet in diameter for each inch of tree trunk diameter. Mulch should come up to the edge of the root ball, but not cover it. Roots will expand best when there are no soil differences, so it is best to stick with the natural soil and not amend the planting hole. Establishment takes time and providing enough water is critical to tree survival. For more detail see this link: Planting Trees and Shrubs.

Next week Part 3: Properly Training Your Trees for Wind Resistance

Is your landscape storm-ready? (Part 1)

pinellascountyextension.org (pinellascountyextension.org) — Wed, 23 May 2012 17:54:00 +0000

This week's blog was written by guest blogger Jane Morse. Jane Morse is the Pinellas County Commercial Horticulture Extension Agent. This is part one of a three-part series.

Part 1: Wind Resistant Trees for Your Landscape

When it comes to trees and storms, there are victims and there are survivors. The question to ask yourself before the next – inevitable – big Florida storm is: Will your tree survive or will it come crashing down on your roof?

Trees have a lot to contend with during storms. High winds snap them and break off branches. Rain loosens the soil, making it harder for the roots to hold them up. And the longer it takes for storms to move through an area, the more water accumulates in the soil and the more battering the trees take.

A tree’s survival comes down to whether it is resistant to wind, if it is properly planted and pruned, has enough space for its root system, and is in good health. Trees with these properties can help to protect your home during a storm. Or at least minimize damage. Here are some things to consider when adding new trees to your landscape:

That some trees are naturally more resistant to wind has been shown by surveying those still standing after hurricanes. They include southern magnolia, yaupon holly, dahoon holly, podocarpus, crape myrtle, pondcypress and baldcypress. Palms in this category include pindo, areca, Alexander and sabal. You can find a more comprehensive list at: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/FR/FR17300.pdf.

According to the University of Florida's "Trees and Hurricanes," some of the weaker trees are ash, maple, water oaks, pecan, tulip poplar, Bradford pear, southern red oak, Australian pine, floss-silk tree, weeping banyan, silk oak and jacaranda.

Next week: Part 2, Planting Wind Resistant Trees in Your Landscape

Oh Deer...

pinellascountyextension.org (pinellascountyextension.org) — Wed, 16 May 2012 13:09:00 +0000

This week's blog was written by guest blogger Lara Miller. Lara Miller is the Pinellas County Natural Resources Extension Agent.

Tired of planting trees, shrubs, vines and flowers only to find them damaged by deer just days later? Pinellas County is a very urbanized county where human developments have replaced native deer habitats. This in turn limits the availability of natural food preferred by deer. In cases like this, deer adapt by feeding on gardens around homes. While fencing and chemical repellents are options for reducing damage by deer, a simpler, less expensive and usually more effective alternative is to landscape your yard with plants that deer do not like to eat.

Deer feed upon a variety of vegetation, but are turned away by certain tastes and digestibility. This preference for certain plants can be altered if deer populations increase in an area forcing them to feed on other vegetation they wouldn’t normally consume.

There are many common garden plants in Florida that are least susceptible to damage by deer. For example, many palms, some holly, several ferns, and certain lilies have been identified as deer-resistant plants. The tables of rarely damaged plants found in the link below may be used to guide planting decisions in areas where damage from deer is likely to be problem. Additional information on Pinellas county natural resources can be obtained through attending educational programs offered by University of Florida Extension Agents. For a list of upcoming programs visit: http://pinellas.ifas.ufl.edu/calendar.shtml

Frequently asked questions of Pinellas County residents are posted at http://www.askextension.org/. Visit this site to see if your question has already been asked or to post a question of your own. Stay up to date with publications from Extension by liking us on facebook.

Source: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/uw137

Thanksgiving Mushrooms: The Turkey Tail

pinellascountyextension.org (pinellascountyextension.org) — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 19:04:00 +0000

This week's blog was written by guest blogger Dusty Purcell. Dusty is a Mycologist/Plant Pathologist who studied at the University of Florida.

This Thanksgiving-themed fungus is not a true mushroom but really a polypore. Whereas your typical mushroom emerges from the soil as a stalk topped with a cap sporting gills on its underside, the typical polypore has no stalk, is attached to wood and has pores instead of gills. Polypores also have tough persistent flesh and live for weeks or months instead of hours or days as soft-fleshed mushrooms do.

The one pictured here is not the “true” Turkey Tail fungus (but it was one I could find). True Turkey Tail fungus goes by the name Trametes versicolor. This one is Trametes pubescens, one of many fungi that look kind of like the tail of a turkey. As the scientific names suggest, this turkey tail is a little more fuzzy but a little less colorful than Trametes versicolor.

There are at least 5 species of Trametes reported from Florida. It’s not always easy to tell which one you’ve found, even with a good field guide, because all of these turkey tails are similar in appearance and share a number of features. They can be found any time of the year on dead or dying hardwood trees, like oaks. They have a fan-like shape that extends 1 or 2 inches from the wood and is a few inches wide, but multiple turkey tails may fuse together into large confluent masses. The flesh is thin (maybe ¼ inch) with a pliable, leathery texture. The top of the cap may be smooth or fuzzy and often has rainbow-like zones of contrasting earth-tone colors. What differs, and allows the species of Trametes to be differentiated from each other, is mainly the texture and coloration of the cap surface and the characteristics of the pores on the underside of the cap.

