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Pond Life Photo Contest 2021

On September 17 we launched our Pond Life Photo Contest to end on October 30. The Jacksonville Pond Tour was the following weekend. Rather than us doing the talking this was an opportunity to share your own ponds and those you’ve visited that are your favorites. The criteria for the contest on Facebook was to share your images in the comment section of one of our numerous Pond Contest posts. There was a $100 gift card awarded to the winner.

Earth Works Pond Life Photo Contest Winner was Joanna Ostojska for this submitted image! “We are happy to donate the whole amount to your charity, The Sanctuary on 8th Street ,” said Joanna Ostojska the winner!

THANK YOU JOANNA!

Contest Entries

_{^{No words can explain the beauty and simplicity of nature.}}

-Barbara Jane Millman Maurice pond life VIDEO

Thank you to everyone who shared their lovely images!

Follow up and stay tuned for more contests!

 

Earth Works operates a retail Garden Center/Plant Nursery in Jacksonville and provides landscaping, hardscaping, water features, lawn care service, lawn spraying, and drainage solutions. Contact us with your questions and to book design consultations. For comprehensive solutions to your specific lawn, garden, and landscaping needs, contact Earth Works of Jacksonville online or at 904-996-0712.

Proudly serving clients in Northeast Florida including Jacksonville, Ponte Vedra Beach, TPC, Sawgrass, Atlantic Beach, Neptune Beach, Jacksonville Beach, Nocatee, St. Johns, Fleming Island, Orange Park,  Middleburg, Green Cove Springs, Amelia Island, Fernandina, and St. Augustine. Additionally:

Fall Vegetable Gardening in Northeast Florida

Fall vegetable gardening in Northeast Florida is an opportunity to grow cool-season veggies including broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, carrots, kale, lettuce, radishes, spinach, and Swiss Chard. Earth Works has available seeds and seedlings to get your Fall vegetable garden started and here are a few tips for green thumb-level success.

IMPORTANCE OF SOIL

Good soil is essential for successful veggie gardening. “To the frustration of many gardeners, Florida’s “soil” is mostly sand,” according to the University of Florida. “This gray, fine soil is called Myakka, (pronounced My-yakah), an Indian word for “big waters.” Only found in Florida, Myakka covers the majority of the state—more than 1½ million acres—and is actually our official state soil.”

Compost is our model for good soil. We recommend Wild Earth Soil Mix, a nice dark rich, light-weight compost mix that’s perfect for growing your vegetable garden in and sold by the bag and yard. We’d additionally recommend amending garden bed soil with Espoma Organic Biotone Starter plant food containing mycorrhizae that help root development, nutrient uptake, and support. We have a variety of additional soil amendments, including earthworm castings. We have specialty soils with bat guano and other excellent veggie gardening enhancements.

WHERE AND HOW TO PLANT VEGETABLES?

Unless farming a large garden plot consider utilizing raised garden beds for vegetables that allow for better containment of gardening soil mixes, composts, manures, and other soil amendments. Raised beds tend to have higher soil temperature that’s less compacted with better drainage.

How deep should seeds be planted? “In general, seeds should be planted at a depth of two times the width, or diameter, of the seed,” according to The Spruce. “For example, if you have a seed that’s about 1/16 inch thick, it should be planted about 1/8 inch deep. The classic “quarter-inch” planting depth found on many seed packets is too deep for many small seeds.” Planting seeds too deep reduces germination rates and the vigor of seedlings. After placing your seeds at the appropriate depth, lightly pat down the soil to prevent the seeds from washing away during watering and rain.

We recommend succession planting, which is the staggered planting of seeds anywhere from 7 to 21 days so that your crops don’t ripen all at the same time. “Succession planting is most important for determinate crops, which are crops that produce all of their fruit (or edible material) at once,” according to the University of Minnesota. “Indeterminate tomatoes, cucumbers, melons, and peppers will continue to produce fruit off of the same plant, so you don’t need to worry about succession planting with these crops. Similarly, you can typically harvest multiple times from herb plants and they will grow back.”

PEST PREVENTION AND FERTILIZATION
Protect your crops from caterpillars and other insects that like to eat our vegetables and ornamentals with the beneficial bacteria Bacillus thuringiensis available from Monterey and Thuricide. Another beneficial bacterial agent is Spinosad which likewise kills garden pests and is available in Capt. Jack’s Dead Bug Brew. Our recommendation to effectively treat fungal outbreaks in the vegetable garden is Copper Fungicide by Bonide.

Boost your Fall vegetable gardening success with once-per-week fertilization with Organic Neptune’s Harvest Fish Emulsion liquid fertilizer.

For comprehensive solutions to your specific lawn, garden, and landscaping needs, contact Earth Works of Jacksonville online or at 904-996-0712. Earth Works operates a retail Garden Center/Plant Nursery in Jacksonville and provides landscaping, hardscaping, water features, lawn care service, lawn spraying, and drainage solutions.
We proudly serve clients in Northeast Florida, including Jacksonville, Ponte Vedra Beach, Atlantic Beach, Neptune Beach, Jacksonville Beach, Nocatee, St. Johns, Fleming Island, Orange Park, Middleburg, Green Cove Springs, Amelia Island, Fernandina, and St. Augustine.

