Even though it may be cold outside in Central Florida right now, it is a perfect time to start planning for that new or redesigned patio. You can enjoy a patio this coming Spring and Summer and for many years into the future. We have the benefit of enjoying the outdoors for far longer throughout the year here than in most of the country. While we are snuggled up avoiding the cooler temperatures outside, we can begin to take the first steps in our patio planning. Not sure where to start? Here are some great tips and considerations for you to start your planning.

Functionality

The very first step to patio planning is to consider what purpose(s) you want it to serve. Do you want to host large parties or family gatherings? Rather, do you require a small, intimate space for morning coffee for two or a quiet meditation spot? Deciding the functionality for your patio area is first on your checklist. Making this first decision will lead you to the next steps of location, size and layout.

One of the best design tips we’ve heard in a long time comes from Designer/Contractor Scott Cohen in an article on ConcreteNetwork.com. Scott says that placing one large patio at the rear of your home can be a big mistake. Instead, consider breaking up the space into smaller gathering areas or “outdoor rooms”. This can allow for ease of flow in entertaining as well as smaller, more private areas for conversation. Whether during a big party or just for relaxing with your spouse or a friend, people tend to gather in more intimate, informal areas. You can also create an individual oasis designed with just your favorite things for escaping into your own space when you need a breather from family-life chaos.

TIP: If you plan to use your patio for entertaining frequently, you will want to be certain that a portion of your patio is either accessible to your kitchen or creates an outdoor kitchen area for ease in serving your guests. You will avoid a lot of frustration in trekking back and forth inside into your kitchen to replenish your refreshments.

Location, Location, Location!

As we said in our first step, people usually think of a patio as a big area right off the back of their home. In reality, there are really so many other options to consider with just a little creativity and knowledge. A good exercise in determining the location of your patio is to walk your property. Assess your yard. Be aware of any major slopes that may be a challenge (or require additional construction of retaining walls), consider sun and shade areas, property or fence lines and how close your neighbors are in proximity to your proposed location.

Another detail most people don’t think about is the aesthetic of your patio from different vantage points. While the main purpose of a patio is to add a functional outdoor space, it also becomes a visual aspect of your yard. While walking your area, consider views from the patio as well as views OF the patio from different areas including the inside of your home or areas of lawn beyond your patio. This is especially helpful when designing for a large yard or property that meets and incorporates any waterfront.

The last thing to consider when assessing your location is any existing or future landscape plans. You are not held within the boundaries of existing landscaping. It is extremely helpful when designing your patio to consider the future. Any plans for additional landscaping, walkways or even pool additions can change your patio design drastically. By taking these into account from the beginning, you can plan and grow into creating your ultimate backyard oasis without the need to destroy or redesign any previous work. This will also result in big savings in the long run. Your Orlando Area Landscaper can assist you in this process and is a wonderful resource when it comes to planning an overall design for your space. Whether you DIY or hire someone, having a master plan is vital. As an additional resource, check out our Landscape Assessment & Planning Checklist.

Size & Layout

Once you have decided what purpose(s) your patio will serve and where it will be located, the next step is to consider size and layout. HGTV offers some great design ideas!

One of the biggest mistakes made when designing a patio is the size. The amount of space for your patio needs is often underestimated. Whether going big or just large enough to create a small outdoor eating/gathering space, be sure to plan for enough space for furniture and movement. How many times have you been to someone’s patio and your chair hits dirt when you pull it away from the table, or you have to strategically place your chair so you don’t sink one leg into sand? This are all factors in sizing your patio. Movement and maneuvering around patio furniture is ofter not given the attention it deserves when patio planning.

Layout is equally as important as it will affect the amount and sometimes, type of materials. Are you looking to go geometrically square or rectangle to surround the back exterior of your home? While this may save some in materials, it can be rather boring too. Consider some curved lines. You can easily add some curvature to the edges of your patio to create movement and flow with nature in creating landscape areas now or into the future. Curved lines also add an element of visual interest to your space from other vantage points in the yard as well as from indoors.

For this step, we recommend using a Professional Landscaper for design. You can find some good Landscape Design Software online as well, but it helps to have the expertise of a professional when choosing size and layout. Landscape Designers and Installation Professionals have vast experience when laying out patios and will have a depth of knowledge when it comes to any hurdles or challenges that your specific space may contain that could affect the overall design. The last thing you want to do is get to the installation and discover that your design just won’t work because of some unforeseen issue.