These and other polypores are important decomposers of wood and vital to the cycling of nutrients through forest (and backyard) ecosystems.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Flower Pot Mushrooms

pinellascountyextension.org (pinellascountyextension.org) — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 20:00:00 +0000

This week's blog was written by guest blogger Dusty Purcell. Dusty is a Mycologist/Plant Pathologist who studied at the University of Florida.

There are a few delicate little mushrooms that commonly sprout from the soil of nursery grown plants. The yellow species pictured below appears to be the most common of them.

Leucocoprinus birnbaumii growing with crape myrtle trees in a nursery. The pale specimen on the left is mature and has a fully expanded cap. The picture on the right depicts several young mushrooms whose caps haven’t yet opened up into little parasols.

Despite its frequency, it has no universally accepted common name, though flower pot mushroom would be appropriate. It goes by the scientific name Leucocoprinus birnbaumii, but some field guides may list it as Leucocoprinus luteus. These mushrooms don’t harm the plants they share potting soil with; they just decompose the organic matter in the soil. You may see them any time of the year in Florida, but in the cooler months you’re more likely to see them in a greenhouse or at the base of a houseplant. While they are most conspicuous when growing with potted plants, they can also be found in compost piles, old mulch, and among the twigs and leaf-litter of the forest floor.

Mature mushrooms range from pale to bright yellow and stand about 4 inches tall. I’ll forego the detailed description here… If you see little yellow mushrooms growing from your potted plants it’s pretty safe to assume that this is your guy. They are tissue-paper delicate and don’t normally last more than a day or two before shriveling away. So try to enjoy the short lived novelty of this harmless mushroom if you ever see them among your houseplants.

Bee Balm

pinellascountyextension.org (pinellascountyextension.org) — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 20:00:00 +0000

Fall is a great time to enjoy wildflowers in Florida. One of the wildflowers blooming in the Florida Botanical Gardens right now is Bee Balm, Monarda punctata. This is an herbaceous perennial that typically grows to about 18” tall and spreads. Like other herbaceous members of the mint family (Labiatae), Bee Balm has leaves that are in an opposite arrangement on a square stem. You can feel the angular shape of the stem by rolling it between your thumb and forefinger. The pinkish-purple showy parts that are most noticeable are not the flowers, but bracts. If you look closely above you can see the flowers above the bracts; the flower tubes are pale with purple spots.

Bee Balm is attractive to bees, butterflies, and birds, which makes it an excellent plant for attracting wildlife. The Bee Balm in the Gardens is just buzzing with life right now! Click here for more information on this plant.

Green Gills and Fairy Rings

pinellascountyextension.org (pinellascountyextension.org) — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 19:23:00 +0000

This week's blog was written by guest blogger Dusty Purcell. Dusty is a Mycologist/Plant Pathologist who studied at the University of Florida.

This is the ‘Green Gill Mushroom’, Chlorophyllum molybdites. If you live in Pinellas County during the summer months, I am almost 100% certain that you have seen this mushroom.

For several reasons, it is an excellent first mushroom to learn:

1. It has a cool name. Chlorophyllum molybdites. Sound it out phonetically. No one will dare correct your pronunciation. Trust me.

2. It is extremely conspicuous. These large pale mushrooms, often in large groups, poke up through the grass on sunny lawns and golf courses. You can spot them while driving down the road.

3. It is very common. They pop up en mass around town every year during the warm and wet months.

4. It is highly distinctive. As far as I know, this is the only gilled mushroom with green spores. Mature mushrooms have green gills (hence the common name).

5. It is poisonous, being responsible for the majority of reported mushroom poisonings in Florida. Eating them can cause severe intestinal distress including cramps, vomiting, and diarrhea severe enough to require hospitalization.

You’ll find green gills following rains during summer and fall. They may be alone but are more often found in groups. They often sprout from the ground arranged in a line, arc or circle. These circular arrangements of mushrooms are called fairy rings, and they are not uncommon sights in large open grassy areas like those found in parks and golf courses. ‘Why do they grow in a ring?’ you may ask. Well, have you ever seen mold growing on a Petri dish or a slice of bread? The mold colony grows out from its center as a round expanding colony. The fungus that produces this mushroom grows through the soil of a lawn in the same way. As it gets larger the old central part of the colony dies, leaving a ring of living fungal colony to produce mushrooms when the weather is right. They won’t hurt your grass… in fact they help decay grass clippings and other organic material in the soil. This frees up nutrients for your lawn to use. If, however, you are concerned about little ones (e.g. children and dogs) who put things found on the ground in their mouths, you may want to remove them from your yard. You can pick them, put them in a bag, and throw them away with the trash. This won’t eliminate the fungus from your yard, more mushrooms will likely sprout from the fungus growing in the soil, but it will make the yard safe for grazing family members.