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Earth Works at Jacksonville Arboretum & Botanical Gardens

Tim introduces Dana J. Doody, the Executive Director of the Jacksonville Arboretum & Botanical Gardens, who explains the value of the new fernery. The fernery would not have been possible without a grant award from the Stanley Smith Horticultural Trust. Besides our contributions at Earth Works, Dana recognizes the involvement of: JWB Real Estate Capital, Liberty Landscape Supply, The Arc, Serenoa Landscape Design, volunteers from the University of North Florida, and the Arboretums core group of volunteers that participated in this project, and others each week come rain or shine. Visit the fernery on your next visit to the Jacksonville Arboretum & Botanical Gardens.

Jacksonville Arboretum & Botanical Gardens Fernery Construction

Josh Higgins, Earth Works landscape operations manager discusses the first day of activities associated with creating a fernery at the Jacksonville Arboretum & Botanical Gardens, a premier destination to visit nature in the heart of Jacksonville’s Arlington area.

Florida Arbor Day Tree Planting at Jacksonville Arboretum 2022

Florida Arbor Day is honored today with Dana Doody, Executive Director of the Jacksonville Arboretum & Botanical Gardens as we plant a loquat tree to memorialize the 136 years of Florida Arbor Day. Learn more about Florida Arbor Day events in Northeast Florida at LINK.

Jacksonville Arboretum & Botanical Gardens Tails & Trails 2021
Earth Works was a proud sponsor of the Saturday, October 9 Tails & Trails arboretum event. The event was a celebration of dogs with hundreds of wagging tails in attendance. Terri McGregor and Kevanie Counts worked the Earth Works booth at the event sharing information about dog-friendly plants with a bounty of dog-related garden-centric products.

Earth Works Donations to Jacksonville Arboretum & Botanical Gardens
Matt Barlow, Earth Works Garden Center manager, worked at the Jacksonville Arboretum & Botanical Gardens with JAG Executive Director Dana Doody and volunteers on Sept. 29, dressing up the lakeside pavilion with plants and plant material donated by Earth Works. Additionally, Barlow awarded JAG with hundreds of dollars in donations collected from 100% of proceeds of butterfly pics sales at the garden center.

Jacksonville Arboretum & Botanical Gardens Brush with Nature Event
First Coast Plein Air Painters has partnered with the arboretum for a decade, hosting the Brush with Nature Event in Spring. “Stunning Florida landscapes, talented Plein air artists doing live demonstrations, live music, food trucks, kids’ art activities and local artists’ original art for sale – all outdoors and with room for the family dog to join in – are just a few highlights of this year’s “A Brush With Nature” event, notes the Arboretum. “Oil, watercolor, pastel, acrylic, charcoal and colored pencils are just a few of the mediums that the FCPAP artists will demonstrate as they capture the Arboretum’s lakes, trails, trees and flowers, each in their unique style.“

Earth Works is honored to host plant sales at the Jacksonville Arboretum & Botanical Gardens entrance during numerous JAG events and works days and encourages your support for this rich environmental resource in Jacksonville. Stop by and purchase one of our Butterfly Pics to support the Jacksonville Arboretum & Botanical Gardens! See you on the trails!

The Jacksonville Arboretum & Botanical Gardens (JAG), established in 2008, is owned by the city and maintained by a non-profit organization that Earth Works supports with donations, event sponsorships, plant sales, and volunteers. The arboretum consists of 126 acres of dog-friendly walking trails and is recognized by News4Jax as Jax Best Local Trail.
Jacksonville Arboretum & Gardens is popular with visitors from near and far looking to enjoy nature, for outdoor exercise opportunities, and as a dog-friendly walk with picnic tables, an event lawn, lakeside pavilion, and restrooms.
The Lake Loop around Lake Ray is the centerpiece of social activity close to the parking area. Hundreds of native plant species are identified with signs to educate the public about Northeast Florida’s biodiversity. Over the years, trails have been added, including Jones Creek Trail, Upper & Lower Ravine Trail, Live Oak Trail, Sand Ridge Trail & Aralia trail. Jacksonville Arboretum & Gardens is open to you 365 days per year from 8 am till 5 pm.

For comprehensive solutions to your specific lawn, garden, and landscaping needs, contact Earth Works of Jacksonville online or at 904-996-0712. Earth Works operates a retail Garden Center/Plant Nursery in Jacksonville and provides landscaping, hardscaping, water features, lawn care service, lawn spraying, and drainage solutions. Contact us with your questions and to book design consultations.
We proudly serve clients in Northeast Florida, including Jacksonville, Ponte Vedra Beach, Atlantic Beach, Neptune Beach, Jacksonville Beach, Nocatee, St. Johns, Fleming Island, Orange Park, Middleburg, Green Cove Springs, Amelia Island, Fernandina, and St. Augustine.

