What It Means to Manage a Landscape

A landscaper is a company that not just designs and installs landscaping for residential and commercial properties, but one that goes beyond just maintenance to management of the landscape design.  They follow strict guidelines so you can have peace of mind:

Mowing

Mowing frequency is customized based on the different growth rates of the seasons.  Certain grasses will be mowed more than others: for example, St. Augustine turf will be cut up to 44 times per year and Bahia turf will be cut up to 21 times per year.

Rotary mowers will be used and the blades will be kept sharp and maintained so grass is not torn.  Height of grass will be determined for optimal health of lawn.

Mowing patterns will ensure an even distribution of clippings for appearance and protection, and clippings will remain on turf to restore nutrients for a healthy lawn.

Edging and Trimming

Plant beds, curbs, roadways, driveways, trees, and buildings will be neatly edged and trimmed to maintain a desirable shape.

After edging and trimming, walkways and patios will be cleared to maintain a clean, well-groomed appearance.

Edging and trimming will coincide with mowing and areas inaccessible to mowers will be maintained with other equipment.

All debris created by our company will be promptly removed.

Fertilization and Control of Weeds, Insects, and Disease

Various percentages of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium will be determined based on different seasons and environmental conditions.  St. Augustine turf will be fertilized four times per year.

Soil tests will be performed once per year to evaluate pH and nutrient content.

It is the sole responsibility of our company to treat for insects, disease, or weeds.

All state and federal regulations will be strictly followed when applying pesticide or herbicide products.  These treatments will be performed by trained technicians only.

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

The Official Flora of Florida

This year, Florida celebrates 500 years since Ponce de Leon first landed upon our shores.  He proclaimed the peninsula (which he believed was an island) would be known as Florida, the "flowery land".  This arrival by a European explorer occurred in the vicinity of St. Augustine and you might like to imagine the flowers, plants, and trees that were most likely present.

Landscaping in this area is full of tropical and semi-tropical blossoms and a variety of palm trees, among so many other varieties of unique flora.  Ponce de Leon's landing occurred during the Easter season, also known as Pascua Florida, the Feast of Flowers.

When it came time to create an official state seal in 1868, it is not surprising that hibiscus flowers being scattered by a Seminole woman were the focal point of the image chosen to symbolize Florida.  Because of the times, a cocoa tree was also used to represent Florida agriculture.

Many years later the cocoa tree was replaced in the seal with the native sabal palm tree, which is now also the designated state tree of Florida.  The state flag of Florida is comprised of the seal superimposed over a red St. Andrew's cross on a white background.

What other flowers have come to stand for our beautiful land of blooms?  The official state flower since 1909 is not hard to guess: no other flower could symbolize the Sunshine State as perfectly as the lovely, fragrant orange blossom.

And there is an official state wildflower as well: selected and announced just recently in 1991, Coreopisis can be seen thriving along roadsides as part of highway beautification programs.  This native wildflower is usually bright yellow but can be other colors such as pink.

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

Palm Coast Landscape Blog Highlights

This landscape blog covering Palm Coast, Flagler Beach, Ormond, Daytona, and St. Augustine is in its third year of knowledge sharing for those readers interested in Florida landscaping issues.  Here are the top five posts of all time, counting our total readership well into the thousands:

1) Century Plant and Agave in the Florida Landscape Design - Still one of the most stunning examples of our unique northeast Florida botanical elements for landscaping, this plant is as fascinating as it is beautiful.

2) Amazing Facts About the Live Oak Tree - This tree is nothing if not majestic and apparently many web searches seeking information on the live oak bring web visitors to this post.

3) The everlasting green beauty of Florida landscape design - The second blog ever posted, announcing important company news and sharing an interesting tidbit and quote about color, has stayed in the top ever since.

4) Florida Holly is Not So Festive After All - This explains in detail the truth about one of our area's most mistakenly identified trees, and even if you know its true identity, you may not know the whole story.

5) Fire Pits Add Cozy Heat to Florida Evenings - Fire pit design, as aspect of hardscaping that GreenFlex Landscaping specializes in, has gotten more popular as a functional landscape design feature.

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

Here's the Scoop on St. Augustine Lawn Maintenance

In this blog post we are going to cover one of the most commonly seen varieties of grass used in Florida lawns, St. Augustine, also known as Carpet, Wire, Buffalo, or Charleston grass.  St. Augustine is used primarily in tropical and subtropical areas and usually requires a sprinkler system.  Because St. Augustine turf is very thick and dense, it crowds out weeds and other unwanted grasses.  It has a lovely dark green uniform color year round as long as its maintenance needs are fully met.

Fun facts about St. Augustine grass include:

• It has been used for lawns in Florida since the 1890s.
• It is native to the Gulf of Mexico and Mediterranean regions.
• It has a high level of salt tolerance for beach landscaping. 
• A new variety was developed in 2008 that is resistant to chinch bugs.
• It grows only in coastal regions.
• Propagation is by plug, sod, or stolon - seed propagation was only recently made possible.

The best way to describe a St. Augustine lawn is that it is like a carpet in its thickness, spreading and growing its runners of grass so that nothing else can penetrate it.  This species of grass performs well in many soil conditions with consistent fertilization and attention to its moisture needs.  We will not only install and maintain your St. Augustine lawn, but we also understand the watering necessary to maintain it.

Alternatively, if you would prefer a softer lawn that is similar to the ones found in Northern climates or on golf courses, you may want to learn more about zoysia grass. 

