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Common Live Oak Problems and Solutions
The Live Oak (Quercus virginiana) is one of the most iconic figures of the Deep South. Mentioning the words Live Oak invokes all sorts of romantic nostalgia of yesteryear and the reputation is not...
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Echo Your Architecture
One of the most overlooked aspects of landscape design, particularly on DIY projects, is the idea of enhancing the architecture of your home by using plants that echo the shapes and features of the...
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Want Fall Color? Plant These Trees !
Ginkgo Florida has so much to offer! It is home to the world’s most beautiful beaches. It has one of the largest agricultural economies nationwide. But among all these things, Florida is lacking...
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Why Are There Holes in My Tree?
Have you noticed strange rings of pencil-sized holes on the trunks of certain trees in your landscape recently? If so, take heart that these holes are not emanating from an infestation of destructive...
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Are Your Dogwoods in Decline?
Everyone, or at least everyone fortunate enough to grow up in the South, has a fond memory tucked away of a sight or smell of a plant that reminds them of the good old days. Maybe it’s the ancient...
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A Shrub that Likes it Shady
Almost every landscape has a problem area where the sun just doesn’t shine and many plants won’t make it, maybe it’s the north side of your house, under a small tree, or tucked away in an oddly-shaped...
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Tired of Turf? Try Groundcover Alternatives Instead!
If you’re like me, growing turfgrass is often more of a hassle than anything else. Regardless of the species you plant, none tolerates shade well and it can seem like there is a never-ending list of...
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Four Must-Have Native Perennials for Summer!
Let’s be honest with each other and have a moment of transparency, one gardener to another. Even though we are plant people, most of us get a lot less enthusiastic once the mercury explodes over 90...
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Surefire Shrubs for Containers
Growing in containers can be one of the most versatile ways to add color, texture and mobility to the landscape. However, gardeners generally reach for finicky annuals to fill their pots with pizzazz....
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Struggling to Grow Fruit Trees? Try These Lesser Known Florida-Friendly...
Northwest Floridians are lucky. We get to bask in the warm sunshine at least eight months of the year, consider it cold weather when we have to break out the fleece pullover and none of us live more...
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Readying Your Raised Beds for Northwest Florida’s Best Gardening Season
I had to do a hard thing last week. My battle-worn okra, eggplant and pepper plants that had produced so reliably since June and endured all the summertime challenges (heat, insects, disease, and a...
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Correcting Crape Murder
Are you guilty of “Crape Murder”, the dreaded horticultural sin that involves lopping off your beautiful Crape Myrtles fence post high and creating gnarly looking knuckles? No need to raise hands, you...
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Green Side Up: Plant Properly to Avoid These Common Mistakes
It is a common misconception that winter is a time of rest in the landscape, for both plants and people. In the Panhandle, the winter months tend to be rainy and miserable, with wild weather...
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How to Succeed with Hydrangeas
H. macrophylla ‘Bloomstruck’ Photo courtesy of Andrea Schnapp Generally, when folks find out what I do for a living, among the first questions asked is “What is your favorite plant?” Being somewhat of...
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Annuals to Beat the Summer Heat
It’s that time of year. School is out, hurricane season is in, and the mercury is up! Gardens wilt by midday and gardeners retreat into the air conditioning long before then. Unless you have your...
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Heating up with Hardy Hibiscus
Each time I travel to central and south Florida and observe the wonderfully flamboyant tropical flora, I am reminded of the unique and frustrating climatic characteristics of Northwest Florida. Our...
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Bring the Color of Hawaii to the Panhandle with Ti Plant!
Too often, would be gardeners travel to exotic locales, become intoxicated with the beautiful floral display of Plumeria, Jatropha, Bird of Paradise and Bougainvillea, and come home with visions of...
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Create Your Own Fall Color with Annual Foliage Plants
Florida is known for many things, however sweeping vistas of hillsides covered in the orange, red, and yellow foliage of fall is not one of them. Our long, hot summers and short, cool (not cold)...
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Post Hurricane Landscape Care: Replant Smartly with Hurricane Resistant Trees
After a devastating windstorm, as we just experienced in the Panhandle with Hurricane Michael, people have a tendency to become unenamored with landscape trees. It is easy to see why when homes are...
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Spice Up Your Salad with Unusual Leafy Greens
Many Americans have a remarkably unrefined taste in salads; my brother has long counted himself in this group. Dice up some crunchy Iceberg type lettuce, splash on a dollop of ranch dressing, maybe...
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