Master Gardeners of Hillsborough County, Florida
REFER
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Content by JoAnn Hoffman, 813-744-5519 ext. 139; layout by Darry D Eggleston

=> Animal Injury                                                              
Hillsborough County Animal Services 744-5660

=> Animal Rescue/Rehabilitations ― Wild/Non-Domestic Animals
● List by state
● Animal Services, Hillsborough County, 440 Falkenburg Road, Tampa, FL 33619, 744-5660

=> Armadillo
● See "Animal Trappers" in the telephone yellow pages or visit http://myfwc.com/trappers/
● "The Nine-banded Armadillo"

=> Bats
● See "Animal Trappers" in the telephone Yellow Pages
● Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission, http://myfwc.com/trappers/
● "Bat Info for the Florida Homeowner" http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/UW007

=> Beekeepers Association (Honey Bees)
It does not do swarm removal.  It meets on the Second Thursday of each month at the HES in the Large Conference Room, 7:30 p.m.  Contact Bill Roberts, 685-9870

=> Domestic Animals
● Dog, Cat, Ferret: Hillsborough County Animal Services, 744-5660
440 Falkenburg Road, Tampa, FL 33619  http://www.hillsboroughcounty.org/animalservices/
● Dairy Cows & Goats: Brent Broaddus, 744-5519, ext. 132, HES
● Horses, Beef Cows and other small farms type of animals: Steffany Dragon, 744-5519, extension127, HES, email: dragonsl@ufl.edu

=> Chickens — See Feral (Wild) Animals.  

=> Cows
● Beef: Steffany Dragon, 744-5519, extension 127, HES - email: dragonsl@ufl.edu
● Dairy: Brent Broaddus, 744-5519, extension 132, HES - email: babroaddus@ifas.ufl.edu

=> Cicada Killers
● Cicada is a very large wasp that digs holes and leaves mounds in the ground. It is a stout-bodied insect with large membranous wings; male has drum-like organs for producing a high-pitched drone. It is not generally dangerous although it is capable of stinging.
● See "Featured Creatures"

=> Feral (Wild) Animals
"Wild" domestic animals such as peacocks, hogs, etc. According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), these are domestic animals that "become your property while on your property". You can trap them; pen them up; and, if necessary, humanely destroy them. This doesn't mean you won't cause problems if the animal in question is a neighbor's "pet" so working out a peaceful solution is encouraged. The FWC had no suggestions of how to humanely destroy these animals, but finding a home for them when possible or euthanasia are practical solutions.  They can find professional wildlife trappers in the yellow pages under "Animals, Pest Trappers" or the FWC maintains a list of licensed trappers online at http://myfwc.com/trappers/

=> Frogs
The University of Georgia says there are 38 varieties of frogs in Florida.
Contact JoAnn Hoffman, 744-5519, extension 139, HES

=> Goats
● Dairy: Brent Broaddus, 744-5519, extension 132, HES, email: babroaddus@ifas.ufl.edu
● Meat: Steffany Dragon, 744-5519, extension 127, HES, email: dragonsl@ufl.edu

=> Hogs
Domestic Swine: Steffany Dragon, (813) 677-5519, extension 127, HES, email: dragonsl@ufl.edu

=> Horses  ― Steffany Dragon, 744-5519, HES   

=> Medfly/Oriental Fruit Fly
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, 1-888-397-1517

=>  Mosquito Control, Hillsborough County, 554-5025

=> Trappers
Find "Wildlife Trappers" in the yellow pages under Animal Removal.  The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has a list of licensed trappers at: http://myfwc.com/trappers/

=> Wasp/Hornet Removal ― Emergency? Call 9-1-1.
"Stinging or Venomous Insects or Related Pests" 
● If there is a colony on Hillsborough County property, contact Mosquito Control at 554-5025
● No government agency removes bees or wasps for free on private property. This is dangerous and professional treatment is advised. To hire someone, look in the yellow pages under "Bee Removal Services" or "Pest Control."

=> Wild Boar
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission at 1-863-648-3203

CHEMICAL COLLECTION                                                              
Hillsborough County Solid Waste Department, 272-5680 and touch 3

COMPOST
Lisa Strange, Master Gardener, 744-5519, extension 142, HES

COUNTY EXTENSION SERVICES
● Hillsborough County Extension Service, 5339 South CR 579, Seffner, FL 33584-3334, 744-5519,  MAP
● Pasco: 996-7341 (not toll call) - ask for the Extension office
● Pinellas: (727) 582-2100 
● Polk: (863) 533-0765
● Manatee: (941) 721-6608 
● Other Florida Extension Services
● Nation-wide Extension Service Locations

DIGGING, UNDERGROUND UTILITIES
Call Sunshine State One Call of Florida, at 1-800-432-4770, two full business days before digging.  Call 10 days before digging when digging under water. 

