Managing Yard Pests Responsibly City and County Tree Pruning and Removal Newcomers Guide to Did You Know? Contacts: Integrated Pest Management (IPM) techniques are an Landscaping in the effective defense against pests while minimizing impact  Over pruning a/k/a “hurricane pruning” robs Key West Urban Forester: 305-809-3768 on the environment, your wallet, and workload. nutrients from feeding the palm! Florida Keys  Currently, two citrus diseases (Citrus Canker and  Best tip to prevent pests is proper planting, Marathon Planner: 305-289-4109 watering, and fertilizing. Citrus Greening) are attacking homeowner and  Inspect your plants frequently to detect commercial trees. Until the diseases are under Islamorada problems early. Be familiar with how the control your citrus tree may only live a short life plant should look. That will help you see Village Biologist: 305-664-6427 problems before they are out of control. span in your yard.  If not sure what the insect is, contact the  The Florida Keys major vegetable growing season is Admin Planning: 305-664-6426 Extension Service to help you identify it. October through April.  Learn what are common insect pests on Monroe County your plants and know there are helpful Biologist (Marathon): 305-289-2537 insects that feed on those pests that are

eating your plants. Biologist (Key Largo): 305-453-8730 Welcome to the challenges and rewards  Tolerate some insect damage and leaf UF/IFAS/Monroe County Extension Services of designing and maintaining a Florida disease on plants. No one can maintain an http://monroe.ifas.ufl.edu is a free educational Biologist (Key Largo): 305-453-8731 Keys landscape. insect– and disease-free landscape, and a resource available to answer your plant and insect little damage will not hurt your plants. FREE Mulch questions. First, let’s get grounded with a few key  But if you must start with low impact facts. techniques: remove affected plant parts, Keys Energy Services: 305-295-1010 handpick insects, apply water spray. See our website for regional plant clinic schedules Florida Keys Electric Co-op: 305-852-2431  The Florida Keys are in USDA  If applying a pesticide, start with the least and the “Monroe County Extension IFAS Blog” Hardiness Zones 11a (Key Largo to toxic chemicals (insecticidal soaps and http://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/monroeco Marathon) and 11b (Marathon horticultural oils). Monroe County Roads & Bridges  Best to test product on small portion of the through Key West). Average annual o plant and wait three days to make sure it Stay up-to-date with the latest insects and Lower Keys: 305-797-4929 temperature is 77 F, with a range from 41oF to 95oF. Frost free!!! doesn’t burn the plant. diseases, pruning practices, and how to grow a Upper Keys: 305-852-7161  Spot-treat only where the pest is present and not over entire plant. vegetable garden at the University of Florida  The Florida Keys are a chain of  Apply pesticides during the cooler part of Solutions for Your Life website islands ranging in elevation from the day. Heat combined with soaps, http://www.solutionsforyourlife.com sea level to 18 feet. Plants may be horticultural oils, and other pesticides can Contact local tree services throughout the Keys subject to salt winds and salt water injure your plants. For tropical fruit tree information, go to: for free mulch deliveries. flooding due to storm surges, high  Avoid using broad-spectrum insecticides. tides, and sea level rise. They are not selective, meaning they also http://trec.ifas.ufl.edu/fruitscapes kill helpful insects.  Our soils (Key Largo Limestone and  For palm care and pruning, visit: Miami Oolite) are alkaline, with a pH Monroe County Extension Services http://flrec.ifas.ufl.edu; look in left column for Palm range from 7.2 to 8.2. Production and Maintenance. Key West Office:  Rainy/hurricane season extends