Materials

There are many different varieties of materials to choose from when patio planning. You want to be sure to choose a material that will complement the material, color and style of your home. If you have a traditional, stately home, you may want to avoid contemporary or trendy modern materials.

Some of the various materials available include;

• Concrete – while plain concrete can be pretty boring, you can considering dying it or using a stamping method to give it some texture and contouring. While it may be plain, concrete is a very inexpensive option that can be dressed up.
• Natural Stone – this is a very popular but also pricey option. Natural stone tends to complement both the nature surrounding your home as well as your landscaping. Coming in so many varieties of color, shape and size, natural stone can fit just about any home decor.
• Brick Pavers – are a bit more cost effective and also come in a variety of colors and textures but overall are pre-cut and uniform in size. If you decide on brick pavers (or reclaimed brick), be sure to break up the space with landscaping beds or potted plants give your patio a more comfortable feeling as pavers can take on a very industrial look in wide open spaces.

Make it a combination! You can also combine materials when creating your patio. If you decide to be this daring, be sure your materials complement each other as well as your home. We also recommend an Orlando Landscaping professional to help you with this as transitioning between materials can be very challenging. The photo below is a beautiful example of combining minimal natural stone with pavers to give a more sophisticated look to your patio while still remaining cost effective.

Extra Features

One of the last things to consider before moving forward in the patio planning process is those incredible extra features. It is much easier to incorporate such things in the planning and design phase rather than try to make them fit into an existing patio. Just a few of the extra features you can consider are:

• Fire pit or Fireplace or both for warmth, warm light and ambiance after dark.
• Outdoor Kitchen help to prepare for those large parties or to cook and enjoy family dinners outdoors.
• Lighting Features around the patio help create ambiance and edging with a glow during all seasons.
• Water Features are relaxing and can help to drown out any noise issues such as a busy street.
• A Trellis can add shade and provide privacy from a second story or neighbor’s view.

There is so much to consider when patio planning, but with these few steps to get you started, you will be well on your way to creating your very own backyard oasis. Keep up the daydreaming while it’s still cold outside and be sure to make lots of notes and save pictures of your ideas. When the weather is a little warmer, take your plan to action! You will be sure to have a picture perfect patio by the end of Spring!

Now that Christmas is in our rear view mirrors and we are enjoying all the wonderful gifts we received, it will soon be time to take down the tree, store the ornaments and dispose of your live tree. There are many ways to recycle Christmas trees and putting them to good use for a while longer providing gifts to nature and our environment.

Recycling Collections

The easiest and simplest way to recycle your Christmas Tree is through your local City of County waste agency. Most all municipalities offer some form of Christmas Tree collection during the first two weeks of January. Usually, trees are put through a chipper to create a mulch which is then offered back to the public for free. This a great service and a good way for your Christmas Tree to continue it’s gift giving! Pick Your Own Christmas Tree offers a great list of links to Florida Counties and information on recycling. You can also gather a group of neighbors to rent a wood chipper, if no one owns one, and have a chipping party. Everyone can chip their tree and then share in the mulch provided.

Let It Go To The Birds!

You can move your tree right in the stand outside and create food and shelter for wild birds. You can hang treats for the birds as new tree decorations such as birdseed balls, popcorn strings or fruit in mesh bags. This is a great family project and teaches the lesson of recycling and caring for your environment. You can put the tree near a bird bath as well and the combination will not only attract beautiful birds to enjoy watching, but will also help to feed them.

Let It Swim With The Fishes!

Start A Compost Pile

One of the best bases to start for a new compost pile is a layer of thin branches. Small tree branches allows airflow at the bottom of the pile and will break down over time. Trim the branches of your Christmas Tree down so they fit snugly into the bottom of your bin. Crate a stack of branches four to six inches high. Once you have the branches on the very bottom, you can start adding your food waste and other organic materials. This will create a wonderful soil to add to your garden all year round.

Rodale’s Organic Life offers a great article on building your own wooden compost bin. If you haven’t started this great practice yet, let 2018 be your year to start by using your Christmas Tree.

Other Garden Uses

There are many other ways to recycle Christmas trees that will allow it to keep giving, especially in your garden. You can allow the tree to dry out, shake off the needles and use for mulch, then take the bare tree and keep to use as a trellis in your garden for climbing plants such as beans or peas. You can also cut branches off and use for covering fragile perennials from cold weather. You can use the trunk after branches have been removed to edge a flower bed or to place in a prime spot in your garden for a nice resting place for birds or squirrels. You can also create a post for your own gazing ball to enjoy all the wonderful reflections of your garden.

