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Norma Samuel

County agent

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Norma Samuel

Orcid ID0000-0003-3894-7243

County agent

district Extension director, Ph.D., UF/IFAS Central District

Publications

thumbnail for publication: Synthetic Turfgrass and the Nine Principles of Florida-Friendly Landscaping™

Synthetic Turfgrass and the Nine Principles of Florida-Friendly Landscaping™

Jason Kruse, Bryan Unruh, Jennifer Marvin, Tom Wichman, Lynn Barber, Norma Samuel, John Bossart, Claire Lewis, and Esen Momol

Synthetic turf is a manufactured product that utilizes synthetic fibers that mimic the aesthetic look of natural grass. While designed to imitate the look of natural turf, synthetic turf does not provide the ecosystem benefits of a natural turf system. This publication examines the properties of synthetic turf in relation to each of FFL’s nine principles. A new publication of the UF/IFAS Environmental Horticulture Department; 4 pages.

thumbnail for publication: Weeds as Indicators of Soil Conditions in Lawns and Landscapes

Weeds as Indicators of Soil Conditions in Lawns and Landscapes

Norma Samuel and Chris Marble

The purpose of this publication is to provide examples of weeds commonly found under certain environmental conditions. While weeds can be an indicator of a certain condition, some weed species can thrive in many different environments and are indicated in the following tables with an asterisk. For example, spotted spurge (Euphorbia maculata) can be indicative of a dry site, but it will grow and spread very well in sites that are over-irrigated also. The presence of one or two weed species is not necessarily diagnostic to a specific cultural problem, but heavy infestations or the presence of multiple species that prefer a particular condition could indicate that cultural practices should be altered.