On the left is an immature Green Gill mushroom. The cap has not yet expanded to expose the gills. On the right is a slightly older specimen. The cap has begun to open, revealing the gills. Notice the ring of tissue that was left behind on the stem where the margin of the cap had been attached.

You can find a thorough technical description in a good field guide to mushrooms. Here you will find a simple but workable description and some decent pictures. A good specimen may be 6-10 inches tall with a cap about as big around when fully expanded. A ring of tissue encircles the stalk somewhere in its upper third, and the cap has tan to brown patches or scales clinging to its upper surface. The gills are densely arranged on the underside of the cap and are not attached to the stalk. The gills are white at first, but turn gray-green as the spores are produced. The cap, stalk and ring may be white in fresh young specimens but are usually pale tan and darken to a light brown as the mushroom ages. The gills, too, may turn brown as the mushroom ages.

The caps of these mushrooms have been folded back so you can get a good look at the color of the gills. The one on the left is younger and still has white gills. The specimen on the right is mature; the gills have turned green as they are now covered with mature spores. Notice also how the stem has darkened with age.

Young specimens, with their white gills, can easily be mistaken for mushrooms of the genera Lepiota and Macrolepiota. Old mushrooms, with their brownish gills, may be confused with members of the genus Agaricus. So, even this highly unique mushroom has look-alikes. However, mature fresh specimens, with their distinctive green gills, cannot be mistaken for any mushroom that I know of. A spore print, as seen in the photo below, is also a reliable way to determine spore color and confidently identify this neat toadstool.

This spore print was made from a fresh mushroom that still had white gills. They are easy to make. Just cut the stalk off of the mushroom and place the cap on a sheet of paper with the gills facing down. It may take a while… The heavy spore deposit here was made by placing a damp paper towel on top of the cap, setting an inverted bowl on top of it, and putting it in the refrigerator overnight. The bowl and moist paper towel keep the mushroom cap from drying out. Mushroom hunters make spore prints to determine the spore color for proper identification using field guides.

References and further reading:

Fairy Ring fact sheet from the University of Florida

Common Florida Mushrooms by James Kimbrough

Fall Vegetable Garden Varieties

pinellascountyextension.org (pinellascountyextension.org) — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 20:00:00 +0000

Are you planting a fall vegetable garden? Well don’t delay- planting most veggies should happen right away in case of early cold weather! When you are shopping for plants or seeds, remember that there are certain varieties of herbs and vegetables that are better suited to our climate and growing conditions. Suggested varieties for Florida are better adapted to our challenging weather patterns and more resistant to Florida pests and diseases.

Here are a few popular cool-season vegetables with suggested varieties and planting times for Central Florida:

• Beets: Early Wonder, Detroit Dark Red, Cylindra, Red Ade, Little Ball (Oct.-Mar.)

• Broccoli: Early Green, Early Dividend, Green Sprouting/Calabrese, Waltham, Packman, De Cicco (Aug.-Jan.)

• Carrots: Imperator, Nantes, Danvers, Chantenay (Oct.- Mar.)

• Celery: Utah Strains, Florida Strains, Summer Pascal (Aug.- Feb.)

• Lettuce: Great Lakes (Crisphead); Parris Island Cos, Outredgeous (Romaine) (Sept.- Mar.)

• Onions (Bulbing): Excel, Texas Grano, Granex, White Granex, Tropicana Red (Sept.- Dec.)

• Peas (English or Snow): Wando, Green Arrow, Sugar Snap, Oregon Sugarpod II (Sept.- Mar.)

For more information about vegetable gardening in Florida, including a complete list of suggested varieties and so much more, please click here to download a fact sheet provided by the University of Florida Extension.

At Pinellas County Extension – registration made easy

pinellascountyextension.org (pinellascountyextension.org) — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 21:05:00 +0000

Rain barrels, cooking classes, financial plans, 4-H … Pinellas County Extension has always addressed a variety of issues to help residents improve their quality of life. As an outreach of the University of Florida, the educational programs are geared toward making the most of resources, from money management skills to programs that teach energy efficient practices.

To make it easier for residents to participate in the variety of classes and program, Extension agents are introducing a citizen-friendly process to facilitate advance registration for programs. The new format will make it easy to sign up for any of the special events.

Visitors to www.pinellascounty.org will notice a process that is simple to follow, with readily available information and a fun new look.

“We are very excited about this new registration because it is so easy and fun for people to use,” said Mary Campbell, director of Pinellas County Extension. “We hope it will translate into more of our citizens taking advantage of our services.”

The new registration site will come online on Monday, Aug. 1, for all of the Extension classes that require registration, including those held at the Extension office in Largo, Brooker Creek Preserve in Tarpon Springs and Weedon Island Preserve in St. Petersburg. Online visitors will be easily directed to the registration page. Payment for classes with fees can be made using a credit or debit card (no cash or checks).

