This is the time of year that people are excited to start enjoying spring. And Florida is no exception. We don’t really experience true winter like the states up North do when it gets really cold.
However, we still have seasons that change. Spring is on the way so we are getting ready to head into the warmest time of year. And that also means the real estate market is going to get busier as well.
So why not look into upgrading your garden? Spruce some things up to really enhance that curb appeal and turn some heads.
But wait. Before you do that there are some serious things that you need to keep in mind. Make sure to avoid these costly mistakes in your Florida garden this spring or you might regret them later.
Avoid These Mistakes at All Costs
Most importantly, you need to make sure to not make some serious gardening mistakes. These mistakes can cause serious issues for you in the future and can even make it more difficult for you to sell your home.
1. Pick the Right Plants
Picking the right plants for your garden is a little different in Florida (if you’re from the North you might have already noticed). There is a lot more that goes into a Florida garden than just picking pretty flowers and making sure they get enough sun.
Florida’s climate is much different than most other states. We have what is known as a “Tropical” or “Subtropical” climate. That means that plants that do well in other places might not do so well here.
Or sometimes different species of plants do too well and are what is considered an invasive species. These types of plants will absolutely take over your garden. So there is a line that you need to walk carefully when picking out flowers, shrubbery, cactuses, and other plants for your Florida garden.
A good rule of thumb is to pick only Florida native plants when planning out your garden. This is the easiest way to make sure that you are picking plants that grow well in Florida with little to no soil amendments or harsh chemical fertilizers.
2. Why You Should Use Florida Native Plants Only
If you are not a gardener or if you are not from Florida you might not understand what native Florida plants are or even why it is important to use them in your garden.
For obvious reasons plants that are native to Florida tend to do well in Flordia. This is their natural environment and they will usually thrive here with little to no intervention. Other than the occasional watering and trimming, most Florida native plants tend to be lower maintenance and easier to care for in your garden.
The problem is when you try to introduce plants that aren’t native to Florida. Usually, one of two things will happen.
1. They will be unable to withstand the harsh and humid environment and you will struggle to keep them alive and beautiful in your garden.
2. Or they could in fact thrive and even grow too well. Then you will need to worry about additional maintenance to keep them at bay. Not to mention the environmental impact it could have on other plants and wildlife around your home.
These invasive species are important to keep out and away from your garden because they are hard to predict and take much more time and money to keep them well maintained. And they will not add to the curb appeal of your home.
3. What Season Is It Anyway?
This is one of the most important mistakes you will want to avoid making in your Florida garden.
When planting in your garden it is super important to take the seasons into consideration. Some plants just don’t do well here in the spring and summer. They can’t take the heat or all the sunlight and will just dry out and wither away.
This is another part of Florida’s climate that can be really challenging for gardeners (especially if you aren’t from Florida). These types of plants will take so much more love, care, and time to keep alive. And even sometimes that is still not enough to make them grow.
For example, spring and summer are the times of year the states up North start to plant and grow their own little vegetable and fruit gardens. Then they harvest during the summer and fall. But that is not how it goes here in Florida.
Most crops do well in the winter months here. So most fruit and vegetable gardens are planted in the fall and harvested right around and before spring. If you tried to grow a vegetable garden during the summer here you would need to go to great lengths to keep your garden alive.
Native Florida Plants That You Can Use
Here is a list of 30 different plant species that are native to Florida. These are perfect for almost any garden and we have listed them out according to how much sunlight they prefer. So you can pick out the best ones for different areas of your garden.
Full Sun:
- American Beautyberry
- Black-eyed Susan
- Blazing Star
- Buttonwood
- Carolina Jessamine
- Elliott’s Aster
- Firebush
- Lanceleaf Blanket Flower
- Milkweed Native Species
- Muhly Grass
- Palm Natives
- Tickseed
- Yucca Native Species
Part Sun:
- Azalea Native Species
- Coral Bean
- Coral Honeysuckle
- Fakahatchee Grass
- Gumbo-limbo Tree
- Marsh Hibiscus
- Powderpuff Mimosa
- Scarlet Salvia
- Seagrape
- Southern Live Oak
- Star Anise
- Walter’s Viburnum
- Wild Coffee
Shade:
- Fern Native Species
- Oakleaf Hydrangea
Will Grow Anywhere:
- Coontie
- Southern Wax Myrtle
Check out lawnlove.com for a more extensive look into these plants and their specific needs. And don’t forget if you need help with your home an appraisal or just want to know the value of your home, get a free appraisal quote from us today.