Creating the Fernery at Jacksonville Arboretum & Botanical Gardens

Tim introduces Dana J. Doody, the Executive Director of the Jacksonville Arboretum & Botanical Gardens, who explains the value of the new fernery. The fernery would not have been possible without a grant award from the Stanley Smith Horticultural Trust. Besides our contributions at Earth Works, Dana recognizes the involvement of: JWB Real Estate Capital, Liberty Landscape Supply, The Arc, Serenoa Landscape Design, volunteers from the University of North Florida, and the Arboretums core group of volunteers that participated in this project, and others each week come rain or shine. Visit the fernery on your next visit to the Jacksonville Arboretum & Botanical Gardens.

Jacksonville Arboretum & Botanical Gardens Fernery Construction

Josh Higgins, Earth Works landscape operations manager discusses the first day of activities associated with creating a fernery at the Jacksonville Arboretum & Botanical Gardens, a premier destination to visit nature in the heart of Jacksonville’s Arlington area.

Florida Arbor Day Tree Planting at Jacksonville Arboretum 2022

Florida Arbor Day is honored today with Dana Doody, Executive Director of the Jacksonville Arboretum & Botanical Gardens as we plant a loquat tree to memorialize the 136 years of Florida Arbor Day. Learn more about Florida Arbor Day events in Northeast Florida at LINK.

Jacksonville Arboretum & Botanical Gardens Tails & Trails 2021
Earth Works was a proud sponsor of the Saturday, October 9 Tails & Trails arboretum event. The event was a celebration of dogs with hundreds of wagging tails in attendance. Terri McGregor and Kevanie Counts worked the Earth Works booth at the event sharing information about dog-friendly plants with a bounty of dog-related garden-centric products.

Earth Works Donations to Jacksonville Arboretum & Botanical Gardens
Matt Barlow, Earth Works Garden Center manager, worked at the Jacksonville Arboretum & Botanical Gardens with JAG Executive Director Dana Doody and volunteers on Sept. 29, dressing up the lakeside pavilion with plants and plant material donated by Earth Works. Additionally, Barlow awarded JAG with hundreds of dollars in donations collected from 100% of proceeds of butterfly pics sales at the garden center.

Jacksonville Arboretum & Botanical Gardens Brush with Nature Event
First Coast Plein Air Painters has partnered with the arboretum for a decade, hosting the Brush with Nature Event in Spring. “Stunning Florida landscapes, talented Plein air artists doing live demonstrations, live music, food trucks, kids’ art activities and local artists’ original art for sale – all outdoors and with room for the family dog to join in – are just a few highlights of this year’s “A Brush With Nature” event, notes the Arboretum. “Oil, watercolor, pastel, acrylic, charcoal and colored pencils are just a few of the mediums that the FCPAP artists will demonstrate as they capture the Arboretum’s lakes, trails, trees and flowers, each in their unique style.“

Earth Works is honored to host plant sales at the Jacksonville Arboretum & Botanical Gardens entrance during numerous JAG events and works days and encourages your support for this rich environmental resource in Jacksonville. Stop by and purchase one of our Butterfly Pics to support the Jacksonville Arboretum & Botanical Gardens! See you on the trails!

The Jacksonville Arboretum & Botanical Gardens (JAG), established in 2008, is owned by the city and maintained by a non-profit organization that Earth Works supports with donations, event sponsorships, plant sales, and volunteers. The arboretum consists of 126 acres of dog-friendly walking trails and is recognized by News4Jax as Jax Best Local Trail.
Jacksonville Arboretum & Gardens is popular with visitors from near and far looking to enjoy nature, for outdoor exercise opportunities, and as a dog-friendly walk with picnic tables, an event lawn, lakeside pavilion, and restrooms.
The Lake Loop around Lake Ray is the centerpiece of social activity close to the parking area. Hundreds of native plant species are identified with signs to educate the public about Northeast Florida’s biodiversity. Over the years, trails have been added, including Jones Creek Trail, Upper & Lower Ravine Trail, Live Oak Trail, Sand Ridge Trail & Aralia trail. Jacksonville Arboretum & Gardens is open to you 365 days per year from 8 am till 5 pm.

For comprehensive solutions to your specific lawn, garden, and landscaping needs, contact Earth Works of Jacksonville online or at 904-996-0712. Earth Works operates a retail Garden Center/Plant Nursery in Jacksonville and provides landscaping, hardscaping, water features, lawn care service, lawn spraying, and drainage solutions. Contact us with your questions and to book design consultations.
We proudly serve clients in Northeast Florida, including Jacksonville, Ponte Vedra Beach, Atlantic Beach, Neptune Beach, Jacksonville Beach, Nocatee, St. Johns, Fleming Island, Orange Park, Middleburg, Green Cove Springs, Amelia Island, Fernandina, and St. Augustine.

Jacksonville Pond Tour 2022

The 2022 Jacksonville Pond Tour is our annual opportunity for water gardening fans to visit many of the area’s finest water gardens and koi ponds built by Earth Works. This year’s pond tour date and times are Saturday, June 11 from 10 am- 4 pm. This is an opportunity to not only view them in person but speak with and ask questions of homeowners about their water gardens. Join us on the bus to see some of Jacksonville’s most beautiful ponds and water features.