Pinellas County Extension is a partnership between Pinellas County government and the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) as part of a nationwide network of land grant universities. The University of Florida is an equal access/equal opportunity institution.

The mission of Pinellas County Extension is to provide research-based knowledge and education programs enabling people to make practical decisions to improve their quality of life and the world around them. Education focuses on sustainable living, lawn and garden, families and consumers, and 4-H youth development.

Pinellas County Extension offers programming at the Extension office, 12520 Ulmerton Road, Largo, (727) 582-2100, www.pinellascountyextension.org; Brooker Creek Preserve Environmental Education Center, 3940 Keystone Road, Tarpon Springs, (727) 453-6800, brookercreekpreserve.org and Weedon Island Preserve Cultural and Natural History Center, 1800 Weedon Drive N.E., St. Petersburg, (727) 453-6500, weedonislandpreserve.org.

Pinellas County complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act. If you are a person with a disability who needs any accommodation in order to participate, you are entitled, at no cost to you, to the provision of certain assistance. At least seven days prior to the event, contact the Office of Human Rights, 400 S. Fort Harrison Ave., Suite 500, Clearwater, FL 33756, (727) 464-4062 (V/TDD).

Anyone have a good cocktail sauce recipe?

pinellascountyextension.org (pinellascountyextension.org) — Fri, 27 May 2011 18:18:00 +0000

A dead lawn shrimp.

Just when you thought you had seen it all, along comes the lawn shrimp. Most amphipods (shrimp-like crustaceans) require water to live, but there are about 90 terrestrial species found here in the United States and Canada. These terrestrial amphipods do require moist living conditions like the underside of rocks or decaying vegetation. They are very small in size, ranging from 3/16 to 3/4 inch long, but generally just a bit smaller than a grain of rice. Lawn shrimp are often confused with springtails (see photo below), which are not crustacea at all, but insect-like arthropods who also live in moist environments in the landscape.

A springtail.

Frequently, after heavy rains large numbers of lawn shrimp will migrate into structures, where they soon die from water loss. You see, they don’t have a waxy layer to their exoskeleton (hard crunchy outer shell) so they rely on their environment for moisture. Too wet or too dry are both deadly situations, hence the migration from rain soaked soil and the resulting desiccation (drying out) once they reach higher ground. While their normal color ranges from pale brown to greenish to brownish black, they turn a red color when they die. This is how most people find them.

These harmless invaders are commonly found by homeowners under or near the doors of houses, or in garages and porches. Once they make it inside they will die and can be vacuumed or swept up and thrown away. Weather stripping under the door can help prevent them from reaching the inside in the first place. Click here to learn even more about this fascinating creature!

Those Mysterious Molds, Part 2: "Dog Turd Fungus”

pinellascountyextension.org (pinellascountyextension.org) — Fri, 06 May 2011 16:02:00 +0000

This week's blog was written by guest blogger Dustin H. Purcell, MS. Dustin is a Mycologist/Plant Pathologist who studied at the University of Florida.

This is a true fungus (just like other mushrooms, toadstools and puffballs) named Pisolithus tinctorius, and apparently a nice purple to coppery golden brown fabric dye can be made from them, though I confess to have never tye-dyed with this shroom. Like the “dog vomit fungus” discussed in an earlier blog post, it looks like something that might have been left behind by a dog. In more polite company, you might say it looks like a stalked puffball sculpted from chocolate. They range in height from 2 to 6 inches and terminate in a bulbous knob from 1 to 3 inches in diameter. Initially they are covered by a smooth firm skin, but this weathers away to expose and liberate the cocoa-powder-looking spores inside.

Both of these pictures are of the same Pisolithus mushroom. The one on the left is only slightly weathered and the cinnamon colored spores can be seen. In the photo on the right, taken 2 weeks later, all of the spores have been washed away by a heavy rain.

This fungus is mycorrhizal, meaning that the portion below the ground (which happens to be significantly more than the portion you see above the ground) forms mutually beneficial relationships with trees… The faux-latin word mycorrhizae is formed from the latin words for fungus and root. The below ground portion grows through the soil as microscopic strands which decay organic matter (like rotting leaves), absorb nutrients and water, and wrap around the roots of trees (especially pines and oaks). Though these odd mushrooms may be many yards from the trees with which they form mycorrhizae, rest assured that they are in partnership with at least one of the trees nearby. The fungus exchanges nutrients and water with the trees, allowing the plants to grow well under harsh conditions. They are credited with helping trees survive drought conditions and for this reason are important to forestry. They can be seen sporadically throughout the year in Florida anywhere trees grow, especially on dry sandy soil. They are not uncommon to see around oak trees planted in parking lots and median strips where they undoubtedly aid the trees in these stressful environments.

They are not known to be harmful to people or animals and are helpful to trees in the landscape. For these reasons, try to appreciate their ecological importance rather than being put off by their gross appearance.

