Annuals are one of the most exciting parts of a landscape. We love seeing the variety of colors, shapes and sizes that combine to make a beautiful flower bed. Our four page guide will help you put together the most high-impact annual flower bed for your property.
The Art of Annuals. In order to design a beautiful annual bed, you need to take into account many different variables like soil types, sun/shade, growth rates of flowers, salt tolerance, etc. You also need to know the kind of look and style you're trying to present. Are you looking for well-manicured flower bed with an elegant feel? Or maybe a bed of wildflowers that have more of a natural look?
Tricks to the Trade. After nearly 15 years of planting some of the most beautiful annual beds in the country, our team wants to share with you some of the tricks to the trade. From color theory to proper annual planting technique, we've put together a simple, four page guide that will help you create a flower bed that will make your community happy, your tenants satisfied, or your neighbors proud.
Check it Out! Click on the button below for our guide to creating powerful annual flower beds. Once you've clicked on the button, you can print out our four page guide, share it with friends, and use it as a resource for the next time you're picking out flowers!
Landscape Management is one of the most important investments you can make for your living assets. Many companies spend millions on the construction of their property, but neglect to find the proper company to maintain their valuable investment. This can result in an unhealthy landscape, poor curb appeal and can potentially affect your company’s goals. To protect your investment properly, we’ve put together an outline of what you should look for in a landscape management firm.
Before You Look For/Solicit A Landscaping Management Firm…
Define what type of service you’re looking for. Landscaping services can be defined on two different levels: Basic Level Service and High Level Service. Basic Level Service is usually for properties with standard turf, shrubbery, trees, and palms. High Level Service should be considered for properties with specialty palms trees which demand extra pruning, turf that requires extra fertilization and cuts, and high-profile areas with flower displays. High Level Service usually requires a detailed horticultural plan to guide the health and sustainability of the landscape. The key differentiator between the two different service levels are the frequencies with which service are performed - High Level Service tend to be more inclusive of extra services.
Think Smart. If you’re looking for Basic Level Service, think smart. The more unspecialized the work is, the more companies you will have to choose from. This opens the door up to small ‘mow and blow’ companies, as well as most medium and large sized firms. If you’re looking for High Level Service, you’ll be looking at most medium to large sized firms who have the proper capital, equipment, insurance, and credibility to maintain your property.
Come up with a proper scope of work. If you’re working with a small, basic property, you’ll be able to get a ‘price quote’ from a small firm without having to go through defining your ‘scope of work.’ But, if you are looking to request proposals from multiple landscape firms for a large property, you’ll need to have a ‘scope of work’ defined so all of the price quotes are based on the same amount of work. Many times, a landscaping firm will offer to put this together as a favor to the client in hopes of building a stronger relationship. If not by this method, a 3rd party consultant can assemble a proper scope of work.
Solicit Bids. Once you’ve got the defined ‘scope of work’, research potential firms for your category of work. For Basic Level Service, Google or the Yellow Pages should work for finding proper contacts to send your scope of work to. For High Level Service, you should network with property managers to find credible landscape management firms.
Before You Choose Your Landscape Management Firm…
Do your research. Ask bidders for reference letters, reference contact information, proof of proper insurance, equipment lists, client lists and for any other information that would help in assuring the company’s credibility.
Visit the landscape management firm’s properties. In the case of High Level work, you want to make sure to check the landscape firm’s work. In many cases, properties may be gated, in which case you can ask the landscape firm for a guided tour, or request them to contact the property and have the gate opened.
Negotiate the Price. In some cases, you may get a bid back from a company that you like, but the price is much higher. Don’t be afraid to ask the company why the price may have been higher. It’s possible that the low bids may not have been bidding on the whole scope of work (are they bidding ‘apples-to-apples’), or it’s possible that the higher bids may have been caused by bidding on a section that was not included in the scope of work.
Before You Sign a Landscape Management Contract…
Read the fine print. Make sure to compare the scope of work that was in the bid with the contract. Also, ask for a warranty letter to protect against improper maintenance and get a copy of the insurance certificate.
Negotiate the term. For small agreements, a one year agreement is a standard length for most landscape management firms. But for larger agreements that require specialized equipment, the contract may be extended to assure the influx of equipment is worth their efforts. Whatever the case is, it’s best for you to try to keep the contract a one to two year agreement in order to protect you from a long commitment.