DISCOVERY GARDEN
Lynn Barber, Master Gardener, 744-5519, x 105, HES ― MAP ― Link

DRINKING WATER TESTING
Health Department, call 307-8000 
Drinking Water Testing (See Recommended Testing Guide & Certified Water Labs on that page.)  

EROSION
Florida Environmental Protection Commission: 272-5960  

FLORIDA DEPARTMENTS
● Animal Emergency - if a wild animal is in danger, a person is in danger or to report animal violations - call 9-1-1 or Sheriff 24-hour Law Enforcement: 1-863-648-3200
● Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
This is the state regulatory agency for many plant, insect and disease questions. 1-888-397-1517
● Division of Plant Industry, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services,
1-800-282-5153  for questions about shipping fruit out of state & plant inspections for retail sale.
● Florida Environmental Protection Commission, 272-5960
● Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC)  The regulatory agency for wild animals in Florida. It licenses hunters, trappers, and manage wildlife.  General Info: (863) 648-3203
● Health Department, call 307-8000
● My Florida                        

FLORIDA MARKET BULLETIN
545 E. Tennessee Street, Tallahassee, FL 32308, (850) 487-8000.  This is a free paper with classified ads for agricultural things that one might have difficulty finding or selling locally.

FLORIDA YARDS & NEIGHBORHOODS PROGRAM
Call Marina Pryce, 744-5519, extension 144, HES
Workshop Calendar

FORESTRY
● Rob Northrop, Urban and Community Forester, 744-5519, extension 106, HES, Email: northrop@ifas.ufl.edu ― He provides advice, and assistance on trees, forests, and natural resources to government agencies, businesses and private landowners.
● Florida Department of Forestry Regional Office, Lakeland, (863) 648-3163

FRUIT, SHIPPING OUT OF STATE      
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, 1-888-397-1517                                

GARDEN CLUBS

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AGENCIES
● Animal Services — http://www.hillsboroughcounty.org/animalservices/
440 Falkenburg Road, Tampa, FL 33619, 744-5660
● Extension Service — http://hillsborough.extension.ufl.edu/index.html
5339 South CR 579, Seffner, FL 33584-3334, (813) 744-5519,
● Housing & Community Code Enforcement — http://www.hillsboroughcounty.org/hcce/
10119 Windhorst Rd, Tampa, FL 33619, (813) 274-6600
South Shore Service Center (Code Enforcement Only)
410 South East 30th Street, Ruskin, FL 33570, (813) 641-6946
● Departments & Agencies — http://www.hillsboroughcounty.org/departments/
● Government — http://www.hillsboroughcounty.org/
● Library Catalog — http://tinyurl.com/r89ad
● Library System — http://www.thpl.org/
● Solid Waste Department — (813) 276-2960 http://www.hillsboroughcounty.org/solidwaste/

HOME HORTICULTURE                    

LAW
Florida Fence & Property Law Handbook

MANGROVE PRUNING
Department of Environmental Protection Agency - State of Florida  
Local Tampa Office - Brenda Arnold, 744-6100 x 411

MASTER GARDENER
● Newsletter
● Marina's Website
● MG Only: http://hillsborough.extension.ufl.edu/HomeGardening/MGsOnly/Newsletters.html
● MG Clinic Coordinators Resources or go to http://tinyurl.com/59suzz
● Talk Descriptions or call Marina D'Abreau, 744-5519, ext. 145
● Speakers Bureau — Speakers are available to organizations and libraries on a wide-range of gardening topics. Email Speaker’s Bureau Director, Cindy Paulhus, at paulhusc@verizon.net
● Clinics/Workshops Calendar or call Marina D'Abreau, 744-5519, ext. 145