Watch Out for Assassin Bugs!

pinellascountyextension.org (pinellascountyextension.org) — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 15:50:00 +0000

By Jane Morse, UF/IFAS Extension Agent, Pinellas County Extension

These bugs are meat-eating hunters! They are very beneficial in the landscape/garden as they prey (feed) on a wide variety of pest insects such as caterpillars, stinkbugs, aphids, and beetles. However, they are general predators and may also feed on each other and other beneficial insects. Since assassin bugs (also known as wheel bugs) are also preyed upon they have developed a unique defense system, they use their beak to squirt venom at their attacker as far as a foot away!

Assassin bug nymph

Assassin nymphs (young) are abundant this year. Several specimens have been brought into the Pinellas County Extension Service’s Lawn and Garden Help Desk for identification.

They come in many shapes and sizes as there are over 3,000 species. Their length can vary from less than ¼ inch to 1 ½ inches, and they have only one generation per year. ALL assassin bugs have a powerful, curved beak that they use to pierce and inject dissolving venom into their prey. Once the inside of the prey is turned to liquid, the assassin bug uses its beak to suck out the liquefied tissues, much like we use a straw to drink a milkshake!

This powerful beak packs a mean wallop, so be careful when working in the landscape/garden. When disturbed the wheel bug can inflict a bite described as worse than stings from bees, wasps, or hornets.
Remember they are doing free pest control in your landscape/garden, so it is very good to have them around. If you see them it is best to leave them alone, but you may want to watch them hunt for other bugs to eat. The landscape/garden can be a fascinating place to watch insects in action.

Avoid blanket spraying of insecticides and instead only spot-treat plants. Try using horticultural oils and insecticidal soaps rather than the more toxic insecticides. This will help to preserve these and other beneficial insects that are doing free pest control for you.

Click here to learn more about the assassin (wheel) bug.

What will You be doing 10 years from Now?

pinellascountyextension.org (pinellascountyextension.org) — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 10:00:00 +0000

A planning process that will shape Extension programs in Florida for the next decade has begun.

This is a joint effort between the University of Florida (UF) and the Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) that will allow us to have a clear path of action as an educational organization. Our goal is to create a strategic plan that will support Florida's economy, environment, and people. We want it to be relevant today and flexible enough to meet the needs of Florida's communities as they change.
Listening is at the core of Extension's long range planning effort. One way we can hear your ideas is by having you take a survey.

So please spend your next 10 minutes completing this survey. When you are done, take a minute more and share this blog with others who may be interested in contributing ideas about the future of Extension.

Mary Campbell
County Extension Director
UF/IFAS Pinellas County Extension

Those Mysterious Molds, Part 1: "The Blob"

pinellascountyextension.org (pinellascountyextension.org) — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 19:48:00 +0000

This week's blog was written by guest blogger Dustin H. Purcell, MS. Dustin is a Mycologist/Plant Pathologist who studied at the University of Florida.

"The Dog Vomit Fungus” aka “The Blob”

Accurate identification of fungi normally requires a microscope, experience, and some obscure resources, but this one is fairly distinctive and has no real look-alikes. It is also pretty common in our area, so most people who spend some time in the yard have wondered what it is.

It isn’t truly a fungus, but it’s fungus-like enough that mycologists (scientists who study mushrooms and other fungi) study it. Technically it is a Myxomycete, or plasmodial slime mold, named Fuligo septica. It looks kind of like that expanding foam used to fill cracks and gaps in walls around the house and garage. It has no definite shape, just a small irregular mound less than an inch in height and anywhere from around an inch to over a foot in diameter (if an irregular shape is allowed to have a diameter). Unlike expanding foam, it has a crusty-flaky coating instead of a smooth firm “skin”. If you scrape the yellowish-tan coating away (you can use your finger, but a stick will work if the that sounds too gross), you’ll see the purplish-brown spore mass inside. Spores are like seeds… They are the way myxomycetes reproduce and spread from place to place. When mature, it is completely dry and will disintegrate into an airborne cloud of spores under foot or lawnmower. Before it matures, it looks like a slimy-gooey-frothy yellowish-brownish-greenish blob.

The dog vomit “fungus” (Fuligo septica) in its natural habitat… your yard. The specimen at the upper left is not yet mature. It is still a gooey blob that will probably dry into a crusty-powdery mass by the end of the day. On the upper right is a collection of three mature myxomycetes that have migrated up plant stems in order to produce spores. This will not harm the plant! Wind, rain and sprinklers will wash it away. The photo below this shows an individual about 5 inches long sitting on the mulch of a garden bed. On the lower left is a large specimen (over a foot long!) following a good rain that washed away the yellow crusty coating to expose its purple-black spores.