Earth Works’ pond specialists will give details at each stop and answer any questions you may have. Lunch and cocktails are provided. This tour will also include a free self-guided option. A self-guided map will be provided on our website and in-store the week of the tour.

$75 per person provides bus tour of the ponds, with lunch, beer, and wine provided. (If participating in the bus tour please meet at the garden center at 9 am, will arrive back from the tour between 5 pm & 6 pm). BUS TOUR SIGN UP LINK.

LOOKING BACK ON 2021 JACKSONVILLE POND TOUR

THANK YOU to all our 2021 Jacksonville Pond Tour hosts including Coggins-Robins, Jungs, Delands, Beckenbachs, McGregors, Duffneys, Sellers, Leens, DeLoachs, Wards, and Payne families. If you were kept away due to the cold, wet, and windy day or something else enjoy some of our photos and videos here of ponds on the tour.

The 2021 Jacksonville Pond Tour was a self-guided event held on Saturday, November 6, from 10 am to 4 pm. The first stop on the tour was the Garden Center which has displays of:

-Ponds in Four Sizes and Pondless Water Feature options to view and schedule construction for at your home or business.

Before the 2021 tour, during a visit by Greg Wittstock, founder of Aquascape, one of the 2021 tour participants, Denise Sellers, shared a testimonial about their water garden. View her testimonial video here.

We consider our clients part of the Earth Works family and that certainly goes for the Leen’s who we’ve done numerous projects and photo/video specialty shoots with promoting aspects of the Aquascape Lifestyle. The Leen’s were #9 on the 2021 Jacksonville Pond Tour route. The construction challenges of building a pond around the pool equipment are a faint memory after seeing the final product at the Leen’s residents. The beautiful Missouri limestone gives this waterfall and 11’x 16’ pond its unique style.

The Wards were one of our first filmed pond construction videos. They are a friendly couple that we are grateful for access for a second time on the pond tour as #11on the list of stops for 2021! This 12’ x 12’ pond is tucked in nicely next to the pool creating the effect of being one beautiful body of water. The surrounding gardens and outdoor kitchen finish off the space beautifully.

The DeLand residence was #4 on the pond tour. Completed only weeks before the tour it has multiple entertainment areas. This backyard has it all, starting with a pondless 2.5’ waterfall cascading into a 25’ stream you cross over to relax in a hot tub or hammock. The enclosed space also has a summer kitchen and comfy sitting area.

At the DeLoach residence #10 on the pond tour, we removed every bit of grass in the backyard and filled it with lush plantings and activity areas for this growing family. The centerpiece is a 16’ x 25’ swim pond with a sunbathing area, custom stone staircase, and a 25’ stream running throughout the space. There are so many special features to this landscape design to explore and enjoy.

The Beckenbach residence in Atlantic Beach was #5 on the pond tour. The size and number of perfectly placed boulders create an incredibly natural effect on this pond. The addition of 2 stacked slate urns gives it an extra splash! A beautiful tree-covered deck and surrounding garden finish this great place to enjoy nature out of the hot Florida sun.

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For comprehensive solutions to your specific lawn, garden, and landscaping needs, contact us at 904-996-0712. Earth Works operates a retail Garden Center/Plant Nursery in Jacksonville and provides landscaping, hardscaping, water features, lawn care service, lawn spraying, and drainage solutions.
We proudly serve clients in Northeast Florida, including Jacksonville, Ponte Vedra Beach, Atlantic Beach, Neptune Beach, Jacksonville Beach, Nocatee, St. Johns, Fleming Island, Orange Park, Middleburg, Green Cove Springs, Amelia Island, Fernandina, and St. Augustine.

Oak Gall Wasps or Alien Pods?

As the oak leaves fall in Northeast Florida, some small round balls on leaf surfaces appear due to oak gall wasps laying eggs and releasing enzymes in the leaf tissue. “Alien pods,” proclaimed Jim Messerfish jokingly as to what they were on an Earth Works Facebook post. “Do not swallow them unless you want a chest-burster. “ In fact, they are relatively harmless with over 1400 species of gall wasps that have been identified as targeting oak, hickory, beech, chestnut, maple, elm, citrus, and ornamental trees. There is no universally effective way to get rid of all species of gall wasps while preserving the plant.

“Most cynipids (gall wasps) are not considered economic pests,” according to UF/IFAS. “A notable exception is Dryocosmus kuriphilus Yasumatsu, also called the Asian chestnut gall wasp, which induces galls mostly on leaves and buds of all chestnut species.“ Lack of fire in crowded and stressed native forest stands is believed to contribute to increased seasonal infestation rates. Inspecting plants and burning (where appropriate) or removing affected plant material is a standard best management practice for gall wasps.

“There are hundreds of different gall wasp species within the Cynipidae family that infect one or all oak tree species,” according to Nature & Garden. “Not all galls result from gall wasp.” Aphids, mites, midges, psyllids, gall flies, fungus, and bacteria can result in galls appearing on leaves, flowers, stems, trunks, and roots.

