Garden
Gifts for Gardeners
It’s that gift-giving time of year! Got a green thumb to buy for? Check out our suggestions. We have several small tools to recommend as well as ideas for protective clothing and accessories. If those don’t work, consider giving digital or print subscriptions to landscaping magazines.
The Dirt on Florida Soils (and How to Improve Yours)
Florida gardeners with clay soil or sandy dirt will struggle to grow healthy plants unless they amend their earth with organic matter. Clay and sandy soils are found in the central and northern areas of the state. The peaty ground in South Florida needs fewer amendments.
Vines for all Structures
Add texture, color, and romance to your landscaping with the installation of climbing vines. Grow them on trellises, arbors, pergolas, and fences. You can find vines that flourish across the spectrum of conditions, including full sun, deep shade, and salty air.
Plant a Pollinator Garden
Pollinating insects are responsible for the production of vegetables, fruits, and nuts that we eat every day. Pollinator gardens provide food and shelter for these insects. Whether you choose a patio planter or a backyard bed, you can create a pollinator garden of your own.
Create Great Garden Borders
Propel your garden from appealing to stunning with the simple addition of a border. Edging can be as modest as a single brick row or as intricate as alternating plants lined by zig-zagging rustic metal—the options are as endless as the benefits.
How to Grow a Cutting Garden
Cutting gardens are more than just beautiful features in a landscape. They yield flowers of intentional types and heights, cultivated specifically to cut and use in flower arrangements. Follow our suggestions for Florida-friendly flowers to plant in your cutting garden.
About Roses in Florida
When it comes to growing roses in Florida, rose lovers have plenty of varieties to choose from. Low-maintenance shrub roses do very well as do classic varieties that require more care. Select roses grown on “Fortuniana” rootstocks for robust and long-living plants.
The Superfood Moringa Tree
The moringa tree—also called the ben oil tree, drumstick tree, and horseradish tree—is suited for Florida because it thrives in heat and does well in sandy soil. Its leaves and seed pods are a superfood source of vitamins, proteins, and antioxidants.
Add a Butterfly Garden to Your Landscape
Attracting butterflies to your Florida landscape is easy. Step One: find out which butterfly species inhabit your region. Step Two: add plants that provide food for those species. You may need two plants: one for the caterpillar and one for the adult.
Five Tips for Safe Working Outside
Working outside in Florida winter weather is generally delightful. Gardeners who take a few simple safety precautions can enjoy work days throughout the winter without injury or accident. It comes down to protective clothing, proper lifting, awareness, and respecting machinery and wildlife.