Consider A Living Tree

Next year, when it comes to picking out your tree, please consider a living tree. These Christmas Trees are not simply cut down and put into a stand. These trees come potted with roots in tact. You can even start small and use the same tree for several years in a row. Once you are done with your tree, you can plant it in your yard. Over the years, you can create a border for your yard or a nice covering of shade by spacing randomly.

Picking out a nice Christmas gift for those in your life with a green thumb can be difficult. There are many cute, unique and extravagant gift options in gardening centers, small garden-themed boutiques and, of course, all over the internet. So what to do?

Our suggestions would be to think simple. Most gardeners would rather have new tools, gloves or other supplies that will help them continue to do what they love into the new year without emptying their pockets at the same time. Gardening can get very expensive, especially if the gardener is experimenting with new plants, crops, or growing methods.

Avoid plants. Even though this would seem a natural choice in gifting to someone that loves to plant, to most gardeners picking out plants is a very personal and individual process. They are very specific in what their goals are and you may not be aware of any current or future projects they have in mind.

Some of the best gifts a gardener can receive are their tools of the craft. This can sometimes be difficult to purchase unless you know the gardener in your life very well. Most are pining over a new tool, a new book or something to elevate their gardening experiences, but you may not know what those things are. Unless you are an avid gardener yourself, some of the tools and supplies can be as foreign as art supplies for someone that has never held a pencil or paint brush.

If you don’t know exactly what to pick out for the gardening aficionado, try to find out what their favorite gardening center is and get them a nice gift card so that they can pick out their heart’s desire. Another great idea is to purchase books, magazine subscriptions or other informational materials. This is always a great way to go. Winter is a dormant period for most plantings, even here in Central Florida. It may not come to a screeching halt as it does up North, but there is much less activity that goes on during the Winter season than in Spring and Summer. It is always nice to take the extra down time to dream about what your next big gardening adventure or undertaking may be and nothing provides that better than some inspiration.

For those of you that feel you just have to give a gift, there are a lot of options out there. We took some time to scour the websites and got some suggestions from our locals and have included some of our favorites here. You can click on the pictures to find out more information about purchasing.

Gift Ideas

For the gardener that is either new or committed to composting and creating their own fertilizer, a composter is a wonderful gift. This living composter has a very unique sculpture design and is odorless. This is a great way to reduce the amount of waste from your kitchen and continuously supply your garden or flowers with the best fertilizer found anywhere.

Whatever choices you make for your gardening gifts, they are sure to bring some sunshine and happiness to your favorite person with a green thumb!

Viola adds a beautiful pop of purple to your Winter landscape.

Living in Central Florida definitely has its advantages! We are fortunate enough to keep our yards bursting with color all year round. There are many varieties of Winter Plants here that can keep things colorful and in bloom with a little preparation and maintenance through the Winter Season.

First things first. It is important to know how to make this happen. It is important to trim back perennials and time to set out annuals! Growing successful Winter Plants is more involved than just going to your local landscaper or retailer and picking out “cool season” labeled plants. Some are still not appropriate and you will also find some plants still selling in Winter months that are not hardy during cool weather. Keeping Winter Plants healthy and beautiful requires a bit more attention and care than in other seasons, so make sure you are aware of the needed tasks and allow yourself the time to maintain those gorgeous colors throughout the season.

Other things to consider as well are:

• Soil Conditions – Soil should be built up with organic matter that will help retain nutrients throughout the season to allow plants to continue producing blooms. This can be accomplished by adding compost, decomposed manure or sawdust. Compost is always the best type of organic material to add to your soil. Be aware of some of the issues that may come with other materials. You can find more information on organic matter in this article by University of Florida Gardening Solutions.
• Water – Watering is essential to any plant, but for Winter Plants, it is vital that you add water on a regular basis. Winter is dry season here in Florida. A sprinkler or, even better, a soaker hose, will go a long way in keeping your plants healthy and colorful.
• Fertilizer – Be sure to add a slow release fertilizer or a weekly root fertilizer to aid in blooming.

Beautiful Winter Plants for Florida

Snapdragons can add beautiful spikes of color in your landscape. They are striking when planted in groups and can be varied in height to create depth and variety. They can range from six inches to three feet in height and are long-lasting flowers. You can continue to plant these beauties through February for continuous Winter color!

