Having a beautiful, well-landscaped yard is important to many people here in Central Florida.
Some people move into homes that already have lovely landscaping and lush, green grass. However, the vast majority must design their own landscape setting if they want to have a beautiful yard.
Taking a moment to form a plan is extremely helpful before beginning to purchase plants for a yard or garden.
When professionals design a landscape setting, they put their ideas on paper and map it all out. Developing a master plan is one of the most useful things you can do before beginning your project. Make a diagram of your yard or garden and note where you most need landscaping.
Consider things like function, aesthetics and which plants will work best in our warm climate. In most instances, using plants native to Florida will result in a successful landscape setting.
When mapping out a landscape design, make a note of where power lines and septic tanks are located to avoid future problems. The University of Florida IFAS Extension recommends homeowners refer to the plat of their property before beginning a landscaping project.
If you don’t already have a plat of your property, hiring a professional to perform a survey will help you avoid placing plants outside of your boundaries, which can be a mistake that proves costly.
Understanding which type of soil you have will help you choose plants and trees that will grow and thrive in your yard. The type of soil you have will determine how much moisture is available to feed your plants and which nutrients are most abundant.
Look around your yard to determine which existing plants are thriving. You may need to make a few adjustments when choosing an area to place your new plants. If the soil is poor, it can be amended to increase aeration and nutrient levels. You should also have proper drainage in planting areas.
Always aim to keep water draining away from your house. If your lot is not graded properly, it can cause water to run back toward your home’s foundation, which may eventually cause moisture problems. Hire a professional to re-grade your yard if drainage is poor.
The climate is a concern in our area. Because much of the year is so warm, it can be difficult to choose plants that can survive our high temperatures. Before choosing new plants, make sure to find out if they need full sun or if they will thrive in areas of shade and make the necessary adjustments. If you are unsure where to start, you can refer to the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map at www.usna.usda.gov/Hardzone/.
Moisture is one thing all plants must have to grow and thrive. Many home gardeners fail to provide enough water to their new trees and plants. As most landscapers in our area will tell you, it is almost impossible to provide too much water to new trees during the summer in central Florida. If you do not already have an irrigation system, it is best to hire a professional irrigation installer to put one in for you. These professionals are trained in the proper placement of sprinklers and use the newest technology that will help you save water while giving your new plants the moisture they need to thrive.
By hiring someone to install your sprinkler system, you will save yourself precious time as well. Your irrigation system can be equipped with an automatic controller that will turn on and off at a pre-determined time to ensure adequate moisture is being provided.
The last thing to consider before beginning your landscaping project is how much time you have to devote to the care of your new plantings. Before deciding which plants you will purchase, consider how much maintenance they will require.
If you have little time to devote to gardening, you will want to go with low-maintenance plants such as knock-out roses and native shrubs. By choosing plants native to our area, you will have long-lived plantings that are fairly resistant to pests and diseases in our area.
Choose a lawn grass that thrives in Florida such as bahia grass or Bermuda grass for a low-maintenance lawn.
By taking the time to formulate a plan, you will be able to create the yard of your dreams.
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