Polk Small Farms: New and Revised Lawn and Garden Publications, February 2011

This email lists new and revised EDIS publications that have been released to the public in February 2011. They are now available on the World Wide Web at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu. This mailing only includes publications in the Lawn & Garden program area. Please see separate mailings for publications in other program areas.

Horticultural Therapy (ENH970/EP145)

Horticultural therapy is the practice of engaging people in plant or gardening activities to improve their bodies, minds, and spirits. Research confirms that healthful benefits accrue when people connect with plants by viewing, planting, growing, and/or caring for them. This revised 3-page fact sheet describes the history and benefits of horticultural therapy, and includes references and links to additional resources. It was written by Sydney Park Brown, Eva C. Worden, Theodora M. Frohne, and Jessica Sullivan, and published by the UF Department of Environmental Horticulture, January 2011.

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep145

Frequency of Residential Irrigation Maintenance Problems (AE472)

The majority of Florida in-ground irrigation systems have some type of maintenance problem that could be causing excessive water use. Inspections should be done on a regular basis. This factsheet describes the five residential irrigation problems that represented half of the problems found in 3,416 audits by Urban Mobile Irrigation Labs in Florida. This 7-page fact sheet was written by Thomas R. Olmsted and Michael D. Dukes, and published by the UF Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, January 2011.

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ae472

Reclaimed Water Use in the Landscape series

Reclaimed water is former wastewater from households, schools, offices, hospitals, and commercial and industrial facilities that has been disinfected and treated to remove certain impurities such as nutrients and pathogens. After flowing out of wastewater treatment plants, reclaimed water is piped back to communities for reuse in numerous domestic, industrial, and agricultural applications. Though reclaimed water cannot be used for drinking water in Florida, it is considered highly safe and reliable for non-potable water needs. These fact sheets were written by Gurpal S. Toor and Mary Lusk, and published by the UF Department of Soil and Water Science, January 2011:

· What’s in Reclaimed Water and Where Does It Go? (SL337/SS542)

· Constituents of Concern in Reclaimed Water (SL338/SS543)

· Managing Salinity, Sodicity, and Specific Ions in Sites Irrigated with Reclaimed Water (SL340/SS545)

· Understanding Landscape Irrigation Water Quality Tests (SL341/SS546)

https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/topic_series_reclaimed_water_use_in_the_landscape

Urban Soils in Gainesville, Florida and Their Implications for Environmental Quality and Management (FOR275/FR337)

It is frequently assumed that urban soils are homogenous, heavily disturbed, or of low fertility. But recent studies show that urban soils are highly variable, ranging from highly modified to nearly undisturbed. Still, there are observable trends and patterns in urban soil characteristics have been observed. This 6-page fact sheet sheds light on how and why soil properties vary across Gainesville and provides useful information on the sustainable management of urban soils. It was written by Donald Hagan, Cynnamon Dobbs, Francisco Escobedo, Wayne Zipperer, and Zoltan Szantoi, and published by the UF Department of School of Forest Resources and Conservation, November 2010.

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fr337

Updates to Florida Lawn Handbook: Turfgrass Diseases fact sheets

Turfgrass Disease Management (SSPLP14/LH040)

Turfgrass diseases are underappreciated because the biological organisms (plant pathogens) causing the problems are rarely observed. Fortunately, grasses maintained using proper cultural practices (water, mowing, and fertility) are not as likely to become diseased or be as severely damaged as grasses that do not receive proper care. This 11-page fact sheet discusses turfgrass diseases, their causal agents, diagnosis, and management. Written by M. L. Elliott and P. F. Harmon and published by the UF Department of Plant Pathology, February 2011.

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/lh040

Cercospora Leaf Spot (SSPLP57/LH082)

Cercospora leaf spot is a fungal disease of St. Augustinegrass observed during periods of frequent rainfall. This revised 2-page fact sheet was written by M. L. Elliott and P. F. Harmon, and published by the UF Department of Plant Pathology, February 2011.

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/lh082

Rust (SSPLP12/LH051)

Rust is a fungal disease that occurs in cool weather causing yellow specks enlarging to spots with orange pustules in St. Augustinegrass and zoysiagrass. This revised 2-page fact sheet was written by M. L. Elliott and P. F. Harmon, and published by the UF Department of Plant Pathology, February 2011.

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/lh051

Pythium Root Rot (SSPLP11/LH050)

This fungal root disease affecting all warm-season turfgrasses is associated with wet soil conditions causes nonspecific decline in turf quality. This revised 2-page fact sheet was written by M. L. Elliott and P. F. Harmon, and published by the UF Department of Plant Pathology, February 2011.

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/lh050

Helminthosporium Leaf Spot (SSPLP9/LH048)

This fungal disease is most serious on bermudagrass and acts over a wide range of temperatures. This 2-page fact sheet was written by M. L. Elliott and P. F. Harmon, and published by the UF Department of Plant Pathology, February 2011.

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/lh048

Gray Leaf Spot (SSPLP8/LH047)

This disease affects primarily St. Augustinegrass, but also centipedegrass. It is most often observed from late spring to early fall, especially during prolonged periods of rainfall. This revised 2-page fact sheet was written by M. L. Elliott and P. F. Harmon, and published by the UF Department of Plant Pathology, February 2011.

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/lh047

Fairy Rings (SSPLP7/LH046)

Fairy rings, especially the mushrooms, are most commonly observed during the summer months, when Florida receives the majority of its rainfall. This revised 2-page fact sheet with identification and control information was written by M. L. Elliott and P. F. Harmon, and published by the UF Department of Plant Pathology, February 2011.

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/lh046

Anthracnose (SSPLP56/LH043)

Identify and control for this disease that often appears as reddish-brown spots surrounded by a narrow yellow halo, primarily in centipedegrass. This revised 2-page fact sheet was written by M. L. Elliott and P. F. Harmon, and published by the UF Department of Plant Pathology, February 2011.

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/lh043

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