UF/IFAS: May-June 2026 Edition of the New Leaf Newsletter

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“There can be no doubt that a society rooted in soil is more stable than one rooted in pavements.” -Aldo Leopold, Forester, Philosopher, and Author

Coming Up…

Join Duval County 4H this summer:

We’ve got a FULL summer camp lineup packed with hands-on learning, adventure, and fun for all ages! Check out everything we have to offer at: https://www.instagram.com/p/DX_4OVuD99L/

What to Do in the Northeast Florida Edible Garden in May and June

The hot weather is starting to arrive, and along with it come more insects, more disease potential and lots of tomatoes! Hopefully our summer rains begin to arrive as well. When it feels like there's a riot going on in the garden, having a plan can help. Read on for what to do in the northeast Florida edible garden in May and June!

Coreopsis: Florida's State Wildflower

April was National Native Plant Month, so what better time to celebrate our state wildflower, the Coreopsis. The word Coreopsis comes from “koris” which means bug, and “opsis” which means appearance.Read on for the details.

Slash Your Water Bill: 3 Ways to Spot Hidden Irrigation Leaks

Think about this: the average home in Florida uses 991 gallons of water every irrigation cycle! That's like running your dishwasher 50 times or keeping the bathroom faucet running for more than 8 hours...and it all gets sprayed on the yard in just 20 or 30 minutes. Read on for some tips on reducing your irrigation budget.

Developing storm resistant trees

Even though hurricane season and afternoon storms are about a month out, now is the time to be thinking about the trees around our homes. There is no “risk free” tree however; there are strategies that we can undertake that can create a more wind resistant tree canopy. Read on to find out more !

Replacing lawn after spring drought and winter kill

Has your lawn died from the historic drought and other environmental stressors?Here is what you should do to set yourself up for future success with a more resilient lawn when replanting: To read more click here.

What to plant in May/June

The Gardening Calendar gives North Florida gardeners a guide for what to plant and do in their gardens. It includes links to useful gardening websites, all based on University of Florida research and expertise.

Upcoming Events

(Follow us on Eventbrite for Upcoming Classes)

Tuesday, May 19th at 2:00 pm, join us online or in person for a program on Getting Started Farming: What to do and where to get help at the UF/IFAS Duval County Extension Office located at 1010 N. McDuff Ave. Do you own land? Are you looking to purchase land? Want to learn more about your options for farming on it? Come take the first step to becoming a farmer and learn how to produce food! The cost is $12.51. Register via Eventbrite

Wednesday May 20th at 2:00 PM for a program on Living on a Few Acres: Backyard Poultry (Online and in person) at the UF/IFAS Duval County Extension Office located at 1010 N. McDuff Ave, and via zoom. Join us for an informative session on Backyard Poultry for small farms. Learn the basics of backyard poultry: chickens, ducks, turkeys, guinea fowl, geese, turkeys, and quail. Come learn how to incorporate poultry into your farm. The cost is $12.51. Register via Eventbrite

Thursday May 28th at 2 pm, a program online on Backyard Hen Training at the UF/IFAS Duval County Extension Office located at 1010 N. McDuff Ave. This class is necessary for you to get your hen permit in Duval County, You will receive a certificate of completion that you present to the city to receive your permit. The cost is $12.51. Register via Eventbrite

Tuesday June 9th at 5:30 PM Join us for Drop By Drop: Understanding and Managing Your Home Irrigation System at the UF/IFAS Duval County Extension Office located at 1010 N. McDuff Ave. In this class you'll learn the components of your irrigation system, troubleshooting common issues and best practices for watering. We will go beyond just setting the timer, or the "set it and forget it" approach Register via Eventbrite

Wednesday June 10th at 9:00 AM Join us for Improve Your Garden Soil Over the Summer: Solarize it! at the UF/IFAS Duval County Demonstration Gardens located at 1032 Superior Street. Learn how to put the sun to work to improve your vegetable garden soil during the hot summer months. As your spring crops fade, you may wonder what to do in the garden over the summer. If you are planning to go on vacation, don't have time to actively garden, or just don't want to deal with the heat, try improving your garden soil. The cost is $7.18. Register via Eventbrite

Monday June 15th at 1:15 PM Join us for The Summer Rainbarrel Workshop at the UF/IFAS Duval County Extension Office located at 1010 N. McDuff Ave. Be Florida-Friendly and save the rain to water your garden! Become more Florida-Friendly! Learn all about saving the rain and protecting our precious water resources during this informative class.By collecting and storing rainwater, you can save money, improve the health of your plants, and protect the environment. Rain barrels provide the Florida homeowner with over 50 gallons of free water for their landscape each time it fills up. You may attend two ways: General Admission With Barrel to take home ($75 includes barrel) or Without Barrel- Listen and Learn Only ($5 includes class information only) Register via Eventbrite

Saturday June 20th at 9:00 AM Join us for The Summer Urban Demonstrastion Garden Open House at the UF/IFAS Duval County Demonstration Gardens located at 1032 Superior Street. Come see what we are growing and harvesting in June! Learn how to grow microgreens for the summer. Take home a tray. Tour our demonstration garden, ask questions and learn about what crops we are growing in June, which ones we're harvesting, and which ones are especially cost-effective. See different ways of growing crops. The cost is $5.00. Register via Eventbrite

Monday's June 22th, 29th and July 6th from 5:30-7:30 PM Join us for Welcome to Florida Gardening 201 at the UF/IFAS Duval County Extension Office located at 1010 N. McDuff Ave. If you've just moved to Florida or are new to caring for a Florida lawn or garden, this series is for you! Gardening in Florida is a lot different than in other parts of the country, and the information available online can be overwhelming. We designed this class series to dig a little deeper into our most popular topics. Take one class or all three! The cost is $12.51 for each class or $28.52 for all three (as savings of $5.00) Register via Eventbrite

Saturday June 27th at 9:00 AM Join us for Improve Your Garden Soil Over the Summer: Cover Crop It at the UF/IFAS Duval County Demonstration Gardens located at 1032 Superior Street. Learn an easy way to improve your vegetable garden soil during the hot summer months--and take home cover crop seeds! As your spring crops fade, you may wonder what to do in the garden over the summer. If you are planning to go on vacation, don't have time to actively garden, or just don't want to deal with the heat, try improving your garden soil. This class will present one method of improving your garden soil: Cover Crops.The cost is $7.18. Register via Eventbrite

For persons with disabilities requiring special accommodations that wish to attend any Extension events, please contact your local UF/IFAS Extension Office (TDD, via Florida Relay Service, 1-800-955-8771) at least ten working days prior to the class so that proper consideration may be given to the request. UF/IFAS Extension is an Equal Opportunity Institution.

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