White Alyssum will add a beautiful touch as a low-growing, long lasting blooming annual to your landscape. They are a small flower that can make a big statement. They are fairly easy to grow and They have a sweet smell that will add a wonderful scent as your walk through your yard in the Winter. These little giants also come in hues of rose, blue or bi-colored varieties to add just the impact you seek.

Geraniums are a classic favorite. They can come in red, white or pink adding a beautiful splash of color with their blooms. Geraniums are sensitive to cold, so while they will continue to bloom, consider planting in containers that can be moved indoors should we get our occasional yet rare freeze warning here in Central Florida. Consider adding in Scented Geraniums as well. These are not grown for blooms, but for their scent. They will add a wonderful fragrance to your landscape ranging from mint, rose and lemon to cinnamon.

Dusty Miller is a silvery-leafed, low-growing plant that reaches heights of 6 to 12 inches. This makes it perfect for borders and containers. It looks beautiful when contrasted with the colorful blooms of other plants. We think this is a gorgeous Winter Plant because it gives the feel of a frost laying over the landscape just by its own natural color.

Calendula is one of the most reliable Winter Plants. It’s brightly colored daisy-like flowers will add a touch of cheer to your landscape. You can get single or double bloom Calendula that will grow between 1 to 1 1/2 feet tall. Calendula is also an edible plant and has been used historically medicinally as well as for dyes.

A Few Last Mentions!

Protection is still necessary. While most of these Winter Plants will survive the cold season and provide beautiful color to your landscape, they are not freeze proof. the will need to be covered with the warning of temperatures below their toleration point. Be sure to keep your weather forecast close by and make sure you protect these Winter beauties!

Deadheading is an important step to continuous blooming. This is the process of pinching spent flowers from your plants. Be careful with some such as the Calendula that are self sowing. You may not want to simply discard on the ground as you might be surprised with some popping up next year where you may be planning to plant something else.

There are many other options as well to add to your Winter landscape. You can check some of those out in this Green Blog article.

Happy Winter Planting!

Frost vs. Freeze

Although many of us quite often use the terms interchangeably. Frost and Freeze really are not the same events at all.

Frost is actually a physical manifestation on plants or other surfaces when there is a lot of water vapor in the air and the air temperature is warmer than the surfaces. This is why frost is most prevalent in mornings when the air temperature rises and a layer of frost develops on all visible surfaces.

Freeze is when temperatures fall below freezing (32° Fahrenheit or 0° Celsius) for a long enough period of time that ice crystals actually form inside plants. When ice forms inside plant cells, it splits the cell wall and kills the plant tissue. This is why a freeze is actually the culprit when it comes to ruining plants.

Types of Frost or Freeze include:
Hoarfrost  – The familiar light white frost you see on chilly mornings. It results when water in the air is deposited directly in the form of ice crystals.
Rime – This occurs when water is deposited in liquid form through dew or fog which then freezes. Rime has a glazed appearance.
Black frost – is a term used when frost didn’t form, but plants were nonetheless damaged (and blackened) by freezing temperatures.

What can you do to protect plants from frost or freeze?

Learn which plants are more vulnerable to cold and which are hardier. This will keep you from wasting time and ensure that you protect your most fragile plants that must remain outdoors. Here are some of the most common plants vulnerable to frost.

• Oleander
• Petunia
• Geranium
• Lobelia

Pro Landscaper Tips:

• Make sure the soil is moist prior to freezing weather; plants need adequate water even when it is cold.
• Move as many containers with plants as you can to warmer locations.
• Small plants and shrubs can be dug from the ground and added to containers and moved to warmer locations.
• Mound soil or mulch up around the base of plants to protect roots that can be saved even if the top of the plant is destroyed by a freeze.
• Leave citrus on the trees; it would take freezing temperatures for a long period of time to affect these trees and fruits are still usable for a while even if they freeze. Frozen citrus is devastating for a farmer’s crop and income but not generally for individuals.

Cover your Plants Properly!

Covering is by far the best prevention for plants against freezing temperatures. You can use just about anything to cover your plants and protect from freezing temperatures, but there are some things you need to know when preparing to do this. Heavier covers and thicker material will protect more against freezing temperatures extended for longer periods of time.

Create a framework if possible around your plants in advance for particularly harsh Winters. This will make applying and removing covers easier. Place covers over plants BEFORE sunset to capture ground heat which will keep plants warmer longer. If using plastic, do not allow to touch leaves as plastic will transmit cold onto leaves and they will be burned by the cold temperatures. Plastic is not the preferred covering as does not entrap heat as well. Be sure your covers drape all the way to the ground. Covering tops and leaving ground at bottom of plants exposed is useless.