MULCH
● Comparison at “Landscape Mulches: What Are The Choices in Florida?”
● Color Retention: Variable after 1 year with cypress, pine-bark and melaleuca retaining color the best.  Yet after 2 years, most mulches had grayed with pine-bark and cypress retaining some of their original color. Source: “Landscape Mulches: How Long Do They Retain Their Color?” 
● Settling: Pine-straw and the utility mulch settling the most in the 1st year. After two years, the pine-straw was almost completely gone with an average depth of 1 cm of 9 cm remaining. Utility and eucalyptus mulches were next with about 5 cm remaining. Pine bark and cypress had the same amount (6 cm) and melaleuca (7 cm) left. NOTE: 1 inch = 2.54 centimeters. Source: “Landscape Mulches: How Quickly Do They Settle?”
● Recycle:  Hillsborough County Solid Waste frequently has recycled yard waste mulch at 3 sites.
     ► Brandon area: Falkenburg Facility 350 Falkenburg Rd, Tampa, 744-5599 ― MAP
     ► Northwest County Facility 8001 W. Linebaugh Ave, Tampa, 264-3816 ― MAP
     ► South County Transfer Station, 13000 US Hwy 41 (north of the junction of Big Bend Road), Gibsonton, 264-3816
     ► Tampa Recycling Program: 272-5680
                                                                                             
PESTICIDE EMERGENCY
Call 9-1-1 for pesticide emergencies or the appropriate contacts below.
● ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center: 1-888-426-4435 ($55 credit card fee)
● Big Pesticide Spills, call Chemtrec at 1-800-424-9300 and call the National Response Center at 1-800-424-8802.
● Human Poison Control Centers: 1-800-222-1222 or Recognition and Management of Pesticide Poisonings

PLANTS           
● Aquatic Weed Control Permits & Questions ― Call John Rogers, 744-6163, or Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Invasive Plants & University of Florida Aquatics and Invasives
● Arborist, Certified ― Check the Yellow pages for "Tree Removal Services" and look in the ads for an ISA Certified Arborist. You can check the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) to find a list of arborist in our area
● Arborist, Consulting ― American Society of Consulting Arborists: the role of the consulting arborists to bring a comprehensive, objective viewpoint to the diagnosis, appraisal and evaluation of arborist-cultural issues. Also under Consulting in the yellow pages.  
● Florida Citrus Arboretum, 3027 Lake Alfred Rd (Hwy 17), Tampa, Florida, (863) 298-7712
● Citrus Canker ― Do not bring fruit to the Extension Service that is suspected of having citrus canker. It is very contagious. First ask them if they know anything about Citrus canker. Often they will call anything citrus canker because that is all they have ever heard of. We would like to have the chance to stop canker from being spread as much as possible.
● Citrus Greening ― Do not bring fruit that is suspected of having citrus greening to any County Extension Service. It is very contagious.  Citrus greening, also called Huanglongbing or yellow dragon disease, is one of the more serious diseases of citrus.  Other than tree removal, there is no effective control once a tree is infected and there is no known cure for the disease. Infected trees may produce misshapen, unmarketable, bitter fruit. Citrus greening reduces the quantity and quality of citrus fruits, eventually rendering infected trees useless. The trees in the orchards usually die 3-5 years after becoming infected and require removal and replanting. An infected tree produces fruit that is unsuitable for sale [or consumption] as fresh fruit or for juice," according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.  Significant symptoms of citrus greening are lopsided fruit, bad tasting fruit, mottled foliage, sectoring of the tree and general tree decline.  The owner should arrange to have trees inspected by calling the number below. Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, 1-800-282-5153,
● Distance Diagnostic and Identification System (DDIS)
● Invasive Species Working Group    
● Red Tide: FL Fish & Wildlife Research Institute  

RESOURCE-RECYCLE CENTERS
272-4900
To dump yard waste at these facilities, you will need a copy of your last year's "Hillsborough County Notice of Ad Valorem Taxes and Non-Ad Valorem Assessments." You can get it by going to http://www.hillstax.org/taxapp/property_information.asp and typing in your "Folio Number" or do a search by the property owner's name.
► Brandon area: Falkenburg Facility 350 Falkenburg Rd, Tampa, 744-5599 - Map
► Northwest County Facility 8001 W. Linebaugh Ave, Tampa - Map
► South County Transfer Station, 13000 US Hwy 41, Gibsonton, 671-7611
► Tampa Recycling Program: 348-1165
► East Bay Sanitation Services, 677-5883

SOIL/DIRT DISPOSAL
Hillsborough County will not accept soil in our landfills.  A homeowner can call a pool company, builder or companies that sell soil or fill dirt.

UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA IFAS PUBLICATIONS