They are common following rains or irrigation during the warmer months anywhere there is ample organic matter. This includes lawns, mulched areas, compost piles, bare soil, tree stumps and old logs. Sometimes they even “climb” a few inches up walls or the base of plants. They are not known to be harmful at all to plants or animals (including humans). Before coming to the soil surface to scare and gross out humans, they migrate through the soil as large amoebae (called plasmodia) ingesting tiny bits of decaying debris, bacteria and other microorganisms. They are not associated with any plant disease. Rather, they are an important component of the soil ecosystem and indicate that there is a decent amount of moisture and organic matter in the soil. This is a good thing, because landscape plants normally do well in soil with ample moisture and organic matter. Undisturbed, they can last for weeks in the yard until a good rain washes the spores back into the soil. Animals, including curious children armed with sticks and lawn men with lawnmowers, will also hasten the weathering process by scattering their spores to the wind.

So try not to be repulsed the next time you spot these unsightly creatures in your yard. They are probably helping your landscape, and at the very least they are doing no harm.

Oak Leaf Blister

pinellascountyextension.org (pinellascountyextension.org) — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 19:50:00 +0000

It’s that time of year again, the leaves are green, the flowers are blooming, the birds are singing, the oak leaves are blistering. Ah spring! Wait a minute- oak leaves blistering? Yes, this is a common sight this time of year. Oak leaf blister is a common leaf disease on oaks in Florida. It can affect any oak but it seems more prevalent on laurel oak. This disease is more prominent after a cool wet weather, so we can expect to see a lot of oak leaf blister this spring. The spores of this fungus infect newer leaves and cause swollen blister-like tissue like you see in this photo (courtesy Okeechobee County Extension):

Oak leaf blister can also cause leaf distortion and leaf curl. In most cases this is just a cosmetic problem and rarely does any significant damage to an oak. This fungus only attacks the leaves and will not cause harm to the rest of the tree. In some extreme cases on a younger tree you may experience a large leaf loss. If that is the case you should rake up the fallen infected leaves and dispose of them to avoid spreading the fungal spores to your other trees. Otherwise, enjoy the shade of your oak and get some gardening done before it gets too hot!

March into Class!

pinellascountyextension.org (pinellascountyextension.org) — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 11:00:00 +0000

Pinellas County Extension offers residents a wide variety of classes to help them make sustainable decisions. Be sure to check out our classes at Brooker Creek Preserve, Weedon Island Preserve, and online.

Brooker Creek:
March 5, 2011 - Guided Hike
March 5, 2011 - Pinellas Energy Efficiency Project
March 10, 2011 - Book-Time at Brooker
March 12, 2011 - Guided Hike
March 12, 2011 - Rain Harvesting
March 12, 2011 - Discovering Nature with Your Child
March 19, 2011 - Guided Hike
March 24, 2011 - Book-Time at Brooker
March 26, 2011 - Extended Guided Hike- Winter Wonders
March 26, 2011 - Butterfly Gardening 101

Commercial (Pesticide/FNGLA/ISA) CEUs:
March 7, 2011, 9:00 am - Spanish Lawn/Landscape Maintenance BMPs
March 7, 2011, 2:00 pm - Spanish Lawn/Landscape Maintenance BMPs
March 14, 2011, 9:00 pm - Lawn/Landscape Maintenance BMPs
March 14, 2011, 2:00 pm - Lawn/Landscape Maintenance BMPs
March 17, 2011 - CEU Variety Pack. Take one or take them all!
March 23, 2011 - Roundup License Training – LCLM & LLO Review

Extension Programs:
March 2, 2011 - Restoring Nature”s Balance
March 6, 2011 - Bird & Wildlife Walk
March 10, 2011, 2:00 pm - Repotting Orchids
March 10, 2011, 6:15 pm - Repotting Orchids
March 15, 2011 - Your Carbon Footprint
March 15, 2011 - Pinellas Energy Efficiency Project
March 22, 2011 - Pinellas Energy Efficiency Project
March 22, 2011 - Landscaping for Upland Wildlife Walk
March 23, 2011 - Water Conservation

Solutions in 30:
March 2, 2011 - Low-Cost, No-Cost Ways to Lower Your Power Bill
March 9, 2011 - Green Office Practices
March 16, 2011 - Everyday Money Lessons to Teach Your Children
March 30, 2011 - Green Spaces

Weedon Island:
March 5, 2011 - Guided Hike
March 10, 2011 - Wee-Time at Weedon: Night Fliers
March 11, 2011 - Great Weedon Bird Quest
March 12, 2011 - Guided Hike
March 12, 2011 - People”s Use of Plants Through Time
March 12, 2011 - Celebrate Florida Archaeology 2001
March 12, 2011 - Life & Lunch in a 9th Century Indian Village
March 17, 2011 - Sustainable Floridians Open Orientation
March 17, 2011 - Plant Usage By Prehistoric Floridians
March 19, 2011 - Photography Hike
March 19, 2011 - Guided Hike
March 19, 2011 - Pinellas Energy Efficiency Project
March 24, 2011 - Wee-Time at Weedon: Ten Little Rabbits
March 26, 2011 - Guided Hike

You can register for classes online at www.pinellascountyextension.org

Heart-Leaf Nettle

pinellascountyextension.org (pinellascountyextension.org) — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 19:58:00 +0000

Heart-Leaf Nettle (Urtica chamaedryoides) is a winter annual that we have been seeing here at the Lawn and Garden Help Desk recently. This Florida native plant is commonly found in disturbed areas and even in pastures, where it can be problematic for livestock. But more importantly here in Pinellas County, is that it is commonly found in yards and can be problematic for unprepared gardeners. These herbaceous plants grow in an erect form but are often weak and find support from other plants. The leaves of this plant are triangular in shape and closely resemble the leaves of a strawberry plant, although the overall shape of the plant is very different. Leaves are between .5"-2.5" long and .5"-1.5" wide and are oppositely arranged on the stem.

