Tag Archives: garden design

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Florida landscape plants offer such a stunning array of vivid flower colors, it can be difficult to decide which one is your favorite.  From the deep reds of Hibiscus, Ixora, and Passion Vine to the brilliant purples of Bougainvillea, Crape Myrtle, and Azaleas, one can fall in love with all of the color ranges!  As, well, when one visits a well-stocked nursery in the spring, when everything is in bloom, it can be overwhelming.

While it is natural to gravitate towards the more striking flower colors that stand out amongst a sea of green foliage, one should never overlook the simple grace and elegance of the white flower, or even more so, the white foliage of a plant.  Traditionally, using white as a landscape color has not been promoted as a viable or desirable landscape concept, and I suspect it is because it is simply misunderstood.   With that said,  let's explore the ways that using white as a landscape color can be best utilized:

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1.  Not all flowering plants can tolerate shady or part-shade light conditions, and continue to bloom.  However, some can, such as this white Angel's Trumpet, pictured above.  Using white as a landscape color is unique, in that white flowers and white-striped foliage will stand out in dark and shady light conditions.   Whether it is planted under an Oak tree, or even against a fence, these white flowers will stand out in the day time, and almost cast a ghostly hue at night, in places where other dark colored flowers will hardly be noticeable.  Some other white flowered or white-striped foliage plants to consider for similar site conditions are:

  • White Azalea
  • White-striped foliage Bromeliads
  • Variegated Minima Jasmine
  • Gardenia
  • Pinwheel Jasmine
  • Aztec Grass
  • African Iris
  • Peace Lily
  • White Bleeding Heart vine

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2.  White flowers and foliage can be used as a "buffer plant" separating other bold colors.  As you can see in the photo of the Bromeliads above, the white plant in the upper left corner, as well as the white trim on the center plant help all of the plants in the grouping stand out, highlighting their particular features to an advantage.  When you are considering using white as a landscape color with other colors, position the white plants in such a manner as to bring out the colors of the surrounding plants.  For example, if you are considering planting an annual bed with dark purple Petunias, or deep red Begonias, make 20% of the plants white, and randomly intersperse them throughout the bed to help the darker colors pop.  Some options for lower growing plants that make great white color buffers are:

  • Aztec Grass
  • Variegated Flax Lily (Dianella)
  • Variegated Minima Jasmine
  • White Dwarf Penta
  • Sun Hosta

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3.  Using white as a landscape color is particularly effective when creating a design for a dark-colored house paint.  Some plant features can seem to be lost when used as a foundation plant against a dark paint, to the point that they almost blend it.  If you select a white colored flower or foliage plant as a foundation plant, not only will that plant stand out, but it will set the stage for the other plants in front of it.  Consider the example above, of a Pinwheel Jasmine, that blooms almost all year.  It not only will stand out against a dark brown paint, but all other plants in front of it will shine in their own right, as well.  Keep in mind, though, that the opposite is true for a light colored house, such as white or yellow paint.  Some plants to consider as a foundation plant for dark-painted houses are:

  • Variegated  Pittosporum
  • Sinesis
  • Jasmine, many varieties to choose from
  • Silver Queen Hibiscus
  • Snowbush, or Snow on the Mountain
  • White Oleander
  • Chinese Silver Grass
  • White Fountain Grass

4.  Lastly. using white as a landscape color can be a complete landscape design concept whereupon the ONLY flower color being used is white.  In cases such as this, the design concept usually incorporates plants with dark foliage, with white used to highlight the dark foliage of other plants, with the primary focus being about texture and foliage contrasts.

Now that you have a better understanding of how white can be used as a landscape color, you will never see white flowers in the same light, again!  As always, half of the fun of gardening is to experiment, and see what works for you, as there is no wrong way, just a better way, when it comes to design.

So, let's get designing, folks, with white!