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

Zoysia Grass for Soft, Fine Florida Lawns

Did you think lush, soft lawns in Florida were only to be found at golf courses?  Or even worse, did you think you had to give up a fine textured lawn when you moved to the sunny, warm Florida climate? Fortunately more and more of our customers are discovering the beauty of zoysia grass, a variety of turf that was introduced in the United States in 1900 from Korea.  

Zoysia is often seen used on golf courses where a dense, low-cut turf is desired.  It does go dormant in winter though, so you cannot expect a full year of bright green grass as you can with St. Augustine lawns.  But if St. Augustine grass seems too rough and heavy to you, consider zoysia.  It requires about the same level of care and watering but you can walk barefoot in zoysia and it feels lovely.  

Once established, zoysia holds its own against weeds and other grasses. When watering, the rules are consistent: water in early morning and water deeply, wetting the soil to a depth of 4 to 6 inches. Generally zoysia does not have many insect, disease, or thatch problems if properly maintained.  

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

Well Maintained Landscaping for Safety and Curb Appeal

Thinking about trimming those palm trees yourself?  Keep in mind, the Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends that unless you have the professional skill and experience to do so, you should not perform household tasks that require you to climb anything higher than a six foot ladder.  Reportedly, ladder injuries have become a major factor in emergency room visits.

There are so many reasons why you should consider the services of a landscaper to maintain the grounds of your home or business.  Did you know that untrimmed bushes and shrubs could give coverage to a burglar attempting to break in through your doors or windows?  Or that one of the things that thieves look for is a home with a lawn that has not been mowed, indicating that the homeowner is on an extended absence?  

In a previous Florida Landscape Design post, we went over the ways that professional landscaping design and care will raise property values in areas such as St. Augustine, Palm Coast, and Ormond Beach, where motivated sellers are looking for ways to give their houses added curb appeal.  There are other facts to consider when making the choice to trust your lawn and landscape's maintenance to a company such as GreenFlex Landscaping:

• Studies have shown: 75 percent of interested buyers drive by an available property and 63 percent look at photos online before walking through. You simply must have the exterior appearance at peak perfection.
• Outdoor landscape lighting gives your property curb appeal at night!  This is becoming evidently more important as so many potential home buyers drive by homes for sale during the evening hours, after work. 
• It is recommended that to look its absolute best, a home must have its lawn mowed twice a week in the summer.  Along with that it is necessary to pull weeds from beds and sweep or blow walkways clear of trimmings and debris. 

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

Landscaping for Ormond Beach, Palm Coast, and Saint Augustine

New residents to northeast Florida find almost immediately that landscaping here is very different than other parts of the country.  There are specific varieties of plant material that thrive in this area, many of which require specific care for optimal health.

Landscape designing and installation in the Palm Coast, Ormond Beach, and St. Augustine areas is challenging and many people find it beneficial to outsource these tasks to professional companies.  Choosing a trusted company to install and maintain your landscaping and lawn is of the utmost importance - check that your landscaping service provider has the appropriate licensing, customer testimonials, and insurance.

Florida living is close to nature and the outdoors; it is usually an active lifestyle of beach, golf, and swimming.  Palm Coast landscaping companies are full service landscape design, maintenance, and installation organizations.  As your Florida landscape designer, we will create an outdoor space that invites entertaining and enjoyment with water features, hardscaping design, outdoor lighting, and a green lawn.

Ready to take your landscaping to the highest level of style, beauty, and growth?  Do you need consulting on the best plants and trees for your particular landscaping project?  Is your existing lawn not up to par? 

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

Facts About Commercial Landscape Design and Maintenance

Landscapers specialize in both residential and commercial landscape design with an emphasis on Florida friendliness, elegant water features, expert hardscaping, outdoor low wattage lighting, and successful lawn maintenance. We take into consideration important components of a commercial landscape design that you may not realize:

1) Seasonal color changes - The flowers in bloom are different with each season. It is of paramount importance that a property have an eye catching amount of color no matter what time of year. Professional commercial landscapers have a well tuned knowledge of the flowers that thrive with each new season and will ensure they are planted at the right time and encouraged to their peak of beauty.

2) Handicapped accessibility - It is not just indoor spaces that must follow the guidelines of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Gardens and hardscaped areas of the landscape plan must be designed with disabled visitors and residents in mind. The most attentive property owners want a space that is inviting and comfortable for customers and dwellers of all ages and abilities. A landscaper determines a site plan that follows these restrictions with no effect on the gratifying overall result.

3) Ongoing maintenance - It is a rare business owner or property manager who cares for their own landscaping. We keep the lawns green, the trees trimmed, the mulch fresh, the flowers lively, and your property looking its absolute best throughout the unexpected climate shifts that can feel like a rollercoaster in our part of north and central Florida. A landscaper knows the best plants for your soil, light, and water conditions and once planted the upkeep such as pruning and fertilizing will be on a schedule for maximum success.

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

What is the easiest lawn to maintain in Florida?

"Green is the prime color of the world, and that from which its loveliness arises." - Pedro Calderon de la Barca

Here in the northern coastal region of the Sunshine State you see a few main types of turf for commercial and residential lawns: Bahia, Zoysia, Bermuda, or St. Augustine. There are too many pros and cons to count for each variety, but there is an easy answer to the question posed: What is the easiest lawn or grass to maintain in Florida?

The answer is: One that is maintained by a professional.

Having a beautiful, healthy lawn is a challenge in Florida any time of the year. It is advisable to have a landscape expert install and maintain your lawn and irrigation system for the best possible outcome, month after month and year after year. Landscaping pros offer truly full service when it comes to creating and caring for a beautiful Florida landscape. 

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