Nelson Smitty
For over 20 years our company has been servicing Ocala, Gainsville, and surrounding areas in Florida with a lawn care and landscaping business that strives to go above and beyond our customer’s expectations.
Finding Fall in Central Florida Landscapes. When most people think of fall in terms of the world around them, they think of brightly colored leaves falling in abundance from deciduous trees such as maples, oaks, birch, and poplars.
And, while this is true in many of the northern states, in the south, the color and majesty of fall come in a more subtle fashion. Central Florida is one area where fall comes quietly yet none the less it does come. When Would You Hire a Professional Landscaper? Unless money is not an issue, hiring a professional landscaper is something that most folks take their time deciding whether to do or not.
Often the cost seems to outweigh the benefits, but this idea in itself can be misleading. Even when a person has a passion for gardening and landscaping, there are times when using the services of professional will make sense. Most professional landscapers will answer questions, work with an individual on a self-help basis, as well as take on a job completely over an extended period of time. Vegetables Can Grow Year-Round in Central Florida. Folks living in many parts of the United States think Spring, prepare the soil and plant the vegetable garden.
Harvesting vegetables last through the summer and into the fall, often with the canning or freezing of fresh vegetable to be enjoyed in the cold winter months. One garden a year is the norm in many states. Gardening in Florida the Whole Year Round Part two: the cooler months, October, November, December, January, February, March. Yes, it does get cool in Florida and even sometimes cold, as low as freezing.
Over the years there have been many frozen citrus crops and grass that turns completely brown. While the number of cold days may be few, the overall cooler season still makes for some changes in Florida gardens. Here are some tips for gardening during those colder months: Lawns: October is the last month to fertilize until March. Weed killer can be used sparingly through mid-December. Palms: Finish your fall fertilizing in October and don’t feed again until late February. Ornamentals: Cooler weather is probably the hardest on ornamentals. Landscape Designers Can Make a Difference. Lawn Care and Fertilizer Tips to Create a Great Lawn. Creating a great lawn, no matter where you live, takes time, and the willingness to learn how to properly care for your grass.
Whatever the area, there will be specific concerns including: · Soil composition · The expected effects of local climate. Gardening in Florida the Whole Year Round Part one: the hot months of summer, April through September. April through September are the months’ many folks who have been enjoying the Florida sunshine return to their northern habitats.
There still are, of course, people who stay in Florida year-round and many of these are gardeners who must learn how to garden in high temperatures and lots of summer rain. It rains some almost every afternoon for much of July and August. Here follow some helpful tips for lawns, palms, ornamentals, and citrus during the hot months: Lawns: As summer approaches the application of fertilizer should slow to a stop unless there is a definite need for fertilizer meant for hot weather and then use it sparingly. What to do With Trees in Florida due to Florida’s High Windstorms Part two: what to do after the storm. The storm has passed, and now you survey the damage, especially to the trees in your yard.
Trees and shrubs may be knocked over, tilting to one side, or even uprooted. With quick action, you can usually save your damaged trees and shrubs. Here are some tips to keep in mind when the storm has passed: Trees need to be trimmed, so the wind passes through the canopy. Get rid of narrow crotches but be sure to leave enough strength bearing branches to support the canopy. Always check to be sure there are no electrical wires anywhere near where you will be working. Tips on How and When To Apply Lawn Fertilizer. Fertilizing a lawn is almost always a necessity, yet correctly doing so requires thoughtful consideration of several aspects.
If the fertilizer is the wrong makeup for your type of grass; if it is the wrong time of year to apply fertilizer to your lawn; if the directions on the box or container of fertilizer are not appropriately followed, you can do more harm than good to your lawn. In fact, you can potentially destroy the roots of the grass, thus ruin your lawn. Each climate and soil area have its own set of tips for how and when to apply lawn fertilizer. The following tips will be useful if you live in Central Florida: For the best results, fertilizer should not be used whenever you think there is a need. Tips for Restoring Your Lawn’s Health. Removing thatch (thatch is undecomposed roots and stems that bunch-up close to the surface of the soil) and aerating (to aerate means to loosen compacted soil which usually occurs from heavy traffic or heavy, clay soil) are the two most important steps in restoring your lawns health.