1100 Simonton Street, Suite 2-260 from June through November. The rest of the year is considered to be 305-292-4501 the dry season. On average, rainfall http://monroe.ifas.ufl.edu is about 40 inches per year, with The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Opportunity Aphids Mealybugs Scale Institution authorized to provide research, educational information and other most rainfall occurring during the services only to individuals and institutions that function with non-discrimination Key Largo Office: with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orienta- rainy season. tion, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations. For more 102050 Overseas Highway, Room 244 Whiteflies information on obtaining other extension publications, contact your county Cooperative Extension service. Water Efficiently Right Plant, Right Place Fertilize Appropriately Using your landscape trimmings onsite reduces the In addition to wasting money, time, and water, too amount of curbside trash going to Broward County Achieving a healthy, low-maintenance home Fresh water is a limited resource in the much fertilizer can weaken a plant, promote disease, landfill and incinerator. Florida Keys. invite pests, and harm nearshore waters. landscape starts with putting the right plant in the right place.  Remember, if you can’t use the correct Mulch

fertilizer, you’re better off not fertilizing A layer of mulch helps  Match plants with site at all! maintain soil moisture,

improves soil conditions, conditions based on  Fertilize only as needed by using correct controls weeds, reduces USDA zone, water and nutrients. runoff, protects plants

light requirements, soil conditions, salt and  Palms and turf have different nutritional from weed whacker and wind tolerance, and other factors. needs. In our alkaline soils, common turf mower damage, and adds beauty to the landscape. deficiencies are nitrogen and iron, while palms  Mulch is made of plant materials including your

 When selecting a tree for your yard, size need potassium, magnesium, manganese, and own yard trimmings and collected rinsed sea grass. matters! Be aware of the mature size of Our potable water is pumped to the Keys from boron.  Cypress and pea rock are not recommended. the mainland through a 130-mile long  When applying mulch, keep it away from trunks at plants and make site-appropriate  Do NOT use turf fertilizers within 50 feet of a transmission line by the Florida Keys Aqueduct a depth of 2 to 3 inches. Mulch under the entire palm! But DO use an “improved palm special” selections. Avoid planting trees that will Authority (FKAA). Monroe County water plant canopy and replenish as needed. restrictions are in place. To learn more, visit the 8-2-12 landscape fertilizer on turf and all grow over 20 feet tall under the power  Free mulch numbers are listed under city and South Florida Water Management District ornamental plants in mixed landscapes. lines. Contact your local Keys utility for website http://www.sfwmd.gov/portal/page/ county contacts.  Acid-loving plants grown in alkaline soils will information. portal/xweb%20-%20release%203%20water% 20conservation/florida%20friendly% show micronutrient deficiencies.

Compost  Plants well-suited to the site need less 20landscaping  Do not use “Weed and Feed” as these  Yard trimmings, kitchen scraps, and sea grasses Additional water can be collected through irrigation and fertilizer, and are more herbicides and fertilizers can injure some trees can be collected. rainbarrels and cisterns. resistant to pest infestation. and shrubs.  Supplies nutrients and reduces the need for

Overwatering landscape can cause disease, Direct fertilizer to the plants not the nearshore fertilizer.  Consider planting natives as they are pollution, and pest problems and is an waters.  Improves soil structure, loosens compacted soils, unnecessary expense in time and money. adapted to our climate and high pH soils.  Don’t fertilize within 10 feet of a body of water increases water holding capacity, and lowers pH. Use the “Natives for Your Neighborhood” Waterwise advice: or before a heavy rain.  Use slow release fertilizers. Most fertilizers website http://regionalconservation.org/  Choose drought tolerant native plants need to be watered-in with a 1/4 inch of water Attracting Wildlife beta/nfyn/default.asp  Water only as needed to move fertilizer just below the soil surface to  Make your yard a sanctuary for birds, butterflies,  Hand water when possible plant roots. pollinators, and other creatures.  Eliminate invasive exotic plants. Depending   Use a diversity of plants in varying heights, flower  Water in the morning (4 a.m. to 8 a.m.) Sweep up spills. upon where you live in the Keys, you may  Follow label directions or IFAS fact sheet types, and fruits.  Group plants by water needs need a permit. recommendations.  Supply food, water, and shelter.  Use mulch to conserve moisture  Limit insecticides. Organic fertilizers, such as manure or compost, are  Keep the kitty indoors. an excellent source of nutrients. By building a compost pile, you can use local resources such as kitchen scraps, yard waste, and sea grasses.