“In most situations, no controls have been shown to be effective,” according to the University of California. “Certain leaf-galling species may be reduced by insecticides with systemic or translaminar (leaf-penetrating) activity applied in late winter to spring, or by a broad-spectrum, residual insecticide foliar spray timed to coincide with leaf bud break or the early expansion of new leaves. However, gall wasps are unlikely to be well controlled by any single treatment; sometimes insecticide provides no control at all.”

“You might have luck with an imidacloprid application, but otherwise, pull out the dinotefuran (and your wallet),” said Commercial Applicator Joshua Watts on our Facebook post about gall wasps. Earth Works recommends Fertilome Tree and Shrub Drench with Imidacloprid for oak gall wasps. And remember that good soil conditions, proper planting distance from other plants, and fertilization reduce plant stress and susceptibility to pests and diseases.

Earth Works encourages you to contact us with your lawn and garden questions in Northeast Florida. For comprehensive solutions to your specific lawn, garden, and landscaping needs, contact Earth Works of Jacksonville online or at 904-996-0712. Earth Works operates a retail Garden Center/Plant Nursery in Jacksonville and provides landscaping, hardscaping, water features, lawn care service, lawn spraying, and drainage solutions.
We proudly serve clients in Northeast Florida, including Jacksonville, Ponte Vedra Beach, Atlantic Beach, Neptune Beach, Jacksonville Beach, Nocatee, St. Johns, Fleming Island, Orange Park, Middleburg, Green Cove Springs, Amelia Island, Fernandina, and St. Augustine.

October Lawn and Garden Tips 2021

OCTOBER lawn and garden tips start with the recognition that atmospherically, this month equates to shorter, cooler, drier, and windier days. That extra wind dries up available water faster. Three days without water creates drought stress conditions in Northeast Florida lawns, inviting weeds, pests, and diseases. And with cooler nights, fungus will be of increasing threat to your turf. Take advantage of two-day per week watering until November 7, the end of Daylight Savings Time, when Jacksonville water restrictions return to one day per week. Note that there are no restrictions for hand watering.

Quick Facts: “In Jacksonville, the average sunshine in October is 6.9 hours,” according to the Weather Atlas. “October, the same as September, is another warm autumn month in Jacksonville, Florida, with temperature in the range of an average low of 65.8°F (18.8°C) and an average high of 80.8°F (27.1°C).”
-Longest day Summer Solstice June 20: 14:09:01
–October 1st is 11:53:55 hours long, whereas Oct 31st is 11:01:49 a loss of 53 minutes of daylight.
-Shortest day Winter Solstice December 21st 10:13:57
-Daylight starts to increase again on December 22nd.
-New York by comparison has just 9:18:24 of daylight on the Winter Solstice a full 55 minutes less sunlight than Jacksonville.

What Can I grow In the Garden Now?

October is a good time to begin preparing your garden beds for the Fall and Winter growing season. If your garden beds are laying dormant consider cleaning them up and fortifying them with soil amendments and organic matter including Bio-tone, compost, and manures. A few of our in-stock recommended vegetables ready to plant as seedlings or seeds include broccoli, cauliflower, cucumbers, green beans, kale, lettuce, spinach, Swiss chard, and Zucchini. Garden Center Matthew Barlow discusses these plants and their growing requirements for optimum success in the video below.

Schedule Your Annual Pond Cleanout Service Now

We urge our clients with ponds we’ve built to schedule their annual Winter Pond Cleanout now for your best choice for service dates. As an incentive, Earth Works provides discounts on pond cleanouts scheduled during the cooler months for the health of your pond ecosystem and to accommodate your year-long enjoyment. Jason Duffney explains the importance of regular pond cleanouts in the video below.

We hope you find our October lawn and garden tips useful and encourage you to contact us with your questions. For comprehensive solutions to your specific lawn, garden, and landscaping needs, contact Earth Works of Jacksonville online or at 904-996-0712.

Earth Works operates a retail Garden Center/Plant Nursery in Jacksonville and provides landscaping, hardscaping, water features, lawn care service, lawn spraying, and drainage solutions. Contact us with your questions and to book design consultations.
We proudly serve clients in Northeast Florida, including Jacksonville, Ponte Vedra Beach, Atlantic Beach, Neptune Beach, Jacksonville Beach, Nocatee, St. Johns, Fleming Island, Orange Park, Middleburg, Green Cove Springs, Amelia Island, Fernandina, and St. Augustine.

Fall Planter Arrangements for Northeast Florida

Using a mix of Florida landscape plants, create Fall planter arrangements that hold up to our cool season temperatures while providing seasonal color. Cypress, Maple, and sweetgum are a few of the trees that provide us seasonal color later in the season. As Florida’s forests say “not yet” to the September 22 start of Fall, we can speed up the process in beautiful pottery placed in entranceways, on patios, and around pools.
Start by planning your Fall planter arrangements to include seasonal colors such as orange, red, purple, and yellow. Terri and Kevanie created these examples of Fall planter arrangements from a mix of plants that provide color and hold up to our cool season climate.

The TALL container contains Coleus, Alternanthera, Red Fountain Grass, Sloppy Painter Croton, and Sweet Potato Vine. The MEDIUM container contains Coleus (2 varieties) and Bulbine. The SHORT container contains Coleus (3 varieties), Mammy Croton, and Foxtail Fern.