To remove thatch use a sturdy rake or special thatching rake to loosen and pull away thatch. Fall and Spring are the best times to dethatch as well as to aerate. Using a special aerating tool makes the job easier and helps penetrate the soil for better absorption of water and fertilizer. Be careful to avoid aerating when weed seeds are prevalent so as not to bury the seeds for increased weed growth. Depending on soil composition and the amount of traffic on the grass will determine if your lawn should be aerated once or twice a year.
Steps to Take With Tress in Florida Due to Florida’s high-wind Storms Part one: what to do before the storm. Most people know Florida is prone to storms each year, many of these at the level of tornados, tropical storms and hurricanes.
Wind strength can be tremendous, ranging from 30 miles an hour all the way to 140 + miles per hour. Trees often bear the brunt of powerful winds and, if not properly prepared (and sometimes even if they are) a tree will be badly damaged and possibly destroyed. And, unfortunately, when trees and or their limbs come down, it is frequently on someone’s home or vehicle. Find Out About Planting Bulbs in a Central Florida Garden.
Flowers are such an important part of our enjoyment of nature, and the lovely results of properly planted bulbs create a vision of beauty. While many bulbs do best in more northern climates, there are many varieties favorable to Central Florida. Some of the favorite bulbs here and their planting month are crinum, gloriosa lily, agapanthus (January), Amazon lily (February), caladium (March), daylily (April), Clivia lily, Aztec lily (May), gladiolus, butterfly lily (July), walking iris, spider lily (August), Elephants ear (September), rain lily and other lily varieties (October), amaryllis (November). As bulbs produce flowers year after year and often will form new bulbs by spreading out from their planting position (the term for this is “naturalizing”) they are an excellent way to provide continued color in your garden.
And, it is essential to plant bulbs properly, in the right conditions and during the right time of year. Which Herbs Grow Best in Central Florida? For the purpose of this blog, the botanical term “herb” is used to refer to the gardening of plants used for food preparation, medicine, or in essential oils for their fragrance. Herbs can be grown inside in small pots set on windowsills or surfaces where there is the sun for at least part of the day. Herbs can also be grown outside in containers on porches and patios or in gardens with other types of plants. When studying history, you can read about what was called “kitchen gardens,” which both rich and poor had to continually provide their meals with herbs for seasoning. Today, many homemakers, including apartment dwellers, continue the practice of year-round kitchen gardens. Butterfly Gardening in Central Florida Part Three, different kinds and their characteristics. As was discussed in the first part of this series, butterflies need specific plants on which to lay their eggs.
This is why it is important to know which butterflies are in your area and what type of plant is required if you hope to attract them. How to Create a Butterfly Garden as Part Two of the Secrets of Butterfly Gardening. It doesn’t take long to realize a sincere butterfly gardener needs to consider a number of factors when planning a habitat, especially for butterflies. And, finding the right plants for feeding caterpillars and butterflies isn’t all gardener has to think about. Since birds eat caterpillars and butterflies, it is best not to try to attract birds and butterflies in the same area.
Too, caterpillars eat a lot and often play havoc with plants and trees in the garden. Additionally, neighbors sometimes complain, and lawn ordinances (particularly in condominium associations) often prohibit the weeds, so many butterflies need for nectar and host plants. Taking all these factors into consideration and resolving any problems, if you are still ready to create a butterfly garden, here are the seven necessary steps to success: 8 Easy Ways to Save Water in Your Yard and Garden. As is well known, water is one of the three essentials needed to grown a healthy lawn and garden. Sun and air are provided by nature; water is provided by nature with the additional help of the Gardner.
