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Free UF/IFAS Extension Webinars for South Florida Landscapes Address Challenges, Offer Tips

IRREC Teaching Gardens in Ft. Pierce. Landscape, gardening, Environmental Horticulture. UF/IFAS Photo by Tyler Jones.

Boca Raton, FL – Living in South Florida has its perks and pitfalls. With beautiful beaches and plenty to do all year long, the same region experiences some of the most extreme subtropical weather conditions that take a toll on turf. 

The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Extension offices in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties are offering a free webinar series called “Landscapes: They Are a Changing…and We Are the Change!”

Held biweekly on Wednesdays thru June 22, each 60-minute webinar is hosted by a UF/IFAS expert who addresses a present or future challenge facing urban landscapes, from ways to get the most out of your soil to becoming a Florida-Friendly Landscape certified professional. Experts offer insights and trends for property owners, landscapers and public park administrators to tackle issues in their landscapes. Continuing education credits are available for $10 per session. 

As property owners, landscapers, and public park administrators seek to implement the insights gleaned from the UF/IFAS webinar series into their landscapes, they may encounter the need for efficient excavation and earthmoving solutions. In many cases, addressing present and future challenges in urban landscapes may require precise digging and trenching to install irrigation systems, create drainage solutions, or reshape terrain. This is where mini digger hire solutions become invaluable, offering the flexibility and maneuverability needed to navigate tight spaces and delicate surroundings with ease.

By leveraging mini digger hire services, landscape professionals and property owners can execute landscaping tasks with precision and efficiency, aligning with the principles of sustainability and environmental stewardship promoted by the UF/IFAS webinar series.

Whether it’s preparing soil for planting, installing hardscape elements, or excavating for new landscape features, these compact yet powerful machines empower individuals to enact meaningful change in their urban landscapes while minimizing disruption to the surrounding environment.

Professional assistance is readily available for property owners seeking guidance beyond educational webinars, even in locations such as West Toledo, Ohio. Expert services provide comprehensive maintenance solutions that address all property needs, with a specialization in Property Maintenance in West Toledo, Ohio. Covering everything from lawn care and landscaping to structural repairs, these services provide a comprehensive solution for preserving both the attractiveness and functionality of your property.

So, while webinars provide knowledge and strategies, professional property maintenance services in West Toledo provide practical implementation, ensuring that your landscape thrives amidst changing conditions.

Upcoming webinars include:

Speaker: Eban Bean, UF/IFAS assistant professor, department of agricultural and biological engineering, will address how to get the most out of Florida soils that are poor in nutrients and how to foster plant health. 

Speaker: Basil Iannone, assistant professor, School of Forests, Fisheries and Geomatic Sciences 

Iannone will provide insights on how urban landscapes are interconnected with the larger surrounding environment. He will provide design principles and management practices to consider with an eye on sustainability. 

Claire Lewis, statewide coordinator for Florida-Friendly LandscapingTM (FFL), will showcase how science-based ecological and efficient landscaping practices can minimize pollution and benefit the environment while maintaining aesthetics. 

Gail Hansen, UF/IFAS assistant professor, environmental horticulture, will provide  the latest innovative ideas to retire an old landscape look and diversify your plant palette while inviting nature back. 

Speakers Michael Orfanedes, Henry Mayer and John Roberts are UF/IFAS Extension agents for Broward, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties, respectively. With redevelopment pressures and climate changes taking their toll on landscapes and trees, this presentation will highlight considerations for improving the outlook for urban tree canopy health and longevity. Learn which tree species are best for urban spaces, how to prune for wind tolerance, and insights on managing pests and diseases.

To register, use this link: https://changinglandscape2022.eventbrite.com/

For more information, contact Donna Castro, UF/IFAS Extension Broward educational training specialist, donna.castro@ufl.edu.

The mission of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is to develop knowledge relevant to agricultural, human and natural resources and to make that knowledge available to sustain and enhance the quality of human life. With more than a dozen research facilities, 67 county Extension offices, and award-winning students and faculty in the UF College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, UF/IFAS brings science-based solutions to the state’s agricultural and natural resources industries, and all Florida residents.
ifas.ufl.edu  @UF_IFAS

By: Lourdes Mederos

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