Now that the Thanksgiving Holiday has passed, many of us have started the process of decorating for the Winter Holiday Season. Once your Christmas Tree is up and the stockings have been hung or your Menorah is ready for lighting and you have Gelt out ready to spin the Dreidel, you might want to think about bringing your Holiday spirit into the outdoor areas of your home as well. Most people put lights up on the exterior of their home, but you can expand on the lights and add some wonderful décor to your porches, patios and landscaping.

There are many ways to incorporate the Holiday Spirit into your outdoor décor. Let us help give you some tips and tricks with these Outdoor Holiday Decorating Ideas! One of the best ways to bring your Holiday décor outside is to decorate around your front entry or porch and any rear porches or patios. There are many different ways to do this beyond a few potted Poinsettias! Here are some great ideas:

Wreaths! You can create wreaths from many different types of material such as live garland, burlap, large Christmas ornaments, etc. Magnolia wreaths are popular here in Central Florida and can add a beautiful, high end feel to your front door décor. HGTV offers a great DIY Magnolia Wreath design. Consider using multiple wreaths as well. You can hang together vertically on doors, chimneys, or even on porch columns.

Outdoor Christmas Tree! Many of us have our largest decorated tree indoors to put gifts under. We are fortunate her in Florida to continue to our Holiday celebrations outdoors. An outdoor tree is a great idea to enjoy on a porch or patio, especially if you entertain frequently in that area. It is also a clever idea to use your outdoor tree for gifts for your pets or gifts for your yard such as bird feeders, bird seed, outdoor products or tools. You can open gifts in two different areas and enjoy more of your home. If you are celebrating Hanukkah, you can add outdoor Menorahs and create a tradition of lighting inside and out every night.

Pine Cones! These can be added to decorative vases and containers to add the touch of the Season. You can add ornaments, surround candles or even make mini decorative trees. You can paint white, gold or silver and mix together to create a nice arrangement. Something about Pine Cones says the Holidays are here!

Other Holiday Touches include large wooden Nutcrackers, Giant Candy Canes, Large Ornaments/Dreidels and Light Up Gift Boxes that can be added to porches, entryways and patios. Incorporating a few or all of these suggestions can make your outdoor space just as festive as your indoor decorations.

In addition to decorating your entryway, porches or patios, one of the best things you can do is add Holiday touches to your Central Florida landscaping. Here are some great ways to do just that:

Lights! Be sure to add lighting to areas beyond your eaves and porches. You can add lighting to your shrubs, pathways and even outer lying trees. We are fortunate to have solar light options that can allow you to place decorative Holiday lighting into all areas outdoors.

Plants! Add Holiday plants into your landscaping. You are not limited to adding the few potted Poinsettias to your porch and that’s it. Expand Holiday plants into your yard incorporating them into your existing landscaping. Be sure to layer and light by using varied sizes planters and solar or fairy light to grab the eye and focus on your beautiful Holiday landscaping. You can use old metal buckets for planters, some perforated with snowflakes or snowmen that can be light from inside add a nice lighted décor without a lot of extra work. You can also use an old snow sled or red wagons to place different plants on and create a wonderful focal point to a flower bed or an area of your yard that you want to draw attention to. Be sure to also surround your mailbox with Holiday plants or adorn with a beautiful Holiday garland.

Here is a list of various plants that will add beautiful touches to your Holiday landscaping. Some are familiar and some might be surprising.

Poinsettias – Because they come in many colors and patterns, Poinsettias can be added in number to create a wonderful Holiday touch to any landscaping, even if you don’t have a lush landscape.

Amaryllis – A flowering bulb with large flowers, Amaryllis is a gorgeous addition to your Holiday landscaping. These come in solids and patterns as well, so they can create a wonderful variety of Holiday colors and are sure to catch the eyes of those that pass by your home this Holiday season. These blooms will last 7-10 weeks and you can always store unplanted bulbs for replanting.

Narcissus – These are also a flowering bulb with many varieties and will bloom in Winter in the South. These are low maintenance and can be left in place to enjoy. While the bulb rebuilds, it will provide large green leaves.

With all of these tips, tricks, and Outdoor Holiday Decorating Ideas, we hope we have added some serious motivation for you to extend your Holiday decorating outdoors. You will welcome the Season and your Holiday guests from outside to in and It can also help work off some of that Thanksgiving Dinner!