The cause for concern comes from the fine little hairs found on the stem and leaves of the plant:

Each hair is a brittle tube filled with irritating compounds (histamines and acetocholines). When you brush up against one of these hairs it breaks open and injects these materials into your skin. Intense itching and reddening of the skin are the most common reactions, but some people may experience swelling and burning as well.

This is why it would be good to know this plant before you reach down and try to pull it out. According to the University of Florida fact sheet on Heart-Leaf Nettle, washing the affected area or applying a baking soda paste soothes the stinging sensation. My recommendation is watching out for this stinging nettle and wearing heavy-duty gloves to protect your skin!

Spring is here!

pinellascountyextension.org (pinellascountyextension.org) — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 21:52:00 +0000

The Tabebuia trees (Tabebuia chrysotricha) in the north parking lot at the Pinellas County Extension Office are in bloom. Look how beautiful they are:

These flowers only bloom for a short time, so keep your eyes open for them so you don't miss them! Click here for more info on this great tree!

Happy Florida Arbor Day!

pinellascountyextension.org (pinellascountyextension.org) — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 20:14:00 +0000

National Arbor Day is traditionally observed on the last Friday in April, but many states observe a different Arbor Day to coincide with the best tree planting weather. In Florida we observe our state Arbor Day on the third Friday in January. Happy Florida Arbor Day! In honor of the occasion, today’s blog will feature information on tree selection, planting, and proper tree care.

Before you plant a tree there are several things to consider: Is this tree the right tree for the growing conditions on the site? Sun, water, mature size, overhead and underground utilities, etc. should all be considered. You want to start with a healthy tree from a trusted nursery. Take care when transporting and be sure to install your tree properly. Planting the root ball too deeply is a common mistake that you want to avoid. Click here for details on proper tree planting.

Once your new tree is planted you are not really done. You must take extra care to ensure its healthy establishment. Click here to determine how to water your new tree during this establishment time.

As your tree grows you will also need to prune it from time to time to help it develop a healthy structure. This is important for the health of the tree and also can help make the tree stronger and more wind-resistant. Improper pruning can result in the decline and even failure of a tree, so be sure to use proper pruning practices. Click here for more info. If you hire someone to do your tree work be sure to hire an ISA Certified Arborist.

For more information on tree care and Arbor Day:

UF/IFAS Tree Planting and Care links

Arbor Day Foundation Florida Page

The History of Arbor Day

Christmas Tree Stowaways

pinellascountyextension.org (pinellascountyextension.org) — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 21:54:00 +0000

Photo courtesy Okeechobee County Extension.

Remember the scene in “Christmas Vacation” where the squirrel jumps out of the Griswold family Christmas tree? Well, Christmas tree stowaways are not always that obvious (or dramatic- thankfully). There is a much smaller pest that may sometimes be found on a cut tree brought home for decorating.

Cinara spp. Photo courtesy Okeechobee County Extension.

Cinara spp. aphids are sometimes found on Christmas trees. They are large and brown to black and have been mistaken for engorged ticks. This naturally gives some people cause for concern. But these aphids are feeding only on the host plant and pose no threats to humans or their pets. (Not even a sneaky little squirrel…) If these are found on a Christmas tree it is not necessary to take any action.

Click here for more information on Cinara aphids.

Click here for more information on fresh Christmas trees, including fresh Florida Christmas trees.

This year we bought a Florida tree from a Christmas tree farm nearby and it is beautiful. We had the opportunity to select and cut our very own tree. It made for a day filled with great memories and a wonderful, healthy, fragrant tree. There are several kinds of Florida Christmas trees to choose from- we selected a sand pine, Pinus clausa, for it’s soft needles and more “traditional” Christmas tree look.

Support your local Christmas tree farmer-click here for info. Happy Holidays!

Shipping Home Grown Citrus

pinellascountyextension.org (pinellascountyextension.org) — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 21:16:00 +0000

If you grow citrus in your yard you might like the idea of shipping your fruit to relatives far and wide for holiday gifts. Although this is a wonderful idea, you should know the rules for doing so. Due to the presence of citrus canker in Florida, all fruit shipped out of state must be packed by a licensed commercial packinghouse operating under a USDA compliance agreement, whether the fruit was produced in a commercial grove or in a residential yard.