Donell

 

 

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Dwarf Bamboo; Golden Goddess Bamboo
Dwarf Bamboo; Golden Goddess Bamboo

There may be many reasons why you might want to add a privacy barrier to your Tampa landscape.  Perhaps you would simply like some privacy!  Or, you might need one as a sound barrier next to a noisy street, or to block out a street light that disturbs your sleep.  Maybe the local teenagers cut through your yard on their way to the park, or your neighbors have an unkempt yard that offends your view.  No matter the reason, a privacy barrier can be one of the best landscape investments that you can make.

When selecting the types of plants that you might like to use, you need to keep a few things in mind:  it should be a plant that is hardy and permanent; you need to understand the maintenance requirements and preferred planting site of the selected plant(s); and you must make sure that you have the space for a privacy barrier.

Primarily, you want to make sure that the privacy barrier will live for many years.  Given it's function in the landscape, if the plant that your select is prone to freeze damage, you have the potential to lose your privacy hedge in any given winter.  A good example of this would be using plants like Bougainvillea or Hibiscus, that could potentially be killed or freeze burned to the ground, and you will have to wait many years for them to grow back.  If you would still like to use plants such as these, consider adding a few so that you get the look that you like, but do not rely on them as a permanent plant.

Secondly, make sure that understand the growth habit of your desired plant(s) for the privacy barrier.  Some plants like Podocarpus can be trimmed as a more narrow and upright hedge, but plants like Dwarf Bamboo will need plenty of side room to grow.  Also, while some plants are versatile in their sunlight and soil preferences, others may not be.  One example is Ligustrum, which prefers sunlight and well-drained soil, but will be thinned out in too much shade or may get root rot in soils that are too moist.

Lastly, make sure that you truly understand the ultimate growth habit of the privacy barrier plants that you select.  If you can determine the height of the privacy barrier that you desire, you can try to select plants that will ultimately stop growing at near that preferred height.  Otherwise, you should at least try to understand the maintenance level that it might take to keep a plant at 10' when it really wants to grow to 20'.  Ask yourself how many times a year will I have to trim it, and does that schedule mesh with what I willing to do in my landscape?

Fortunately, there are many wonderful plants that you can select from to create your privacy barrier.   While some plants grow very slowly (like Chinese Fan Palm), others grow very quickly (such as Sweet Viburnum).  Depending upon your budget and the urgency of the privacy barrier, you may be able to buy smaller plants (3 or 7 gallon size) and let them grow.  Conversely, if you need an instant privacy barrier, you will have to purchase plants that are several years old, and have a much higher price tag.

Any of these plants will work for your Tampa landscapes, just be sure to understand their ultimate growth height and spread, preferred planting conditions, and typical maintenance schedule:

  • Dwarf Bamboo, varieties such as Golden Goddess, Fern Leaf, and Alphonse Karr
  • Chinese Fan Palm
  • Areca Palm
  • Roebellini Palm, in select situations due to limited growth height
  • White Bird of Paradise
  • Fishtail Palm
  • Bottlebrush tree, single trunk or multi-stem
  • Podocarpus
  • Sweet Viburnum (Viburnum odoratissimum)
  • Red Cedar
  • Eleocarpus
  • Ligustrum tree
  • Holly, many varieties

Any of these plants would make a welcome addition to your landscape, either in a grouping or hedge,  or as a solitary plant.  As well, many of them can be mixed together in a pleasingly cohesive design that can create a privacy barrier that doesn't look like a "wall".  As always, half of the fun of landscaping is experimenting, so if you do your homework, and understand the nature of the selected plant(s), you will be amply rewarded!

Let's get growing, Folks!  You privacy barrier is awaiting!

Donell

 

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Every landscaper and gardener has their favorite go-to landscape plants, that they prefer to include in a landscape design for their unique color or foliage, ease in maintenance, and versatility under many planting conditions.  Here are my favorite landscape plants,  my top 10 (although I will admit, it was hard to winnow the list to only 10!)

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Ti Plants, but only certain varieties.  I like to use the varieties that can be planted in full sun or shade, and stay full throughout the plant, naturally or with a little trimming.  My two favorites are Black Magic (on the left) for areas that could use a larger and wider growing plant, or varieties such as Auntie Lou or Xerox (on the right), that are more slender, upright growers.  And, I never, never use Red Sister!  In fact, Red Sister usually looks horrible after the first year, and, sadly, just gives the rest of the family a bad reputation.

