Pocket Guide for Florida Landscaping

By Donald R Williams

LANDSCAPING IN SOUTH FLORIDA DOESN'T HAVE TO SCARE YOU!
Are your ready to landscape your home? This easy to read guide takes you, step by step, through the essentials steps to install a new landscape. From beginning to end, the procedures allow you to properly evaluate your yard and make the right decisions on how to get started. 
By following these easy instructions, you are on your way to a landscape that will not only add beauty to your home, but also increase your home's value.
We get directly to the point about site consideration, plant selection, soil preparation, fertilization, mulching and irrigation. 
The plant recommendation guide offers selections of plants, from Trees to Ground Covers, that have proven to work well in South Florida's climate. Deciding on what Palm will do well, or picking a flowering shrub? This guide provides the essential information you will need for a successful landscape experience.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sun, Sand & Stories Publishing
• Release date: Jul 16, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393699255

Donald R Williams

Don Williams is a Horticulturist, gardener and self-professed history junkie.  He graduated from the State University of New York, with a degree in Landscape Development. Don has been working in the horticulture industry for over forty years. His work background includes most aspects of the industry; managing growing operations, garden centers and landscape operations. He lives in Vero Beach, Florida, with his wife of over 36 years, a fellow Horticulturist and mystery author. Together they have one son attending college at Palm Beach Atlantic University He professes to not knowing everything about plants. Don believes when you stop learning every day you soon lose sight of what’s going on in the horticulture industry. Environmental factors are always changing, new plant pests come into play, and new plant introductions are coming out every year. Knowing the practices and plant selections that work well in our Florida climate is crucial to the success of your landscape. Over the years, he has worked with and been associated with many leaders in the horticulture industry. Don’s goal is to share his experiences with you and help you achieve success in your landscape and increase the value of your home. I hope you have enjoyed this book and it has helped you with your landscape, so you will enjoy it for years to come. If you have questions or would like more information, contact him by using the contact page at    Botanical Concepts of Vero Beach BotanicalConceptsofVeroBeach.com

Book preview

Pocket Guide to

Florida Landscaping

BY

Donald R Williams

Copyright © 2017 by Donald R Williams

ISBN: 9781946634511

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned,

or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission.

First Edition:  January 2017

Printed in the United States of America

To my wife, Vicki, a fellow author and horticulturist, who inspired me and encouraged me to write this book.

Introduction

THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY to offer a basic, but essential guide to help you achieve success in landscaping your home. To have a handsome, well-designed landscape is a goal of all homeowners. When purchasing a new or older home it is rare for the homeowner to find the perfect landscape. It may take a bit of effort and imagination to create a landscape which has all the features you want. This means adding your personal touch to achieve your goals. To create a beautiful landscape, it doesn’t need to be a time-consuming process. I wrote this book in an easy to follow format which will take you through the process step by step. My goal is to share with you these basic tips to save you time and money as you landscape your home.

A well-done landscape adds value to your home. First impressions are everything and curb appeal will be an immeasurable asset if you plan to put your house on the market. In this guide, we will discuss basic design principles, tools, proper planting procedures, soil preparation, fertilizer, mulching, irrigation and even when to call in the pro. Each chapter gives you the tools, procedures, plants and materials you will need to carry out your project. By selecting the right plants for your situation and using the proper planting procedures your landscape will look beautiful and last for many years.

Here in Florida we live in a climate which offers a wide choice of beautiful plants year around. There are many things which need to be taken into consideration, depending on your location. The difference in the part of Florida you live in could make a dramatic effect on the plants you choose. Most tropical plants indigenous to South Florida will not thrive in the North Florida climate. Sun, shade and coastal areas will also make a difference on what plants to choose to thrive in these locations. In many areas, salt tolerance can be an issue, and provides added challenges in the plants you can use.

Soil conditions vary in different parts of Florida. Many people believe all soil in the state is just sand. While in many cases this is true, varying differences in soil composition need to be considered before planting to achieve success in the new landscape. Make an initial inspection of the soil; this can make all the difference in how well the plant will thrive in your landscape.

It is essential for the continued success of your landscape to provide continued maintenance of your plants. Maintenance can vary, because some plants are easier to take care of than others. At the end of this guide I will give you recommendations of plants proven to do well in Florida. Most of these you will be able to find at your local garden center. Not all the plants available are included in this list. Be sure to ask your local garden center for added choices and advice on how to maintain them. Plants can be a wonderful way to express yourself, beautify your home, become a hobby and improve