Blog

Florida – tropical paradise, sandy beaches, blue water, and clear skies. This is what most people think when someone mentions Florida. Although this is a good description, there is more. In the Orlando area you will find lush gardens with many varieties of trees, shrubs, and flowers.

One way home owners are trying to add variety to their landscaping as well as lower maintenance is to use rocks and stones. They come in many different types and will add color and texture to any garden. Pathways can be made throughout an area. Benches and birdbaths can be added to give personal touches and places for lingering. Larger rocks, boulders, can be placed in the beds to give relief or a place for crawling plants to grow.

Not only rocks but also bricks can be used to add variety. Design a main brick walkway with rock ways leading off into other areas of the yard. Design areas where the plants and shrubs are in the same family or have a vegetable patch, herb patch, and flower patch. Make the areas colorful, fun, and personal.
There is a difference between using rocks in your yard and garden and building a rock garden.

These began in Europe and Asia along the hillsides with rock outcroppings. Most original rock gardens were for flowers or ornamentals. These make beautiful gardens but why not build something that is useful and tasty? Design and build a rock garden with herbs. Orlando does not have mountains or outcroppings but the flat land is ideal for building up with rocks of all sizes. Once you decide where your garden will be and you have a layout, bring in some large boulders. These could be used as garden seats to admire the plants and savor the smells. If you find a boulder with a recess deep enough, use it for water for visiting birds and butterflies.

Once the boulders are set, fill in with smaller gravel and stone. Have fun, choose different colors, shapes and sizes. Use some river rock which can be various shades and sizes, then add lava rock with its pink tinge. Throw in some white, maybe crushed concrete or marble. There are so many different colors, sizes and types to choose from sometimes it is difficult to make a decision. An interesting and striking garden could be made by having various areas with different colors and sizes of rocks. This could delineate different groupings of herbs and edible flowers.

Always consult with a landscape professional before choosing herbs and edible flowers. The landscape experts have a wealth of knowledge and can assist with groupings. These specialist can recommend the types of soil to use and the best drainage solutions.
Make your plan, design your layout, choose your plantings, select the rocks, and enjoy the process. Look to Longwood landscaping professionals Matts Meticulous Landscaping  for assistance in soil, drainage, and care of the garden.

Once completed, plan menus using the herbs and edible flowers you have available and share with friends. Delight in the peace and serenity your garden will bring.
Your garden – your oasis.

Dear Friend,

If you have a lawn or garden this message will strike a cord,we all know weeds grow everywhere and getting rid of them is another story so I wanted shed some light on the different types of weeds and how to get  rid of them.A knowledgeable landscape architect will be able to steer you in the right direction concerning the problem with weeds.

Weeds are unattractive and make your lawn and garden look unattractive. Weeds also provide cover for disease and insects, and they soak up important nutrients and sunlight from your garden and your lawn. Weeds are pesky and unusually hard to get rid of, but it is possible to minimize their takeover and keep them at bay.

Weeds are one of the biggest problem issues that gardeners and lawn care providers have to deal with on a nearly daily basis. About this time of year weeds begin popping up everywhere, here are the different types of weeds and what you can do to get rid of them

There are two types of weeds: Perennial and Annual. Perennials: are Dandelions, Blackberry, and Milkweed, They all sprout flowers and are extremely hard to get rid of because they are grown by both seed and by root. Pulling them out works at first, but if any portion of the root is left in the ground, they will grow back almost immediately.

Sometimes, using a herbicide is the only way to get rid of these types of weeds.

Annuals These are a little bit easier to get rid of and keep away than perennial weeds. They are grown from seeds that have already sprouted from your garden, or have been brought by a bird or another animal. Chickweed, Crabgrass, and Knotweed are three examples of annual weeds. They are named annual due to the fact that they grow at certain times of the year. Cool-season weeds will sprout at any time from fall to spring. Warm-weather weeds start growing in the spring. No matter which type it is,

The only way to get rid of them is to catch them before they start growing and uproot them whenever you’re doing yard work.

Now that you understand the different types of weeds, you’re wondering how to get rid of them! There are a few different ways to get rid of weeds, the weeds age makes a difference if the weed is fairly young and hasn’t sprouted seeds yet, then they are easier to get rid of than weeds that have matured and grown seeds.