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Crinum Lily, either green leaf or the red-leafed varieties.  This is a great 4'X4' growing plant, your mid-sized mini-specimen, so that not everything is tall or small in the landscape design.  It is drought tolerant, generally pest free, and needs two time a year leaf clean up.  Occasionally, small pups do need to be removed, but they can either be planted elsewhere in the garden, or given to friends in a seed or cutting exchange.

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Blushing Bromeliads, the Neo variety (not the ones that are green all year and bloom once a year for a month).  These wonderful plants come in all leaf colors and growth sizes, and if used properly, can add foliage interest to a well-designed landscape.  They have little maintenance requirements, and multiply over time to fill in an bed area, and yet are still easy care enough that you can control their growth so that they do not over take your garden.

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Angel's Trumpet is not for everyone, but if you have the room and the inclination, this plant can provide endless ghostly salmon or white trumpet flowers during the humid summer months, that have a delicious subtle fragrance that wafts through the stillness of the night air.  It is a hallucinogen, though, so care must be taken with pets and children.

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Foxtail Fern could not be a more versatile plant, that lives in almost all light and soil conditions.  It's bright lime, funky foliage works well against almost any other plant color and texture, and can be used as a border plant, or a mid-sized filler plant.  As well, it is unique in that it's foliage generally does not "stretch" or change color in the sun versus shade, so it can easily be used as a plant that matches on both sides of a bed with different light conditions.

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Pinwheel Jasmine is a mid-sized shrub that blooms almost year-around, in sun or shade.  It makes a great background or foundation plant, and it's blooms stand out nicely in the shade or even at night.  White foliaged or white blooming plants are often over-looked in the landscape, but they stand out nicely against dark paint colors or other green-foliage plants, and can help other bold landscape colors pop.

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Dwarf Crown of Thorn is a fabulous option to use instead of seasonal flowers.  Seasonal flowers must be changed out 2-4 times a year, whereas Dwarf Crown of Thorn is a long living perennial that blooms throughout the year.   If trimmed properly (two times a year), it can grow to the size of a soccer ball, and will be dense throughout the plant.  While it can be prone to frost and freeze damage, it generally bounces back within one season, making it a viable landscape plant for a Tampa garden.

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Dwarf Bamboo varieties such as Alphonse Karr, Golden Goddess, or Fernleaf cannot be matched as far as privacy barriers go.  They are not only quick growing, they are cold hardy for Tampa landscapes, drought tolerant, and pest free.  They require little maintenance after they are established, and have foliage from top to bottom, making them ideal for privacy.  Dwarf Bamboo does require space to grow though, as they can grow almost as wide as they grow tall (8'-15'), so that must be taken into consideration.  Despite that, they also offer an easy tropical or lush flair to many styles of landscape design.

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Adagio Grass, also called Chinese Silver Grass, is a large growing (4'X4') landscape grass that is a great substitute for the much larger growing Pampas Grass.  In the landscape, it can be used as a stand alone feature, as a background plant, or in mass plantings.  It provides many soft white plumes throughout most of the warm months, and it's foliage has a white rib, that gives it a silver shimmer.  I find that it grows well in most soil conditions, and while it prefers full sun, it will tolerate and still bloom in part shade.  While it can hold on to it's old leaves as it grows new ones, one easy method to remove these is to use a leaf rake like a hair comb, used upside down.  Other than this 1-2 time a year maintenance task, this plant is generally care-free.

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Bottlebrush is a small growing tree that can easily be sheered and trimmed to a desired size, thereby making it a perfect candidate for a small specimen plant or privacy barrier.  It can also be allowed to grow to it's full potential of 15-20', allowing it to be a magnificent and glorious centerpiece of your landscape design.  It can be purchased in multi-trunk form or in single trunk form (called a standard), and I generally prefer the standard variety, as it allows for plantings underneath to help create a multi-layered landscape design.  Bottlebrush trees can bloom for several months of the year, and have the added bonus of being pollinators that attract butterflies, honey bees, and hummingbirds.  Preferably, they should be lightly trimmed once a year to help keep them dense.

