UF IFAS Sumter County Master Gardeners

05/27/2026

June, 2026.
The month of June is named after the Roman goddess Juno, the goddess of marriage and childbirth. It marks the start of summer, and contains the summer solstice—the day with the most sunlight of the year.
June 1 is the beginning of hurricane season. Never give palms a “hurricane cut”. Removing any green starves the palm of nutrients. It might also expose the growing center or bud to damaging winds. Only remove the totally brown fronds.
You can plant sweet potatoes at this time. The plant has heart shaped leaves about 6 inches long. They are green, but cultivars can be variegated or purple or gray, and can produce pink funnel-like flowers. They can also be a great ground cover.

05/15/2026

Plant of the Month
Every month we feature a plant that we think deserves a spotlight in Florida-Friendly gardening.

This month it’s the Sand Pear.

The sand pear, also known as Asian pear, is an excellent fruit tree for North Florida landscapes or edible gardens. Its showy white flowers attract pollinators while its fruit can be useful in the kitchen.

05/07/2026

“Even though the outside temperature is up, please remember that we are in a drought and have watering restrictions. Please check this link for updated details.”

Modified Phase III "Extreme" Water Shortage Restrictions Begin April 3Always refer to your city or county regulations first.

05/02/2026

The UF/IFAS Sumter County Youth Garden, led by Master Gardener Volunteer Jim Warrelmann, continues to thrive and inspire young gardeners. Recently, the children proudly harvested 15½ pounds of fresh beans. Participants were able to take some of their harvest home to share with their families, while the surplus was generously donated to the Food Bank House of Hope in Bushnell, helping support those in need within the community.

04/26/2026

If you have questions or concerns about your yard, please visit us at the Master Gardener Plant Clinics -we are happy to assist you.


Every Monday
9am-3pm

Sumter County Health Dept. Bldg.
8015 E. CR 466, Ste. A
The Villages, FL.

Every Friday
9am-3pm

Sumter County Service Center in Room 102
7375 Powell Rd.
Wildwood, FL.


Information: 352-569-6870

04/19/2026

Whether you’re new to the area or just need help with your lawn, this upcoming presentation is for you.

WISER Lawns and Landscapes for New Residents

TUESDAY APRIL 21
Lisa Sanderson, UF/IFAS Extension Sumter County Residential Horticulture Agent

9 - 11am. Colony Cottage Center
1- 3 pm Rohan Rec Center

04/13/2026

“The month of May is thought to be named after the Roman goddess Maia who oversaw the growth of plants.
This includes the planting of squash which you can do now.
And according to the Internet, you can also squash gossip, indifference, grumbling and selfishness.”

04/07/2026

Interesting Information from Ann Fender & Kate Dilts

In the every exciting world of responding as a Master Gardener to residents' questions, I was totally stumped while on a garden club panel. The question was about problems with jumping earthworms in Florida. I felt a little less ignorant when my well informed fellow panelists looked as puzzled as I did. We've since done some internet searching and found that indeed Florida has been invaded by jumping earthworms. Much of the on-line literature comes from Michigan, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, more northerly states; maybe the port of Miami is not to blame for providing access.
These earthworms apparently do jump. They are much larger than natives. Earthworms provide essential function of breaking organic debris down, releasing essential nutrients for plants. The large invasisves do the same, but at warp speed, ironically ultimately depriving growing plants of these nutrients. They also produce hard pellets that can compact the soil. This information comes from
https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/pestalert/2020/12/09/meet-the-jumping-worm-the-invasive-game-changer/
The article has suggestions as to what individual farmers/foresters/gardeners can do to help minimize spread of this invasive

Email 11 Facebook 13 Twitter 2 Reddit 1 X Linkedin 0 Stumbleupon 0 Description and origin Have you come across an ‘earthworm’ with an aggressive, wiggling behavior that left you curious? You may have encountered a jumping worm. Jumping worms are also known by several names, including Alabama jum...

04/01/2026

Introducing The Plant Of The Month

Cosmos flowers are out of this world. These plants attract bees and butterflies, making them perfect for a pollinator garden or children’s garden. The gorgeous blooms work wonderfully as cut arrangements for your home.

03/29/2026

This calendar is a handy tool to help you keep up with what to do in your yard each month—like planting, pruning, and fertilizing. You can pick one up at our Ask the Master Gardener clinics!

Dates and place are listed in the comments.