Assure there is a cancellation with cause. In order to protect you against being stuck with a management company that does not maintain the property correctly, be sure to have a ‘cancellation with cause’ clause in the agreement.
Rain is a funny thing - when you need it, you don't get it, and when you don't need it, it doesn't stop coming down. Thus, the evolution of the modern irrigation system. Irrigation is a supplemental tool that, when used correctly, makes landscapes look healthy while being sensative and responsible with our precious resource.
Irrigation takes up about 50% of the average home's water consumption. That's a lot of water (and money)! To learn ways to potentially reduce your water usage while maintaining a healthy landscape, check out our latest resource, "Quick Reference Guide - Proper Irrigation Practices." It's a simple, two-page overview that reviews the best management practices for irrigation.
Or, take a look out our video on proper irrigation practices:
Warmer temperatures are here with summer on the near horizon. These warm temperatures bring immense growth to the landscape. This month, it’s important to follow these simple steps to ensure a healthy landscape – watch for chinch bugs, finalize all shrub pruning and mow your lawn weekly.
Be on the Lookout for Chinch Bugs
Chinch bug season is March through November in many parts of Florida. During this time, it is important to be on the lookout for chinch bug damage in your lawn. If you think you have chinch bugs in your lawn, the first step is proper identification since the damage caused by these critters can easily be confused for other insects or turf problems.
You should be able to spot chinch bugs if you look closely - adult chinch bugs are black with white patches on the wings. Check the soil surface and base of the grass blade. Also, pull out a few blades of grass, take off the bottom leaves and see if there are any chinch bugs. Try this in a few spots within the damaged area. Another option is to use the vacuum method. Use a dust buster or hand-held vacuum cleaner, and pick a spot within the damaged area to suck up the dirt. Vacuum the dirt in this area for two minutes. Then, look at the contents within the vacuum to see if there are any chinch bugs. A third option is the can method. Cut out the top and bottom of a can and insert it into the dirt. Fill the can with water up to the top of the grass. Wait a few minutes and see if chinch bugs float up to the surface of the water.
Chinch bug damage typically occurs in open, sunny areas near sidewalks and driveways as well as in the middle of lawns. The damaged area usually starts small, but when left untreated, the patch will get larger as the chinch bugs move to continue feeding on healthy turf. The speed of the chinch bug damage depends on the density of the bugs and the turf’s overall health.
To avoid a chinch bug invasion, now is a good time to use a preventative treatment on your turf. Also, proper maintenance practices can help eliminate the environment for chinch bugs. First, make sure you mow your St. Augustine grass at a height of 3-4 inches to create healthy turf and eliminate undue stress. Also, water appropriately to avoid dry spots in the lawn.
Finish Pruning Shrubs
It’s important that all shrubs are pruned before the end of the month because the excessive heat in the summer months plus pruning can cause an overly amount of excessive stress on the plant. Also, prune blooming shrubs now to promote abundant flowering during the blooming season. By pruning at this time, blooms will not be jeopardized. Make sure to use sharp equipment and create clean, smooth cuts to encourage rapid healing of wounds. Do not create stubs since this is usually where die back occurs. Avoid tearing the bark when removing large branches.
Continue with Weekly Mowings
Finally, if you haven’t already started, make sure to mow your lawn weekly. Now that the temperatures are heating up, the turf is rapidly growing. Weekly mowings ensure that no more than 1/3
rd of the leaf blade is being cut off at one time. When too much of the blade is cut off, then it can cause stress to the turf.
These simple steps will help get your landscape into summer-ready shape!
Source: University of Florida IFAS Extension - http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/lh036
Enjoying Your Lawn
There’s no better place for enjoying the outdoors than in the comfort and privacy of your yard. While the lawn plays an important role in our daily outdoor activities, it can be a challenge to maintain, especially in the summer heat. But, once you know the proper steps in maintaining turf, it will make your lawn the perfect place to enjoy and play.
Lawn Scalping
In the summer, when the sun is beating and afternoon showers occur, grass grows vigorously. Oftentimes, in order to avoid having to mow too frequently, mowers are set lower and grass is cut shorter. This technique not only strains the health of the turf, but it also promotes weeds by exposing the soil and roots.