From these photos, and my brief plant descriptions, you may be able to see why I have listed these as my favorite landscape plants, and as my top 10.  I have many more favorites, and I will post about them later, perhaps as another round of favorite landscape plants, top 20.  Mostly, though, they made the list for their ease in care, fabulous characteristics of form/color/texture interest in a landscape design, and their versatility of site conditions and purposeful use in the landscape.

When you decide as to what you would like in your landscape, I suggest that you start with a favorite list as well, and then learn the nature of that plant to determine if it will fit into your over-all plans.  Again, half the joy of gardening is the trial and error.

So, let's get to picking favorites and making new garden friends, folks!

Donell

 

 

 

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Hibiscus

Did you know that today is Pascua Florida Day, and is a state of Florida day of recognition?  April 2nd is the anniversary of the discovery of Florida by Juan Ponce De Leon, in 1513.  Ponce De Leon was a Spanish explorer, and named this newly discovered land after a celebration day in his homeland of Spain called Pascua Florida, meaning a feast of flowers.  Other than the state flower Orange Blossom, there is no other plant that says Florida more than the Hibiscus, and, naturally, it is a Florida landscape favorite.

What better way to celebrate our Florida's naming day than to plant some Hibiscus in your landscape, brew some Hibiscus Tea, and bake some Hibiscus candy?  Yes, that's right, Hibiscus is not only edible, but it is tasty as well!  Beyond Hibiscus being a Florida landscape favorite for it's beautiful year-round flowers, it is renowned for it's natural medicinal properties, and well as unique flavor in teas and food.

Not only is Hibiscus a Florida landscape favorite, it is a world-wide favorite, too!  It is commonly found in tropical and sub-tropical environments, and thrives best in temperate climates.  It is the state flower of countries such as Malaysia and Haiti, and it's flower has unique symbolism that can be found in cultures such as India and Tahiti.

As a landscape plant, Hibiscus can be one of the easiest and most rewarding plants in your garden, providing endless beautiful blooms of vibrant colors.  It prefers full sun for best blooming, but will tolerate partial shade, and once established, it is very drought tolerant.  The Hibiscus can have some unique pest problems, though, such as aphids, Pink Hibiscus Mealy-bug, and Chilli Trips, that can be controlled with pesticides, if desired.  The worst pest problems for Hibiscus, though, in my opinion, are deer and extreme cold.  If you live in an area that is populated with deer, Hibiscus is a deer favorite, and will simply be a feeding station for them, and they will never bloom.  As well, if your planting area is prone to repeated frost or freezing temperatures, an unprotected Hibiscus will not survive for long.

What the heck!  Plant one Hibiscus, and give it plenty of room, as they they can grow rather large on some of the varieties (8' tall or better, and almost just as wide).   And, when family and friends come for your annual summer tea party, dazzle them with your scrumptious Hibiscus candies, and delectable Hibiscus tea (I hear that it's even better with rum!).

Pick your favorite Hibiscus variety from these options:  http://3seasonsgrowers.com/pb/wp_4a4e7cc3/wp_4a4e7cc3.html

Then, let's get the party started!

http://www.cupcakeproject.com/2010/08/hibiscus-tea-brewed-at-home-from-dried.html

http://www.cupcakeproject.com/2010/08/candied-flowers-hibiscus.html

Let's get Hibiscus-ing, Folks!

Donell

 

 

 

 

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Adding annual flowers to your landscape is a great way to bring fabulous bursts of color to your garden, even though they are usually temporary.  Annuals are seasonal plants, that are sometimes called bedding plants, and they are narrowly defined as plants that grow, and  reproduce (which means to flower) and die, with a one year time frame.  In the landscape world, then, when they are flowering, they are at the peak of their life when you buy them, and will only live for a few more months, in your garden.   Most annual plants are designed to live for 3 or 4 months after purchase, with the expectation that they will be replaced out, seasonally, with another annual of a different type, that prefers the new season.    With that in mind, adding annuals to your landscape can bring a wonderful pop of color, seasonally, with an expected rotation of changing them out 3-4 times a year, given their limited lifespan and preferred season.