1. Combinations of foundational plants such as Blue Point Juniper makes a stately impression at entrances and as a focal point. makes a stately impression at entrances and as a focal point. 2. Around the base of the juniper consider adding cool-season Flowering Cabbage for an instant pop of color. adds an instant pop of color to the Fall/Winter container garden. 3. Alternate placement of Dusty Miller with its silver foliage for contrast to this now colorful arrangement.

1. Platinum Dynasty Cabbage is an early main-season cabbage that can be rotated from the garden into your planter arrangements. 2. Ornamental Cabbage with its purple rosette center and wavy greenish-purple outer leaves is an attractive relative of garden cabbage best suited for planter arrangements and as landscape decor. 3. Licorice plant has the fragrance of licorice without the taste and is best used as a velvety planter spiller that puts on a show with its cascading foliage.

1. Poinsettias are recognizable as a holiday plant with brilliant red leaves in winter that serves as a thriller in any arrangement. 2. Dwarf White Pentas have a mounding habit and vibrant white star-shaped blooms. 3. Ornamental Cabbage is a go to cool-season choice setting the tone for seasonal arrangements. 4. Aztec Grass is a cold hardy clumping plant that spills beautifully its variegated silver and green.

1. Creeping Jenny is a light green perennial favorite with its trailing habit. 2. This variety of Ornamental Cabbage has a creamy white center and rich green outer leaves. 3. Dreams Red Picot Petunias have a mounding habit with blooms with wide white edges and red centers.

Plant your choice of seasonal color or strictly place the plant’s pots and all in your Fall plant arrangement. Monitor your containers to keep up with their watering requirements or consider a drip irrigation system on a timer for periodic watering. As the plants grow, they can be given a haircut trimming or switched out with other plants.

If you’d prefer to have Earth Works maintain your planter arrangements contact Matthew Barlow who provides this service for Earth Works clients. And remember for comprehensive solutions to your specific lawn, garden, and landscaping needs, contact Earth Works of Jacksonville online or at 904-996-0712.

Earth Works operates a retail Garden Center/Plant Nursery in Jacksonville and provides landscaping, hardscaping, water features, lawn care service, lawn spraying, and drainage solutions. Contact us with your questions and to book design consultations.
We proudly serve clients in Northeast Florida, including Jacksonville, Ponte Vedra Beach, Atlantic Beach, Neptune Beach, Jacksonville Beach, Nocatee, St. Johns, Fleming Island, Orange Park, Middleburg, Green Cove Springs, Amelia Island, Fernandina, and St. Augustine.

Happy Gardening!

Nitrogen Cycle Basics for Pond Owners

Earth Works builds ecosystem ponds that work with natures’ nitrogen cycle for pond owners wanting to provide a healthy aquatic environment for plants and animals. Organic debris, including fish food, animal, and plant waste, accumulate in ponds and are broken down by nitrifying bacteria making nitrogen available to plants in a process called nitrogen fixation. “Nitrification constitutes a two-step process,” according to the Journal of Microbiology. “In the first step, ammonia is oxidized to nitrite by ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB), followed by the oxidation of nitrite to nitrate by ubiquitous nitrite-oxidizing bacteria.”

High organic nutrient concentrations from runoff pollution are often in the news causing oxygen depleting algal blooms and high levels of harmful bacteria that kill fish and other wildlife. Earth Works offers annual pond cleanouts as part of regular maintenance for the healthy pond ecosystem. We stock both cold and warm water activating beneficial bacteria for dosing your pond filter to fuel the eco-friendly nitrogen cycle for pond owners. While it sounds complicated, the properly constructed and engineered pond with adequate filtration, skimmer, pump turnover rate, and properly stocked fish and plants with annual cleanouts are ecologically balanced and easy to maintain.
“Nitrosomonas bacteria first convert nitrogen gas to nitrite (NO2-) and subsequently Nitrobacter convert nitrite to nitrate (NO3-), a plant nutrient,” according to Lenntech. Nitrates become unhealthy for fish at 120 ppm where plants are insufficient for absorption. While these processes are invisible Earth Works supplies various water test kits and water additives to treat and regulate pond water parameters.

Under dirty conditions, certain bacteria species threaten the health of fish and other pond wildlife populations. “Aeromonas Alley” is described as when water temps are between 42F and 62F when Aeromonas bacterial strains at high concentrations in dirty ponds can result in fish ulcers, hemorrhagic septicemia, brown blood disease (caused by nitrite toxicity), and death. Good and bad bacteria populations are increasing their activities as water temperatures increase, making nitrogen bioavailable over what pond plants can use, which is why we encourage clients to schedule their pond cleanouts in winter heading into spring. Complicating matters, some of these Aeromonas bacteria species convert nitrates back into nitrites in denitrification. Nitrite levels over 0.15 milligrams per liter in fish inhibit their absorption of oxygen. Regular dechlorinated water changes are the best low-tech approach to reducing levels of nitrites and nitrates in the pond.

