Home Lawn and Garden

The Home Lawn and Garden program helps you create and care for a Florida‑Friendly Landscape. Florida‑Friendly Landscaping™ is an affordable way to design your yard using nine simple landscaping principles. These principles help you spend less time on maintenance and use less water, fertilizer, and pesticides. They also help protect Florida’s natural resources.

• Discovery Garden
  
  Open Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
  Saturday, 9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
• Florida-Friendly Landscaping™
  
  The Nine Florida‑Friendly Landscaping™ Principles are designed to help you create a beautiful, Florida‑Friendly yard.

Events Calendar

• Classes and Workshops
  
  Learn about gardening and plants in classes taught by our horticulture agent, Maria Quírico Bautista.
• Speakers Bureau Presentations
  
  Our Master Gardener Volunteers give special presentations at local libraries and for private groups.
• Mobile Plant Clinic
  
  Master Gardener Volunteers travel to local farmers markets to answer your questions about soil, plants, pests, and more.
   

• Home Gardening and Florida-Friendly Landscaping™

  ‌

  The 9 Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ principles will help you to have a great Florida-Friendly yard.

  #1. Right Plant, Right Place

  2. Water Efficiently

  #3. Fertilize appropriately

  #4. Mulch

  #5. Attract Wildlife

  #6. Manage Yard Pests Responsibly

  #7. Recycle

  #8. Reduce Stormwater runoff

  #9. Protect the Waterfront

• Discovery Gardens

  

  DISCOVERY GARDENS

  Visit Discovery Gardens to see how you can use Florida‑Friendly Landscaping™ in your own yard and still have beautiful results. The gardens include 28 different themed areas across 3.5 acres, giving you lots of ideas and plants to explore.

  Discovery Gardens is open to the public Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and on Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

  You can take a self‑guided audio tour by using the QR code on the large map under the green arbor at the entrance. If you prefer a guided tour, you can schedule one by emailing Maria Bautista at mquiricobautista@ufl.edu or filling out and sending in the Discovery Gardens Tour Request Form
   

 Master Gardeners

• Master Gardener Volunteer Program

  MASTER GARDENER VOLUNTEER PROGRAM

  Join the Lake County Master Gardener Volunteer Program and help out in Discovery Gardens, the Plant Clinic, the greenhouse, or with educational programs for the public. Volunteers can choose from many activities, including working in one of our 24 gardens. 

  
  More information...
• Plant Clinic

  
  Master Gardener Volunteer Plant Clinic

  Hours
  Monday - Friday
  10am - 2pm

  Bring in your soil samples, insects, weeds, pictures, or any plant questions you have. Our Plant Clinic is staffed by Master Gardener Volunteers who can help you. If you visit when the clinic is closed, a staff member will take your sample and make sure it is reviewed by the Residential Horticulture Agent or a Master Gardener Volunteer as soon as possible. We will contact you with information about your sample.

  Mobile Plant Clinic/Tabling Event

  We also have a mobile plant clinic trailer that you can request for events, fairs, and other activities. We can answer questions about soil, plants, insects, weeds, trees, and more. If there isn’t space for the trailer, we can set up a table, chairs, and a tent instead. To schedule a visit, fill out the Mobile Plant Clinic Request Form or email Maria Quírico Bautista at mquiricobautista@ufl.edu.

  You can also send photos of your plant problems to Maria Quírico Bautista at mquiricobautista@ufl.edu, or to the Plant Clinic at lakemg@ifas.ufl.edu, for diagnosis. You may also use the Distance Diagnostic and Identification System. We look forward to helping you.
  
  For more information...
   
• Newsletter - Garden Scoop

  

  Master Gardener Volunteer Newsletter

  Please enjoy the Garden Scoop, the newsletter created by the UF/IFAS Extension Lake County Master Gardener Volunteers. Our volunteers write, edit, and produce the entire newsletter.

  If you would like to join our email list to receive the newsletter and updates about upcoming events, please contact Maria Bautista at:

  Email: mquiricobautista@ufl.edu

  Phone: (352) 343-4101 ext. 1894.

  Fax: (352) 343-2767

  View past newsletters......

• Speaker’s Bureau

  

  Master Gardner Volunteer Speaker’s Bureau

  Are you looking for a great speaker for your next garden club meeting, library program, or special event? Our Master Gardener Volunteer Speakers Bureau can provide the keynote presentation you need.

  Please look through the Speakers Bureau Presentation List to see all the topics we offer. Then fill out the Speaker Request Form to schedule a speaker.