Adding annuals to your landscape can bring  a wonderful and changing variation to the look of your landscape, but it is not for everyone.  While some annuals can be low maintenance and seem to free-seed and live on their own, others can require dead-heading of old seed pods and pinching back when they get leggy and spindly.  More so, most annuals have a preferred season, and do require a rotational change-out.  However, if you are willing to do the work, no matter how large or small the designated area for planting, you will rarely find the colors to add to your landscape, that annuals can bring.  They bring vibrant colors in a big way on a small scale, that no other plant can do!

If you do decide to add annuals to your landscape, here are a few tips:

  • Annuals always will need a bed of fresh potting soil to be planted in.  Do not plant them in regular Florida soils and expect success.
  • If you want to mulch your annual bed, do not mulch the annual.  Leave a 1" clearance around the stem of annuals, and only lightly mulch the soil bed, as most annuals are very sensitive to materials around their stems and can die from root rot or too-deeply planting.
  • Know the preferred season for your annuals.  Many nurseries and almost all box stores sell annuals (and vegetables) out of season.   A smart man told me recently that he simply watches for what annuals are planted at the subdivision entrances and  commercial buildings, and he follows suit.  He is absolutely right and this is an awesome way to get it right the first time.  The pros are not guessing about the right season/ right annual.
  • Some annuals are more prone to insect and fungal problems, so if you opt to select those plants that are, stay vigilant with your pest control, for ultimate success.
  • Lastly, as always, have fun with your landscaping and don't give up!   I don't believe in black thumbs, and some plants just have rules or natures that have to be followed.  Follow them! and you will be successful.

As a note, and as a landscaper, I do not install many annual beds, but when I do, this is my philosophy:

  • Keep the bed small, within 1-2 trays of plants, always in a bed of potting soil
  • I prefer a 3 time a year rotation:  Begonias in the spring, as they can handle the heat, but hate the rain; Coleus in the mid-summer as they love the rain and the heat;   Petunias in the winter, as they can handle some heat but love the cold.

There is so much to know about gardening and landscaping, and IFAS is the source.  For more information about annuals, and seasonal tables, click on this link:

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/mg319

Let's get gardening, Folks!

Donell

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St. Patrick's Day is the day that we show off our green!   We wear green, we drink green beer, and we eat cabbage....and we write Limericks to celebrate Ireland, also know as the Emerald Isle!  So, we should be talking about plants with Emerald green leaves, but instead, I am going to talk about plants with Lime foliage, my little twist on "Lime-rick"!  I know, it's a stretch, but what better day to talk about plants that bring something different to the garden?

When designing your landscape, you can add interest to the final plan by including plants with varying textures, flowers, mature height, and foliage color.  There are an endless number of plants that have various hues of green, all the way from a dark emerald green to almost a bluish-silver hue.  And, surprisingly, there are a handful of plants that offer a shade of lime green that will make your landscape pop, especially when paired with other plants that help them stand out and shine.

If you are considering adding some lime green foliage plants to your landscape design, be sure to place them next to plants that will highlight their uniqueness.  Lime green foliage can really pop when planted next to dark greens, reds, and oranges.  Conversely, it can be lost or washed out when planted next to a white or yellow house paint, or white and light colored green foliage plants.   If you are uncertain as to what will work in your plant combinations, try a few pairings at your local nursery before making your final selections.  Ultimately, you want all of your plants in your design to compliment each other, to bring out the best features of each individual plant.  As always, half of the fun of gardening is experimenting, and going bold can bring a delightful result!

Considered any of these lime green foliage plants to add to your landscape.  All of them are low maintenance and easy care plants for our Tampa landscapes:

  • Foxtail Fern, added bonus of unique texture
  • Coleus, available in many varying leaf colors with limes, yellows, and reds (in picture above)
  • Potato Vine
  • Gold Mound Duranta (in picture above, with Coleus)
  • Ti Plants, either Kiwi or Lemon-Lime varieties

So, let's get growing, Folks!  This St. Patrick's Day, let's really show of our greens.....with Lime greens!  You just can't go wrong, and you will be bringing something new to table, so to speak!