The nitrogen cycle explains the basics for converting nutrients into plant food. Earth Works and a network of Certified Aquascape Contractors provide information, products, and services to improve biosecurity to beautiful, low-maintenance ecosystem ponds.

For comprehensive solutions to your specific lawn, garden, and landscaping needs, contact us at 904-996-0712. Earth Works operates a retail Garden Center/Plant Nursery in Jacksonville and provides landscaping, hardscaping, water features, lawn care service, lawn spraying, and drainage solutions. Contact us with your questions and to book design consultations.
We proudly serve clients in Northeast Florida, including Jacksonville, Ponte Vedra Beach, Atlantic Beach, Neptune Beach, Jacksonville Beach, Nocatee, St. Johns, Fleming Island, Orange Park, Middleburg, Green Cove Springs, Amelia Island, Fernandina, and St. Augustine.

Curb Appeal Landscaping for Home Buyers & Sellers

Understanding curb appeal landscaping principles benefit you regardless of whether you’re looking to buy, sell, or spruce up a home in Northeast Florida. In the accompanying video, Earth Works Owner Jason Duffney provides examples of curb appeal landscaping principles used in developing a plan for a new homeowner in Jacksonville.

The landscape should fit the architecture. The color, form, texture, and scale of plants compared to the home affect curb appeal, as do their arrangement and maintenance. “So when doing landscapes for homes, the first thing I consider is the windows, columns, and walkways…,” Duffney said. “The windows are the eyes of the home. And whatever you do like in the makeup world, you are going to accent around those eyes.” If you decide to have hedges in front of the home, consider trimming them or utilizing a dwarf variety to avoid obstructing the view. Trees likewise should not obstruct windows unless the intent is for them to provide a privacy block. However, the privacy benefit of blocking the street view can become and pitfall if potential buyers can’t see the home. Duffney demonstrates how the sight of columns blocked by hedges is enhanced by removing those hedges and installing Blue Point Junipers.

“Design principles include unity, balance, transition, focalization, proportion, rhythm, repetition and simplicity,” according to Basic Principles of Landscape Design published by the University of Florida. “Landscaping combines elements of art and science to create a functional, aesthetically pleasing extension of indoor living to the outdoors.” These principles aren’t an exact science but a good guide for improving curb appeal in the eyes of many.

“We always try to focus on having balance in the yard,” Duffney said. “A home like this, you can do things symmetrical. Certain homes you can’t, but you can always create balance.” Both symmetrical and asymmetrical types of balance help a landscape make sense. “Symmetrical balance is used in formal landscapes when one side of the landscape is a mirror image of the opposite side,” according to Principles of landscape published by Michigan State University. “These landscapes often use geometric patterns in the walkways, planting beds, and even how the plants are pruned into shapes. This type of balance appears to be rather stiff in appearance and often is highly maintained. Asymmetrical balance, also known as informal balance, differs from one side to the other and appears to be relaxing and free-flowing.”

As ongoing maintenance and upkeep are essential for curb appeal landscaping, consider replacing annual flower beds with various colored evergreen plants. “A lot of people get fixated on doing lots of flowers,” Duffney said. “For homeowners that don’t mind being in the garden a lot, that’s a great option, but you can actually create with lots of evergreen material a landscape that is very easy to sustain. You can do it with evergreens and not have so much work.” Annual beds and flowers during the off-season can leave an area of the landscape looking bare and unkempt. That’s problematic for home buyers and sellers potentially burdened with untimely upkeep. Duffney likewise demonstrates how to layer plants and use plant material to hide utilities along with a host of other considerations. You can do curb appeal landscaping projects yourself or reach out for assistance to a professional landscape design firm like Earth Works for a design consultation. We are here to help.

For comprehensive solutions to your specific lawn, garden, and landscaping needs, contact us at 904-996-0712. Earth Works operates a retail Garden Center/Plant Nursery in Jacksonville and provides landscaping, hardscaping, water features, lawn care service, lawn spraying, and drainage solutions. Contact us with your questions and to book design consultations.
We proudly serve clients in Northeast Florida, including Jacksonville, Ponte Vedra Beach, Atlantic Beach, Neptune Beach, Jacksonville Beach, Nocatee, St. Johns, Fleming Island, Orange Park, Middleburg, Green Cove Springs, Amelia Island, Fernandina, and St. Augustine.

Plants Toxic to Dogs

Considering there are more dog-friendly plants than those that cause them harm, we’ve cross-referenced the Chewy.com, PetMD.com, and ASPCA lists of plants toxic to dogs and provided below. Grass tends to be the most commonly consumed plant by dogs. The science is not clear as to why dogs eat grass. It could be a primordial deworming process or something they do when sick to induce vomiting. Still, thankfully dogs, typically leave our landscape flowers and plants alone as many cause them to have upset stomachs and have varying degrees of toxicity.

