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Planning Your Florida Landscape

how to plan landscaping in florida

Planning Your Florida Landscape

Florida’s weather is hot and humid in the summer, but pleasant most of the year. If you are new to landscaping your home here, you need to know about our dry and wet seasons, and which plants will thrive in our environment. Here is some background on Florida’s climate, and some landscaping ideas to keep your yard green and your curb appealing.

Understanding the Regional Climates within Florida

In order to do landscaping right in Florida, it is important that you understand the climate zones within our state.

Northern Florida has diverse soil variations that range from muddy to sandy. Occasionally Northern Florida experiences a hard freeze in the winter. As for the landscaping, this region does not have many tropical or subtropical plants.

Here in Central Florida, where Westcoast is headquartered, we have both clay and sandy soil types. Keep in mind that, just like other sections of Florida, Central Florida is susceptible to hurricanes that destroy landscaping.

South Florida is known for its hot temperatures and this means that you won’t see many freezes in the region. The plants are also more tropical here.

Florida Landscaping Ideas

  • Best Florida Plants for Landscaping Pools
    • Blue Porterweeds are blue in color and complement your pool decor well. Another vibrant Florida plant for the pool is the sunshine mimosa. This plant has a beautiful pink color with small leaves. As for the best shrubs, American Beautyberry is a shrub that creates purple berries in the wintertime and lavender flowers in the warmer months. Clusia is another shrub native to Florida that looks great with pools. This shrub produces teardrop leaves and makes for nice hedges.
  • Drought Resistant Plants
    • For northern Florida residents, droughts can happen at any time and this means that not all plants work well with this inconsistent supply of water. You can combat this by installing drought-resistant plants in your front or backyard. St. Augustine grass is a good choice for covering the yard grounds, and you can have Lantana or Beach Sunflower, as these do not require much watering.
  • Throw Some Shade
    • Since the summers in Florida get brutally hot, you need landscaping that will protect your plants from the heat. There are several ways to provide shade for your yard. You can plant your flowers under tall trees or near the shadow of your home so that your plants will not wilt or die. Partridgeberry and Coontie are good plants for heavily shaded sections of a yard.
  • Have Fun With Palm Trees
    • Palm trees are not just for decoration for Florida’s busiest streets. Many Florida homeowners have palm trees in their yards and complement the trees with shrubs and plants. For example, ferns are available in different sizes and palm trees. Japanese Tassel Ferns grow to three inches and are a combination of dark green and pale green. Perennials also look great with palm trees. The Butterfly Blue plants require up to six hours of sunlight and are sturdy for all types of weather.

The one thing about Florida – plants grow big, fast. Look to a reputable local landscaper for plants that will thrive in our climate and make your yard look amazing.

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