Three root ball conditions—nonroot-bound (NRB), root-bound (RB), and root-bound sliced (RBS)—were evaluated for their effect on plant growth of plumbago (Plumbago auriculata) during establishment and postestablishment in the landscape. At transplant, NRB plants were smaller than other treatments. Canopy size, shoot dry weight, root dry weight, and total biomass growth rates were faster for NRB plants compared with RB or RBS. By 6 and 8 weeks after transplanting, respectively, biomass and canopy size were similar among treatments. Rootbound and RBS plants were similar indicating root ball slicing does not affect growth in the landscape.

In this new 4-page publication from the Environmental Horticulture Department, Edmund Lee Thralls presents a basic method of how to construct a solar-powered water feature in your garden. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep571

A survey of landscape service providers was conducted in conjunction with the 2004 Tree and Landscape Short Course in Tampa, Fla. A greater proportion of participants (56%) provided landscape maintenance services, and 60% of the businesses were independently owned. About 67% of the respondents indicated that their businesses were in operation for over 10 years with 33% of the participants making one million dollars or more in gross sales per year. Although 43% of the respondents indicated that they served only one type of account, at least 29% of the providers served two types of accounts, and 24% served three types. In response to various questions on a Likert scale of 1–5, about 39% of the respondents completely agreed that word-of-mouth is the best marketing method and 41% agreed that an attractive logo on company trucks works as a great marketing tool. Many participants either agreed (27%) or were neutral (27%) when asked if they thought that the customers have no understanding of the costs involved in providing services to them. The survey results show that 73% of the respondents believe the most important factor that impacts and helps retain a customer base at a steady level is quality of work performed followed by professional employees, appearance, and knowledgeable employees. Cheap prices or discounts offered were rated as being low factors in retention of customers. Most service providers (31%) do not communicate with their customers using brochures, newsletters, flyers, emails, or websites. About 61% of service providers promote low water use plants followed by use of Florida native plants.

School gardens are a great way to get youth interested in where their food comes from. Hydroponics, or the cultivation of plants in liquid nutrient solutions rather than in soil, is a fascinating way to teach students about food systems. This 4-page fact sheet lists the materials, tools, and construction steps needed to grow a variety of crops in a wading pool hydroponic garden. Written by Edmund L. Thralls, and published by the UF Department of Environmental Horticulture, October 2015.   ENH1264/EP525: School Garden—Plastic Wading Pool Hydroponics (ufl.edu)