Common Plants Toxic to Dogs:

• Aloe
• Alocasia
• Amaryllis
• American Mistletoe
• Ambrosia Mexicana
• American Mandrake
• American Yew
• Angel Trumpet
• Apple tree plant parts contain cyanide.
• Apricot (stems, leaves, and pit contain cyanide)
• Arrow-Head Vine
• Arum
• Australia Nut
• Autumn Crocus
• Asparagus Fern
• Azalea
• Baby’s Breath
• Barbados Pride
• Bay Laurel
• Begonia
• Bergamot Orange
• Bird of Paradise Flower
• Bishop’s Weed
• Bitter Root
• Bittersweet
• Black Calla
• Black Cherry
• Black Laurel
• Black Nightshade
• Black Walnut
• Bleeding Heart
• Bog Laurel
• Borage
• Boxwood
• Brunfelsia
• Buckeye
• Buckwheat
• Burning Bush
• Buttercup
• Butterfly Iris
• Caladium
• Calamondin Orange
• Calla Lily
• Cape Jasmine
• Caraway
• Cardboard Palm
• Castor Bean Plant
• Carnation
• Ceriman
• Chamomile
• Chandelier Plant
• Cherry (stem, leaves, and pit)
• Chinaberry Tree
• Chinese Evergreen
• Chinese Jade
• Chives
• Chrysanthemum (also known as Mums)
• Clematis
• Clivia Lily
• Coffee Tree
• Coleus
• Coontie Palm
• Cornstalk Plant
• Cow Parsnip
• Cowbane
• Cycads
• Cyclamen
• Daffodil (especially the bulbs)
• Dahlia
• Daisy
• Desert Rose
• Deadly Nightshade
• Dieffenbachia
• Dog Daisy
• Eastern Star
• Elephant Ears
• Elephant-Ear Begonia
• English Ivy
• Epazote
• Eucalyptus
• Fetterbush
• Fiddle-Leaf Fig
• Fig
• Fleabane
• Foxglove
• Garlic
• Gardenia
• Geranium
• Giant Dracaena
• Gladiola
• Gloriosa Lily
• Gold Dust Dracaena
• Grapefruit (skin and plant parts; fruit isn’t toxic)
• Hawaiian TI Plant
• Heavenly Bamboo
• Hellebore
• Holly
• Hops
• Horse Chestnut
• Hosta
• Hyacinth
• Hydrangea
• Indian Rubber Plant
• Iris
• Iron Cross Begonia
• Jack-in-the-Pulpit
• Jade Plant
• Japanese Yew
• Jerusalem Cherry
• Jonquil
• Kaffir Lily
• Kalanchoe
• Laburnum
• Lambkill
• Lantana
• Larkspur
• Laurel
• Lavender
• Leek
• Lemon (skin and plant parts; fruit is non-toxic)
• Lemon Grass
• Lemon Verbena
• Lily of the Valley
• Lime (skin and plant parts; fruit is edible)
• Lobelia
• Locust
• Lovage
• Macademia Nut
• Madagascar Dragon Tree
• Maleberry
• Mapleleaf Begonia
• Marijuana
• Marjoram
• Mayapple
• Mayweed
• Metallic Leaf Begonia
• Milkweed
• Mint
• Mistletoe
• Mole Bean Plant
• Morning Glory
• Narcissus
• Nightshade
• Oleander
• Onions
• Orange (skin and plant parts; fruit isn’t toxic)
• Oregano
• Ornamental Pepper
• Painter’s Pallet
• Parsley
• Peace Begonia
• Peach (stem, leaves and pit)
• Peace Lily
• Pencil Cactus
• Peony
• Perennial Pea
• Periwinkle
• Philodendron
• Plum (stem, leaves and pit)
• Poinciana
• Poinsettia
• Poison Hemlock
• Portulaca
• Pothos
• Prayer Bean
• Prickly Ash
• Primrose
• Privet
• Purslane
• Ragwort
• Ranger’s Button
• Red-Marginated Dracaena
• Red Sage
• Rex Begonia
• Rhododendron
• Rhubarb
• Sago palm
• Shamrock Plant
• Schefflera
• Skunk Weed
• Sorrel
• Snake Plant
• Split Leaf Philodendron
• Spring Parsley
• St. John’s Wort
• Stinging Nettles
• Striped Dracaena
• Sweet Pea
• Sweet William
• Tahitian Bridal Veil
• Tarragon
• Thorn Apple
• Tobacco
• Tomato Plant
• Tulips
• Vinca
  -Virginia Creeper
• Wahoo
• Wandering Jew
• Watercress
• Winter Cherry
• Winterberry
• Wisteria
• Yarrow
• Yucca

We hope this information about plants toxic to dogs is useful to you. For comprehensive solutions to your specific lawn, garden and landscaping need, contact Earth Works of Jacksonville online and at 904-996-0712. Earth Works operates a retail Garden Center/Plant Nursery in Jacksonville and provides landscaping, hardscaping, water features, lawn care service, lawn spraying, and drainage solutions. Contact us with your questions and to book design consultations.
We proudly serve clients in Northeast Florida, including Jacksonville, Ponte Vedra Beach, Atlantic Beach, Neptune Beach, Jacksonville Beach, Nocatee, St. Johns, Fleming Island, Orange Park, Middleburg, Green Cove Springs, Amelia Island, Fernandina, and St. Augustine.