Hatching praying mantis can be a fun and educational introduction to raising garden insects, but are they beneficial or not?
Fun Facts About Praying Mantis -They see in 3D. -They can turn head side to side & 180 degrees -They commonly camouflage themselves -They are cannibals -2400+ species of praying mantis -Some species grow to 5″ in length
Are Praying Mantis Popular? Praying mantis have long captured people’s interest. Today is no different as more monthly internet searches are for praying mantis (81,700 monthly volume) than butterflies (75,300 monthly volume). Seen as a sort of apex predator of the insect world, praying mantis are popularly raised as pets with fruit fly cultures and cricket hatchlings available for sale as food.
Are Praying Mantis Beneficial Insects? Although the praying mantis is one of the most widely recognized insects that benefit the gardener, they are generalists that will eat other beneficial insects and each other. “Because they are general feeders, they aren’t very effective for pest control, said Don Shor Owner at Redwood Barn Nursery in Davis, California. “They eat everything they can grab, including bees, syrphid flies, and each other. I don’t recommend releasing them, but do feel that their natural presence in your garden is an indication of a healthy ecosystem.”
Commercial plant growers use a wide variety of beneficial insects in their operations. They tend to do so with insect species such as ladybugs, lacewings, and assassin bugs. “I like biologicals as an Integrated Pest Management tool, but I wouldn’t choose mantids first, said Jenny Enchayan, entomologist and owner of Freed Brothers Farms in Loomis, Nebraska. “The nymphs aren’t very reliable eaters or survivors, and only a couple out of the thousands that hatch survive to adulthood. But as an entomologist, it’s important to know which pests you are having issues with and on what crops to give the proper recommendations. Without specifics, ladybeetles, Orius, and lace bugs are good for aphids. There are a few species of mites good for spider mites and thrips.”
What is Integrated Pest Management? The Integrated Pest Management mentioned by Enchavan is a science-based method of controlling plant pests. “IPM is an ecosystem-based strategy that focuses on long-term prevention of pests or their damage through a combination of techniques such as biological control, habitat manipulation, modification of cultural practices, and use of resistant varieties,” according to the University of California. “Biological control is the use of natural enemies—predators, parasites, pathogens, and competitors—to control pests and their damage. Invertebrates, plant pathogens, nematodes, weeds, and vertebrates have many natural enemies.”
Whether praying mantis are beneficial or not can depend on your perspective. The majority of praying mantis available for sale are non-native and they will eat beneficial insects along with pest species and each other. However, we continue to marvel over them.
What do I need to raise my own Praying Mantis? If deciding to raise praying mantis their egg cases (Ootheca) are seasonally available from Arbico Organics. Cricket cages are available in a variety of sizes to hatch and raise hatchlings. The cricket cage cover can be covered with stocking nylon that’s a small enough mesh to retain the mantids and prey. Fruit flies, Drosophila species are available and many pet stores that are a good food source for the mantids can be secured in the nylon-covered cricket cages.
Group of young mantids too young to eat each other pictured above taken at the Earth Works Garden Center. Wrapped around each other and in squatting positions some arch their tails like scorpions.
For comprehensive solutions to your specific lawn, garden, and landscaping need, contact Earth Works of Jacksonville online or at 904-996-0712. Earth Works operates a retail Garden Center/Plant Nursery with Florida Fancy palm stock in Jacksonville and provides landscaping, hardscaping, water features, lawn care service, lawn spraying, and drainage solutions.
Earth Works proudly serves 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.
February’s Container Gardening Recipe includes some cool weather full sun favorites and specialty choices. Using shades of pink surrounding a striking white spike of Delphinium makes a pretty-in-pink combo. When temperatures rise, if this combo gets some afternoon shade, it will last further into the season. 1. Pink Geraniumsmake a perfect filler with large bright booms. 2. Supertunia Bubblegum is a prolific bloomer and works as a filler and spiller! 3. Delphinium, with its tall, striking blooms, is a great early spring thriller. 4. Lamium Purple Chablisgives a unique texture with silvery leaves and fluffy lavender blooms that can overflow beautifully.
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.
Earth Works proudly serves 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.
Earth Works is a Northeast Florida provider of Florida Fancy palm trees, the highest grade established by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. When making your palm tree purchases, it’s helpful to know its grade based on an assessment of its health, frond, trunk, root ball structural quality and the likelihood of transplant success. The palm tree grade does not reflect design form or dimensional characteristics.
