Transcript Introduction to FYN - St. Lucie County Extension Office

Developed by: Fred Burkey
Florida Yard’s and Neighborhoods
Martin and St. Lucie County
The Florida Yards & Neighborhoods
program is an educational outreach
program informing homeowners how
they can be more environmentally
friendly with their landscape care
practices and how this can help
protect Florida's natural environment
for future generations.
* Rreduce stormwater runoff
* Decrease non-point source pollution
* Conserve water
* Enhance wildlife habitat
* Create beautiful landscapes
A Florida Yard can take any
form...unique or traditional. You
can create a Florida Yard simply
by changing the way you take care
of your yard.
* Right plant, right place
* Water efficiently
* Fertilize appropriately
* Mulch
* Attract wildlife
* Recycle yard waste
* Manage yard pests responsibly
* Reduce stormwater runoff
* Protect the waterfront
Developed by: Fred Burkey
Florida Yard’s and Neighborhoods
Martin and St. Lucie County
YANKEE VIEW
REALITY
H2O
* Under ideal conditions,
an adult can live
for over a month
without food,
but only 10 days
without water.
* Population is increasing,
but water is not!
Domestic Water Use
• American water use is high
compared to other nations.
– Twice European use
• Florida has the highest
domestic water use in U.S.
– Partly due to irrigation
of lawns and landscapes
USGS, 1998
Fishing Pier, St. Lucie
River
Where does it come from?
 95%
of Florida’s drinking water
comes from groundwater

Groundwater resources are depleted
when water is withdrawn faster than
replenished
 Over
pumping
 Drought
reduces recharge
Mining Ground Water
A river of water ?
Salt water intrusion is also a concern
WATER WATER EVERYWHERE AND
NOT A DROP TO DRINK
97% of all
water on
earth is
salt water.
1% of all
water on
earth is
available
to drink.
SWIFT, NARROW WESTERN BOUNDARY
CURRENT
* Width is about 31-47 miles
* Depth of about 1-1.5 miles
* Flows northeastward
* Flow has a velocity of 2-6.5 miles per hour
* Starts it’s journey in the Caribbean
* Has a water temperature of 80
* Warm water gives Europe it’s mild weather
SEA SUFACE
TEMPERATURE
* warm waters (red areas)
* orange circular warm eddies
* yellow circular cold eddies
CHLOROPHYLL
CONCENTRATION
* High (red-brown)
* Intermediate (green)
* Lowest (blue)
USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map
Florida Soils
• High sand content
• Low organic matter content
– Rainfall
– Humidity
– Temperature
– Micro-organisms
* Proper planning and plant selection:
* Plan First, Plant Once
* Site Analysis
* Know your Plants
* Selecting and Installing Plants
* Current Use of Your Property
* Proper turf selection
* Proper landscape maintenance
* This is a process, not a
one-time event!
* Utilize regional gardening
books and magazines.
* Consult with your UF
County Extension Office.
* Ask qualified nursery
professionals for advice.
* Know the plants and what
they require to thrive.
* Have a plan!
What are the site characteristics?
* Soil
• sand, silt, clay, organic matter content
• pH
* Light
• sun or shade
* Drainage
• wet
• dry
• drainage patterns
* Structures and obstacles
• power lines
• sidewalks / driveways
* What is the mature
size of the plant?
* Does it grow well in sun
or shade?
* Does it grow well in wet
or dry soils?
* Is it salt tolerant?
* Is it susceptible to
pests which may be
difficult to control?
Helianthus debilis
‘Beach Daisy’
MAJOR GRASS SPECIES IN
SOUTH FLORIDA
St. Augustine
Bahia
Bermuda
Rainfall averages 56 inches a year
* Half of the rain falls from June through
September
* Sandy soils do not hold much water
* Less rainfall occurs during the winter
and spring
* temperatures can be over 90°F six
months per year
Over watering occurs when water is
applied too frequently or in excessive
amounts.
* Encourages growth of
fungi and bacteria
* Promotes a shallow
root system
* Reduces oxygen
to the roots,
causing stress
* Encourages
weed growth
Pennywort is a good
indication of an over
watered lawn.
* Early morning or evening
– Temperature is cool and wind is calm
– 40% - 60% of water applied
evaporates in the afternoon sun!
* Some Water Management Districts
mandate:
No watering
between
9 AM and 4 PM
Year - round!
* Apply ½ to ¾ inch water per application.
* Soak soil thoroughly to promote a
deeper, more drought tolerant root
system
Efficient watering wets only the root zone
* Prune properly
* Plant nutrition
* Fertilization
* Pest management
* Pruning is the
Selective
removal of
vegetative
growth,
typically shoots
and branches
* Remove dead or
diseased wood
* Maintain or improve
plant vigor
* Control plant size and
form
* Train young plants
* Influence flower or
fruit production
* Safety
* Rejuvenate old shrubs
How Do You
Know!
A proper pruning
cut will allow the
callus or wound
wood to grow in
a circular or
ring shaped
fashion.
pH
* The alkalinity or acidity of the soil
Measured on a scale of 0 to 14
– less than 7 is acid
– 7 is neutral
– more than 7 is alkaline
* Influences uptake of some nutrients
* Ideal range is between 5.5 and 6.5
• Often above pH 7,
especially in southern
Florida
• Influenced by soil parent
material
• Influenced by ground water
* Indicates a disturbance of
plant metabolism
* Should not be ignored
* Take corrective and,
later, preventative measures
* Read and understand the fertilizer label
* Look for the “guaranteed analysis”
–list of the percentage of N,P, & K
–a good fertilizer generally has
1.5 to 2 times as much N as K
* Look for terms like “slow release”,
“resin coated”, plastic coated”, “water
insoluble”, etc.
* Select a fertilizer containing
at least 30% of the N in slowrelease form
* Slow release fertilizers cost
initially but are more costeffective in the long run
* Slow release fertilizers are
the most environmentally safe
types
* Use care when
selecting fertilizers
containing weed killer
or insecticide
* The pesticide
cannot distinguish
between “good” and
“bad” bugs or weeds
and your broadleaved landscaped
plants
8-12 inches
What is a Pest?
A plant or animal that
is out of place
Diseases, Weeds,Arthropods,
Reptiles, Mammals, etc.
Biology and Identification
of Pests and Beneficials
Evaluation &
Follow-up
Preventative
Practices
IPM
Program
Make Action
Decision
Monitor Pest
Populations
Action Threshold
* Mix 1.5 fl. oz. dishwashing soap in
2 gal. water
* Drench 4 ft2 area with the solution
* Count insects that emerge
* Examine 3 - 4 random
places in healthy turf
* Concentrate along the
edges of brown patches
* Also works for chinch
bugs
Martin County/
University of Florida
Cooperative Extension
Service
2614 SE Dixie
Highway
St Lucie County/
University of Florida
Cooperative Extension
Service
8400 Picos Rd Suite
101
Martin County/
University of Florida
Cooperative Extension Service
2614 SE Dixie Highway
Stuart, Florida 34996
(561) 288-5654