The packinghouse will remove plant debris, wash, disinfect and then pack your fruit in shipping containers marked with the appropriate certification. This is done because studies have shown that fruit processed in this manner poses a minimal risk to spreading citrus canker. This helps to protect other citrus-producing areas from the unwanted “gift” of citrus canker.

Your fresh fruit gift will provide Florida “sunshine” to your gift list and help protect citrus producers!

Click here for a list of packing houses that accept home grown citrus for processing.

Click here for more information about growing citrus in your yard.

"Baby, it's cold outside..."

pinellascountyextension.org (pinellascountyextension.org) — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 20:46:00 +0000

Brrr! The cold weather is finally here and you’re not the only one in need of protection from the cold. Just like people, plants have temperature ranges they prefer. Here are some tips to help you protect your landscape this winter:

Plant the right plant in the right place! A Floridian wouldn’t do well in North Dakota this time of year, and likewise a tropical plant won’t thrive here when the mercury drops. We are in hardiness zone 9b, so be sure to plant things that are suited to our location. For plants that may not quite be suited to this location you may be able to help them by planting them in protected locations such as a south-facing area protected by walls, fences, hedges (evergreen of course), etc.

Keep your plants healthy! When you are stressed you are more likely to succumb to some malady and your plants are no different. Proper fertilization, watering, and pruning will go a long way in keeping plants healthy. Click here for information about the fertilizer ordinance in Pinellas County to ensure year-round compliance.

If you are going to cover your cold sensitive plants to protect them from frost, remember that the cover should be raised above the plant. Also remember to remove any plastic covers on sunny days to avoid burning the plant.

For more detailed information on cold protection for plants click here.

Bundle up and don’t forget to take care of your plants!

Give Us Your Input Today

pinellascountyextension.org (pinellascountyextension.org) — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 17:47:00 +0000

Your opinion counts! We need your help to do the best job possible. Pinellas County Extension strives to deliver the most current information on topics that are important to you. Each year we evaluate our efforts to provide up-to-date, research-based information to our community. To help us deliver what is valuable to you as our reader, we would like you to take a short survey. Please select the link below to access the online survey. Your feedback is greatly appreciated and your responses will be anonymous. Please take the survey today!

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/6FH8QTG

Thank you for your time and continued support.

More Spectacular Fall Color: Yaupon Holly

pinellascountyextension.org (pinellascountyextension.org) — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 21:36:00 +0000

Yaupon Holly (Ilex vomitoria) is a wonderful small native tree. It can either be a large shrub or a small tree, growing up to about 25 feet tall and with a spread of about 15 feet wide. It will tolerate clipping and can be formed into a hedge, left to grow into a large vase-shaped shrub (wider at the top, narrow at the bottom), or trained into a small tree. It has small leathery leaves with scalloped margins, or edges. The fine texture of the plant makes a nice hedge. There are also dwarf varities for use in smaller landscape applications. It's quite a versatile plant.

Close up of the fruit.

This time of year is one of the best times in terms of color for the Yaupon Holly. The (female) plants are resplendent with fruit right now. The fruit of the Yaupon Holly is called a drupe- which looks like a berry. Most trees have red fruit, but yellow varieties can be found. In addition to the lovely sight of the fruit they are also a wildlife attractor and will encourage birds to visit your yard. The fruit is great for birds because they persist on the plant well into winter, providing a food source when others have become scarce.

Wouldn't these make lovely holiday decorations as well!

Click here for more information.

Don't confuse our native hollies with the invasive brazilian pepper- click here for more info!

Yaupon Holly in it's natural vase shape.

Ilex vomitoria 'Dodds Cranberry'

The "Planting Pinellas" blog will take a short holiday next week for Thanksgiving and return the following week. Thank you and Happy Thanksgiving!

Unusual Fall Color: the Floss Silk Tree

pinellascountyextension.org (pinellascountyextension.org) — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 20:36:00 +0000

This is not your typical fall color! The floss silk trees (Ceiba speciosa) are in bloom and they put on a great show, but their pink flowers are not your usual fall color. This curious tree also has a thick green trunk covered in spines which can be seen in the pictures below. The trunk is often bottle-shaped (wider at the base and narrower as you move up) which you can also see in the photos below.

This tree can grow up to 50’ tall and have a spread of 55’. It is fast growing at first and then slows down as the tree matures. The floss silk tree is considered a lovely specimen tree in the landscape. The trees lose their leaves in September and are usually bare by the time the spectacular flowers burst. The beautiful flowers are seen between September and December. After that the tree remains mostly bare until spring when the leaves flush out again. The leaves are palmately compound with 5-7 leaflets (not pictured). Between the blooms and the new leaves you will see the seed pods. They look like big white cotton balls that come from pear-shaped pods. The “silk” found in these pods was once used as stuffing for pillows and mattresses.

If you don’t have one of these beautiful trees near you please come by and visit the Extension office- the pictures you see here were taken of the one in our parking lot. You can’t miss it this time of year!

Click here for more information.