The term for cutting your lawn too short is “scalping,” which disrupts the photosynthesis process. Without this process, grass turns brown and can eventually die. Shown here, the left side is a lawn cut too short, which depletes color from the lawn. On the right side is a healthy lawn cut at the correct height.
Also, cutting your lawn too short will stunt root growth, making it harder for the roots to reach the needed nutrients and water.
The 1/3rd Rule
The best rule of thumb when mowing your lawn is to use the 1/3rd rule. This rule states that you should never cut off more than 1/3rd of the leaf blade within the same mowing, which causes undue stress to the turf. By using this rule, you’ll save time and energy removing weeds and preventing the need for surplus fertilizers and chemicals.
How to Adjust Your Mowing Height
Sharpening Your Mower Blades
Safety & Equipment
Each time before you begin mowing the lawn, always check the gasoline and oil levels. Refill and adjust as needed. This will help avoid putting gasoline into a hot mower, which is not recommended.
Also, make sure you wear the proper attire, which includes leather shoes.
Grass-cycling
Finally, when mowing, take part in grass-cycling. This is the release of the grass clippings back into the lawn. The clippings contain many of the same elements found in fertilizer and already in the correct quantities. In fact, when clippings are removed, 20-25 percent more fertilizer is needed to maintain comparable color and quality then when the clippings aren’t removed. The only instance when grass-cycling isn’t the best option is when the lawn has a disease or is weed infested. If this is the case, then bag the clippings until the problems are eradicated.
Want to learn more? Watch our video on Mowing Practices!
Xeri. Comes from the Greek “xeros”, meaning dry
Scape. A scene; a view
Xeriscaping, the practice of landscape design with slow-growing, drought tolerant plants, conserves water, reduces debris and waste, reduces the need for fertilizers and requires very little maintenance. So why doesn’t everyone do it? In today’s modern era of high-tech irrigation systems and progressive fertilizers, landscapes are able to depend on large amounts of water, high levels of maintenance, and growth-stimulating fertilizers. But some of the Southeast's recent drought conditions have created an urgency to take a step back and incorporate landscapes that adapt to drought tolerant conditions. It’s not only adaptive to our environmental conditions, it can also look beautiful when it’s done properly. Below are three important steps on the best way to start your xeriscape!
Designing Properly
The most important factor in xeriscaping is to have the right plant material in place. Whether you’re putting together a new landscape or giving an old landscape a facelift, a proper design is vital in making sure your landscape will look amazing while conserving resources. Here are some great steps for designing your xeriscape:
-Look at what’s currently growing in the location your looking to xeriscape. Existing vegetation gives you a hint as to the types of plant material that will grow well.
-Think of your new xeriscape as a set of three different zones; a high water-use zone, a moderate water-use zone, and a low water-use zone. A high water-use zone should be very small (no more than 10% of the area) in a high visibility area. This zone should be watered as needed. A moderate water-use zone is larger (30% of the area) and is only watered when plant material seems stressed or wilted. A low water-use zone (60% of the area) would only include plant material that needs to be initially watered in. This type of design is efficient, practical, and easily maintained.
It’s all about the Soil
This is the not-so-fun part of your xeriscaping endeavor. Get your soil tested. We know, we know; it’s kind of like asking you to floss your teeth, but we’re telling you, it’s vital in making sure you’re putting the right plants in the right place. By knowing your soil’s strengths and weaknesses, you’ll know exactly what kind of amendments may be needed for healthy growth. Always make sure to slope beds away from buildings; it’s also best to plant drought-tolerant plants at the higher part of the slope, and plants that need a lot of water at low elevations, or the bottom of the slope.