Cultural weeding involves breaking up the soil surface to make weeds easier to remove. This works well when the weeds are young and smaller, also when the soil is moist. For smaller gardens, this can be done with a small trowel, but for bigger gardens and yards, a tool such as a cultivator. For larger weeds, cultivation involves using a shovel and removing the whole weed from the root. In order to make it less likely for the weed to grow back, the root needs to be removed completely. Perennial weeds need to be disposed of in the trash; if they are cut up by a till or cultivator, they can be spread across your lawn, creating more weeds

Mulching isn’t as much of a plan to get rid of weeds as it is a preventative plan. Mulch prevents weeds by blocking their access to the sun if they are growing at soil level. If there is no light, then the seeds will not germinate and will die eventually. Mulch also benefits the plants that you’re actually trying to grow; it conserves soil moisture and keeps soil at an even temperature.

With organic mulch, you can purchase weed blocker tarp or a black plastic film. They both work similarly to mulch and are referred to as “synthetic mulches.” The difference between these two is that the weed blocker lets in air and water for plants, while the plastic film does not. They both block light so that weeds cannot grow, the plastic can prevent even perennials from growing by killing off all sources of growth material.

Herbicides: If pulling weeds and tilling your soil isn’t for you or your garden, then you might need to a herbicide. There are several different herbicides available, even organic ones. The type of herbicide that you’re going to get will also depend whether  you’re trying to get rid of perennial or annual weeds.

Homeowners living in Orlando are lucky. The warm, humid climate allows for a beautiful landscape, year round. Landscaping that shines all of the time. Follow these top tips tricks will have your landscape the envy of your neighbors’ hope this advice helps.

Walking on the lawn of green lush grass is like walking on soft carpet. This is exactly what you want your lawn to be like. Now that you have it how do you keep it lush?

There are many pieces that make up the puzzle of lawn maintenance. Each piece is important and all work together in keeping the lushness of the grass.
Irrigation is very important especially during the summer months. As the heat increases in Florida the grass will thirst for moisture, yet interestingly you can over water your lawn. Talk with a professional landscape contractor in Longwood and learn how to determine the amount of water needed at any given time. A sprinkler or irrigation system may be installed in order to maintain the lushness. If so, contract with a professional and allow them to set up the system. A timer may even be added not only to control the amount of water but also to determine when water is needed.
Mowing is another important facet of a lush lawn. More important than how often you mow is your mower’s blades. First off, blades should be sharpened each season so the grass is cut not hacked. The height of the blade is significant so the grass isn’t cut too close to the ground. Taller grass will stimulate root growth which will help with drought conditions. The deeper the roots, the more moisture will be reached.Your landscaper will know all these tips and will be able to put you on the right track for the perfect lawn. 
No matter how well maintained your lawn, weeds could be an issue. If you choose not to use herbicides, then hand pulling the weeds will be necessary. If you decide to use chemicals, check with professionals to see when is the best time to use the weed control and how to use it. Used incorrectly or at the wrong time, the herbicides can be damaging to the lawn and surrounding plants. Another way to control weeds is to make sure edging is done regularly. It is difficult for weeds to get a deep hold if the lawn if well maintained. One thing to remember about weeds is they will bloom, the seeds will be spread, and more unwanted greens will grow the following year. So weed control is very important for lawns.

Do you have the urge to fertilize your lawn? Stop and ask what time of year is it? No fertilizing in the heat of the summer, in fact discontinue about a month before the heat arrives. If you fertilize during the summer your lawn could burn and turn brown. When choosing fertilizers there is now an organic option. These fertilizers have a slow release and a tendency for not as much lawn burn.
When you think of lawn maintenance, you generally think about lawn care such as mowing and edging.  Another very important part of lawn care is the clean up after the maintenance. Cleaning is as vital as mowing, edging, and weed pulling. Never leave clippings or edging remnants on the lawn and surrounding areas. Blow, rake, or sweep these items and dispose of them in the proper manner.
Although you are capable of maintaining your lawn, it is always good to discuss lawn care with the professionals. Choosing the best fertilizer, weed control items, and the proper soil can be best done with the assistance of experts. Formulate your plan and then discuss the implementation with the lawn care professionals at Matts meticulous Landscaping for a free estimate on your lawn and landscape needs Call (321)377-4393.