Flowers are always a good idea to help spruce up your landscaping around your home, but knowing which kind of flowers (or plants) to get can be rather important.

With the coldest air in years on the way to Northeast Florida, horticultural experts are ringing the alarm about protecting your plants from the freeze.

Here is what I have done or will be doing to help keep water moving. The common theme here is an easy fix: Simply remove the thatch with a rake or by hand, and the same goes for blocked drains and grates. Undulations in your yard will allow water to collect and stand, causing prolonged puddles and eventually mold and fungus. Another simple fix: if the depression is due to a commonly walked path or pets, fill the hole. If you are having soggy-yard water problems, I hope the fix is as easy as clearing some leaves.

There are many ways to stay busy at home without making a permanent dent in the couch, like making a backyard habitat! This past spring, News4Jax explained how to become a backyard naturalist during the pandemic and now we’re going to dig a little deeper. Florida Fish and Wildlife experts suggest that making your yard into a backyard habitat takes it to the next level by supporting local wildlife. “Florida-native plants provide beautiful textures, dimensions and color to your landscape while also benefiting local wildlife such as pollinators and birds," said Amanda Herrera-Hernandez , business development coordinator at Liberty Landscape Supply. Another key step to remember would be to provide the elements of good habitat essential to all wildlife, like food, water, shelter and space to raise young.