In most parts of the world, water is a precious commodity. In the United States, most areas have water, yet it is important to remember that we should never take water for granted. Not only can water be costly, but it can also be wasted to the point of no return. Especially in the hot summer season when rain may or may not be a regular visitor, the gardener needs to find as many ways as possible to save on the amount of water used to keep his or her yard and garden healthy. 1. Butterfly Gardening in Central Florida Part one the butterfly. Learn About Growing Wildflowers Contained in a Bag. Do you ever wonder what folks living 100 years ago would think about all the modern ways of gardening?
8 Ways To Save Money In Your Vegetable Garden. Homegrown vegetables, what a treat! More and more people are embracing the research-based information regarding the advantages of fresh vegetables both from the standpoint of nutrition and safety, i.e.Organic. Learn About Creating a Raised Garden Bed. Explore the Joy of Container Gardening. It has long been known the value of plants for their beauty, their production of edible food, their releasing of oxygen into the air, and their ability to help humans find the strength and renewal often found in nature. Complete Your List of Basic Gardening Tools Part Two, basic tools continued. Basic Tools Needed for Gardening, Part One. How To Decorative Stepping Stones For A Garden Path. Part 2 in Planning your Landscape is all About Smart Choices.
Part 1 in How to Plan Landscaping for a Newly Built Homesite. There are many times when a person buys a home with the landscaping, for the most part, already done. Part 1 in How to Plan Landscaping for a Newly Built Homesite. You Can Grow Cactus in Florida. It often seems as if people must have something new and different to “brag” about. Cactus gardening has become one of those “gotta-have” activities which have become very popular. Harmful and Helpful insects Found in Florida’s Gardens and Lawns Part 3 in the series Good and Bad Bugs. Destructive Insects in the Garden, Part 2 of Bad and Good Bugs. How To Build A Pergola In Your Garden? : bestcutslawncare. How To Build A Pergola In Your Garden? : bestcutslawncare. Gardening With “Good” and “Bad” Insects Part 1.
Learn How to Use the Hardiness Zone Map. Understanding Florida’s Hardiness Zones for Planting Successfully. Expert Advice For Planting an Indoor Herb garden For Organic Herbs. A Simple and Complete Guide From The Experts on Growing Roses. A Guide To Beneficial Insects Part two of Two. Fences For Your Furry Friends And How Fences Help Protect Pets and Lawns. The Joys and Wonders Of Adding Trees To Your Home Landscape. An Introduction To What You Need to Know about Garden Gravel and Stone. What You Should Know About Your Landscaping Beds and Bed Maintenance. A Simple Rundown On The Facts About Turf, Turfgrass, and Sod. A Simple Rundown On The Facts About Turf, Turfgrass, and Sod.
Annuals and Perennials, The Difference That Makes Your Garden. How to Prepare Your Yard For A Hurricane. Learn How to Plant and Care For Fruit Trees in Areas Around Your Home. Industry Tips and Tricks For Mulching. How and When to Prepare Your Garden For Fall. The Best Ways To Prevent Crabgrass. Find Out If You Are Allergic To Your Lawn. Commercial and Residential Landscaping in Ocala, Florida. Lawn Irrigation Service Ocala, lawn Irrigation Service. Learn Ways to Keep Your Home Swimming Pool Water Clean and Sparkling. Ideas for Changing a Nondescript Porch into an Attractive Area. Spring Planting in Florida Includes Planting of Flowering Trees.
Learn About Peat Moss and How it Can Help a Lawn When it’s Dry. What Does it Mean When a Lawn Turns Brown? Why it is Important to Aerate Your Lawn and How it’s Done. How and Why Rocks Make for Interesting Landscaping. Articles and Resources - Bestcutslawncare in Ocala, Fl. History of Origins of Lawns. Untitled. 30 Inexpensive But Realistic Alternative Housing Ideas to Consider.
24 Clever Gardening Tricks Tutorials to Enhance Your Garden. Bestcutslawncare – The Lawn Care and Landscaping Company. Landscaping, Mulching, Mowing Services at Bestcutslawncare. Steps For Planting and Care For Fall, Florida Vegetable Gardens. Lawn Maintenance Service at Ocala, Fl - Bestcutslawncare.