Gardeners and homeowners living in Orlando, Florida are lucky. The warm, humid climate allows for a beautiful landscape, year round. Homeowners and business owners can capitalize on the wonderful climate by planting landscapes that shine all of the time. Follow these top tips about the best plants for Orlando, proper maintenance for Orlando landscaping and more, and you will install an Orlando landscape with across the board appeal.
Best Plants for Orlando
Orlando gardens can shine year-round with these plants:
Trees: Crape Myrtle, Poinciana, River Birch, Magnolia, Holly, Palm Trees
Shrubs: Indian hawthorne, Azalea, Cycads, Wax Myrtle, Allamanda
Perennials: Canna, Shrimp plant, Orchids, Knockout roses, Ginger lily, Heliconia, Plumbago, Eucomis, Daylilies, Bromeliads
Annuals: Pansies, Snapdragons, Pentas, Annual vinca, Cleome, Geranium (just about everything!)
Vines: Confederate jasmine, Passionflower, Clerodendrum
Best Maintenance Practices for Orlando Landscapes
Water: Water deeply and infrequently, for both lawns and landscapes.
Pruning: Prune plants just after they flower, before they set new flowerbuds. Try to avoid the “meatball” look.
Mowing: Mow your grass to the proper height for its species. Doing so will help prevent weed seeds from sprouting and prevent fungal problems.
Planting: Select plants that will do well in the areas you want to use them. Some plants like sun and others like shade. Starting out with plants in the right areas will save you time and money later. Additionally, some annual flowers like cool weather-pansies and snapdragons included, while others thrive in hot weather-pentas and annual vinca like it hot!
Soil Preparation: When adding a new landscape installation such as a new flower bed or a new foundation planting, always add about four inches of topsoil/compost blend to your existing soil. A little soil prep in the beginning goes a long way.
Secrets for Super Landscapes in Orlando
If you get jealous of the gardens every time you drive by a beautiful lawn, or visit one of Orlando’s many theme parks, take heart-you can achieve that look yourself! The main thing that separates large, professionally tended landscapes from home landscapes is bulk! Even if you are a plant fanatic and have a difficult time deciding which plants to buy, control the impulse to buy one of everything. For bedding plants and flowers, choose three to five types and buy at least 15 of each plant. You can then mix them together, or plant them in overlapping sweeps in the flowerbed. Try it! You will see juts how easy it is!
One other secret for a super landscape: Start with a good foundation planting including trees and shrubs-both evergreen and deciduous. Then change your annual plants at least twice a year. Nobody enjoys looking at pansies struggling in the heat.
Try these tips and tricks and you will have a landscape that is the envy of your neighbors.
