Fall is Here and We Have Landscape Design in Mind

Fall in North Florida means an end to the dog days of summer and an excitement for the beginning of the holiday season.  Although we don't have a large amount of deciduous trees changing color, you can still spot a few mixed in with our citrus, palm trees, and live oaks.  Landscape design considerations evolve a bit for autumn, and may include:

Adding bursts of color with temporary seasonal elements to landscaping and outdoor living areas such as chrysanthemums. Read more about this unique flower here: 

http://floridalandscapedesign.blogspot.com/2014/11/flower-of-november-chrysanthemum-for.html

Cooler weather signals the time to enjoy a fire pit or fire bowls. Get ideas for how to add them and keep in mind we can integrate a fire pit or beautifully placed fire bowls to accent your overall landscape design:                    
http://floridalandscapedesign.blogspot.com/2010/12/fire-pits-add-cozy-heat-to-florida.html

Is now going to be the year you finally update or upgrade your property's landscaping?  Begin collecting inspiration for landscaping makeover now with these suggestions, so you can share your vision when it's time to get a free estimate:

http://floridalandscapedesign.blogspot.com/2013/05/how-will-you-design-your-landscaping.html

Many pool owners are not using their pools over the colder months of the year.  So it is a great time to plan and install "poolscaping".  Just imagine your enjoyment next summer of new hardscaping and landscaping installed now while no one is using that area of the home: 

http://floridalandscapedesign.blogspot.com/2015/09/poolscaping-for-your-florida-landscape.html

Our hurricane season is nearing its official end on November 30th.  Have you noticed that some of your landscaping may pose problems in a strong storm?  

http://floridalandscapedesign.blogspot.com/2014/05/hurricane-preparedness-includes-your.html 

Fall is a great time to refresh beds of mulch throughout your landscape design.  There are many reasons why proper mulching is important if you want beautiful and thriving landscaping, which is known to be the key to curb appeal and first impressions:

http://floridalandscapedesign.blogspot.com/2013/09/mulch-is-must-in-landscaping.html

Our clocks will "fall back" at the end of October for Daylight Savings Time.  The days of autumn and winter also have less hours of sun naturally as our planet rotates.  Lighten up the darker months of the year with low watt, elegantly placed landscape lighting:

http://floridalandscapedesign.blogspot.com/2012/11/accent-lighting-for-your-florida.html

🦚Article by Connie Helena, author of The Green Orchid 🦚

Hurricane Preparedness Includes Your Landscaping

Hurricane season is right around the corner, and this year it begins June 1st.  This week is National Hurricane Preparedness Week and we have several tips to get your landscaping and the area around your home ready in case of major storm.  Keep in mind that you can contact a landscaper regarding hurricane readiness and safety of your landscaping, and services cover many of the suggestions below.

1) Make sure if you have a shed, greenhouse, or other outbuildings that the doors and windows are secure and will not detach in heavy winds.

2) Prune your trees so that large branches are not hanging over your home or car, and away from power lines.  Do not engage in the inappropriately named "hurricane cut", which removes most of the fronds and can severely damage, or even kill, your trees.  Instead trees should be pruned to provide for air flow, which inhibits uprooting.  If a tree is obviously unhealthy and therefore weak, it should be removed.

3) Consider planting trees that are more likely to withstand heavy winds in the first place.  Native growing trees such as the live oak in Florida are standing all these years because they are strong, hard, resistant to winds, and their roots grow deep.

4) Clear your gutters and downspouts and ensure they are firmly attached and that your drainage system is fully functioning.

5) Be ready to stake tall plants in case of a storm, and if a storm is on its way you should be ready to harvest vegetables or flowers beforehand as those fragile plantings will most likely be damaged anyway.

6) Take inventory of all your lawn ornaments, outdoor furniture, potted plants, grills, flags, awnings, and other loose items around the home.  These can become flying projectiles in strong winds and should be stored when a storm is imminent.

7) Consider replacing your gravel beds with softer wood mulch.  Small stones can be hazardous if they become airborne in extreme weather conditions.

8) If you live close to the beach and the possibility of flooding is high, keep in mind that salt tolerant plants and trees are most likely going to be the few survivors of a major storm. When saltwater creeps up higher than usual on the coastline and blows its spray through the air, salt tolerance is severely tested.

Stay safe!  Hurricane season ends November 30th.

🦚Article by Connie Helena, author of The Green Orchid 🦚