Picking the Right Plants
Good plant choices for your xeriscape can be derived from the native landscape, but remember, just because it’s native doesn’t mean it will adapt well to your local environment or microclimate. Choose plants that will adapt to the environment you’ve created. Also choose plants that have slower growth rates, that will mature with the rest of your landscape, that have textures and colors that compliment the surrounding area, and of course, pick functional plants. Below are some great plant choices, depending on your micro-climate, to make your xeriscape beautiful, efficient, functional and low maintenance:
Creeping Gardenia, Indian Hawthorne, Southern Indian Azalea, Camellia, Cleyera, Trident Maple, Red Maple, Live Oak, Climbing Fig, Confederate, Jasmine, Creeping Juniper, Pampas Grass, Abelia, Semi-Japanese Boxwood, Impatiens, Sweet Alyssum
These 3 steps are just a start to learning the art of xeriscaping. If you’re looking to learn more about great plants to use when xeriscaping, learn about how to create awesome xeriscape designs, or want to become a xeriscaping expert, a great resource is Xeriscape, A Guide to Developing a Water-Wise Landscape from the University of Georgia’s (UGA) College of Agricultural Environmental Sciences. Another great source is Make Every Drop Count—Seven Steps to a Water-Wise Landscape from UGA’s College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.
This xeriscape guide was created using Xeriscape, A Guide to Developing a Water-Wise Landscape, Cooperative Extension, UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Make Every Drop Count—Seven Steps to a Water-Wise Landscape.
Pruning is a necessary element in the landscape maintenance process, especially now with spring here. Pruning is necessary for numerous reasons, which includes alleviating freeze damage, promoting new growth, and eliminating any safety issues such as roadway and sidewalk visibility.
Pruning to Alleviate Freeze Damage
Spring is here! Now we can now focus on fixing the damage the cold left behind. For plants that received extensive damage from this winter, it is necessary to prune the burned leaves and stems back to a few inches above the ground. This is important because photosynthesis is unable to take place on burned leaves. Soon, green growth will emerge from the pruned stems.
Pruning to Promote New Growth
Proper pruning also helps promote new growth, and now is the best time to perform such pruning, which is also called spring rejuvenational pruning. Currently, many plants are in the process of emerging from the dormant stage of winter. Pruning the plant now will not cause as much stress as pruning the plant when it is actively growing. If this type of pruning takes place in the summer, then it can cause death since much of the food-making ability and stored water is lost. Removing such portions of the plant now has less effect on the plant since metabolic functions are greatly reduced.
Pruning is important for the overall health and aesthetic appearance of the landscape. It’s also a great activity to welcome spring into your home’s landscape. So, get out your pruners and spruce up your landscape for abundant blooms and healthy plants this upcoming season.
#2 - Improper Mowing Practices
There's no better place for enjoying the outdoors than in the comfort and privacy of your yard. It's used for many leisurely purposes - for playing sports like Frisbee, to take a quiet nap or picnic, or to learn about and revel in nature. While the lawn plays an important role in our daily outdoor activities, it can be a challenge to maintain, especially in the summer heat. But, once you know the proper steps in maintaining turf, it will make your lawn the perfect place to enjoy and play.
Please click below to view a quick reference guide of this video.
Quick Reference Guide - Proper Mowing Practices
We've heard it many times from Property Managers - "How do I compare apples to apples when the proposals I recieved are so different?" Here's a tool that might help you. It's a simple MS Excel spreadsheet that helps you organize the pricing that may have been all over the board when you recieved your proposals. This is a great way for you to collect the pricing out of each proposal and present it to community board members or other property managers.
A great way to avoid inconsistent proposals and incoherent pricing is to read our E-book on how to put together the perfect RFP. It's an awesome resource to get you through your next RFP!
As we enter the new growing season and plant growth increases, a gradual increase in irrigation is essential. Most of Florida receives over 50 inches on average in a calendar year. Though this may seem like plenty of water for plant growth, rainfall is not spread evenly over the entire growing season. Rainfall received drains quickly through our sandy soils as well. Below are three simple tips for deciding when to irrigate your home lawn.
Tip 1: Plants are the best gauge of when irrigation is needed. Turf grass that shows a bluish-gray tint, has curled leaf blades, or retains footprints when you walk through it may indicate water stress. Ornamentals will lose vigor and leaves curl or wilt.
Tip 2: Use your best judgment when choosing if to irrigate. If rain is predicted, you may be able to postpone irrigation. Watering in the early morning hours or early evening-late day is ideal. Check with your local restrictions to make sure you irrigate on the right day.
Tip 3: When irrigating, lean toward irrigating less frequently with a greater volume of water. This practice has been shown to promote deeper root growth. Deeper roots help turf stand up to future droughts and stresses better.
Information source: Turf irrigation for the Home. 2005. Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences/ University of Florida. Publication #CIR829. Accessed March 29, 2010. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ae144.