Donell

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angeltrumpet

A well designed landscape attempts to stimulate our five senses of sight, smell, touch, sound, and taste.  With that in mind, adding scented plants to create a fragrant garden can be the most surprising and rewarding of all garden design, by tickling our sense of smell.

Some plants, such as Gardenia and Roses, are universally known for their beautiful fragrance, and are added to gardens for just that reason.  Others, such as Crinum Lily and Angel's Trumpet, are not as well known, but can bring as much pleasure as their better known garden mates.  As well, most scented plants do not provide scent year-around, so to create a fragrant garden for almost all seasons, one must plant a variety of scented plants.  With that, not only will your landscape be diverse in scent and texture (touch), you will also have the added benefit of flowers (sight) and possibly taste (with herbs, like Rosemary and Mint).  As an added bonus, plants like Loquat, Citrus, and Magnolia provide a food source for birds and wildlife (sound), after their scented flowers have passed.  Why, one might even say that the beginning of a full-senses garden experience begins with scented plants!

Selecting scented plants for a fragrant garden is easier than you think.  As always, you must take into consideration the plants preferred planting sight (sun, soil, etc.) as well as it's size at maturity, and then simply begin adding them to your current landscape.  Alternatively, you can build and design your landscape around scented plants, selecting ones that bloom in different seasons.  As always, half the fun in gardening is experimenting, so just enjoy the process and no doubt, you will be amply rewarded!

Any of these easy-care scented plants would make a wonderful addition to your fragrant garden:

  • Carolina Yellow Jasmine
  • Sumbac a/k/a Arabian Jasmine
  • Confederate Jasmine
  • Night Blooming Jasmine
  • Star Jasmine
  • Anise
  • Loquat
  • Magnolia
  • Citrus, all varieties
  • Crinum Lily
  • Angel's Trumpet
  • Roses, not all varieties
  • Society Garlic (not pleasant smelling to all)
  • Butterfly Ginger
  • Tea Olive
  • Rosemary and many other herbs
  • Gardenia

All of the plants listed above are well-suited for Tampa landscapes (zone 9) and are generally drought tolerant and low maintenance.  As well, some of them provide a heavy scent, while others, a more light and subtle fragrance, providing an opportunity for all gardener's to find the perfect plant, to tickle their senses!

Let's Get Growing, Folks!

Donell

 

 

 

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Even though spring is still several weeks away, it is not too early to start preparing and planting your spring vegetable garden.  Whether you have a designated garden area established or need to create one, this is the time of year to add or freshen soil, supplement the soil with compost and fertilizer, design your garden layout, and purchase the plants (or start from seed).  Most of the vegetables that you may want to include in your spring vegetable garden will need to be planted in February and March, so it is time to get plowing!

Today's vegetable gardens have grown in concept and popularity from the days of past.  You no longer have to have rows of vegetables at the back end of your lot.  You can add them to your landscape beds, mixed in with your landscape plants,  or you can grow them in pots on the patio and in the landscape beds.  Growing your own vegetables could never be easier or more fun, just use your imagination!

Once you have determined your vegetable gardening site(s), you will need to select what you want to grow.  Most vegetables do have a preferred growing season, so to be most successful, you will need to choose what will grow best in spring for Tampa, and Central Florida.  Fortunately, there are a lot of options to choose from:

  • Beans (pole, bush, Lima)
  • Canteloupe
  • Corn
  • Cucumbers
  • Eggplant
  • Okra
  • Peppers
  • Potatoes and Sweet Potatoes
  • Squash
  • Pumpkin
  • Tomatoes
  • Turnips
  • Watermelon

So, let's get busy....time is a-wasting!  As always, Johns Palms Landscaping can help you with all or any part of the process, from free advice to set up and installation.  Just call our office at 813-493-3373.

Also, a great resource for any gardening or agriculture related topic is the Institute of Florida Agriculture Services (IFAS).  In particular, an in depth article about creating and growing your vegetable garden can be found at this link:  http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/vh021