Plants & Shrubs
Topiary: Landscape Art!
Creating topiary transforms untrained trees and shrubs into beautiful masterpieces. It’s not just for formal gardens, though. Incorporating topiary into your home landscape can elevate its refinement or be just plain fun. Follow these basic tips to make your own.
Conditions are Different in a Microclimate
Microclimates are small areas with weather conditions that are different from those of the surrounding areas. Locating each of the microclimates on a property allows a homeowner to either choose plants that will thrive there or control environmental factors and change the microclimate.
How to Make Your Yard Pet-Friendly
Do you have a pet? Make sure your property is a secure and comfortable place for it—provide areas for running, patrolling, and going to the bathroom. Be aware of the many plants that are toxic to animals and stick with the plants that are safe.
Plant Terms You Should Know
Do you know your plant words? Check out our list. You’ve no doubt heard some of these words, like annuals and deciduous. Others are a little more obscure (palmates and noxious weeds). Ever heard of an end-of-the-hose plant? That’s on the list too.
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.
Ferns For Your Florida Landscape
Looking for tropical plants to add to your landscaping? Consider the fern—a plant that comes in all shapes, sizes, and textures. Ferns make excellent groundcovers, specimen plants, foliage fills, and container plants. Here we provide suggestions of ferns for each category.
Invasive Plants: Don’t Bring These Home
Invasive plants are non-native species that, when left to grow unchecked, spread over plant communities and alter the local ecology. Florida is home to myriad invasive plant species from palms to grasses to trees. Educated homeowners should avoid installing these plants in their landscaping.
Protect Your Plants from the Cold
Some areas of Florida experience freezing temperatures during the winter. This can kill or damage tropical or temperate plants. Bring potted plants inside or group them together outside against a wall. Cover cold-sensitive plants and shrubs with sheets or garden blankets.
How to Prevent Sooty Mold
Sooty black mold on shrubs and trees indicates the presence of sap-sucking pests such as aphids or scales. These pests excrete honeydew—a substance on which sooty mold grows. Prevent black mold by eradicating sap-sucking pests. There are a variety of natural controls you can implement.