Why Florida Palm Tree Grades Were Established “Florida’s unique and diverse climate provides environmental conditions favorable for the growth of about 25,000 plant species, according to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS). “This vast number of plants, coupled with the many different sizes and shapes of plants that enter the market, clearly indicates the need for precise communication between buyer and seller. This is further necessitated as buyer and seller specify and negotiate plant quality.”
Florida state government agencies likewise use the palm tree grades in making their purchases. “FDOT installations must use ONLY Florida #1 grade or better quality plants,” according to the Florida Department of Transportation. “Florida Chapter International Society of Arboriculture took the lead to establish a Certified Nursery Tree Grading program that aids implementation of the Florida Grades and Standards for Nursery Trees and Palms.”
Florida palm tree grades are required for the following palms based on health, minimum leaf counts, and the root-to-shoot ratio for transplant success, leaf quality, and root ball measurements in inches based on overall height. All of these can be graded as a Florida Fancy palm. Paurotis palm, Christmas palm, Alexander palm, Piccabeen palm, Dwarf Sugar palm, Bismarck palm, Pindo palm, Mule palm, Carpentaria palm, Clustering Fishtail palm, Cat palm, Bamboo palm, Hardy Bamboo palm, Reed palm, European Fan palm, Red Feather palm, Silver palm, Coconut palm, Caranday palm, Carnauba palm, Princess palm, Cabada palm, Triangle palm, Teddy Bear palm, Areca palm, Sagisi palm, Bottle palm, Spindle palm, Blue Latan palm, Red Latan palm, Key Thatch palm, Australian Fan palm, Chinese Fan palm, Ribbon palm, Carnavon Gorge palm, Taraw palm, Canary Island Date palm, Date palm, Senegal Date palm, Pygmy Date palm, Wild Date palm, Buccaneer palm, Solitaire palm, Macarthur palm, Lady palm, Finger palm, Royal palm, Cabbage palm, Queen palm, Florida Thatch palm, Windmill palm, Montgomery palm, Mexican Fan palm, Mexican Fan palm, and Foxtail palm.
GLOSSARY OF PALM GRADING TERMINOLOGY from FDACS The following terms are presented for use in the grading process.
Abrupt tapering: A taper greater than 10% within the top foot of the woody trunk, reducing the trunk diameter, indicating a stressed condition.
Chlorosis: The loss of chlorophyll from leaves resulting in light green, yellow, orange, or white tissue. The presence of chlorosis denotes a nutrient deficiency, a physiological problem or the presence of a disease. Clustering palms: Palms that naturally have more than one trunk.
Container Grown Palm: Palms grown in container allowing transplanting without cutting roots. The roots must be completely contained within the container.
Depression: Mechanically produced indentation into the pseudobark that can indicate damage to underlying vascular tissue.
Excellent leaf: A fully emerged leaf (all leaflets are fully expanded) with a strong petiole with less than 1% of the area showing chlorosis, necrosis, nutrient deficiencies, leaf spots, pests or insect damage, or physical damage.
Extreme succulence: Soft, tender, elongated, weak petioles caused by over-fertilization, over-irrigation or over-crowding in the nursery. The palm may not survive when transplanted. Typically identified by weak elongated petioles.
Field Grown Palm: Palms grown and harvested from the ground by cutting the roots.
Good leaf: A fully emerged leaf (all leaflets are fully expanded) with a strong petiole with 1% to 10% of the area showing chlorosis, necrosis, nutrient deficiencies, leaf spots, pests or insect damage, or physical damage.
Grade: A designation of palm health assigned at the time of delivery using this document to evaluate the palm. One of three grades is possible: Florida Fancy, Florida No. 1 or Florida No. 2.
Leaf count: The number of fully emerged (all leaflets are fully expanded) good or excellent leaves counted during the grading process.
Necrosis: Desiccated plant tissue typically but not necessarily brown, tan or gray in color.
Primary Trunk: Trunks ¾ or greater the height of the tallest clear trunk in clustering palms and single trunk palms intentionally grown with more than one trunk.
Pseudobark: Outer non-vascular portion of the trunk. Pseudobark damage can be unsightly but can also indicate damage to underlying vascular tissue.
Pup scars: Scars near the base of the trunk in clonally produced palms (palms propagated by division or propagated from offshoot removal; e.g., Phoenix dactylifera) that are the result of offshoot or pup removal. These scars present no health risk to the palm.
Re-grade: An official re-grade is conducted by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Division of Plant Industry. The request must be submitted to the Chief Plant Inspector, Division of Plant Industry within 30 days following delivery.
Root ball measurement: Measurement from the lowest part of the trunk exclusive of exposed roots or persistent leaf bases perpendicular out to the edge of the root ball for field grown palms. Gradable palms in containers are not subject to root ball measurements.
Tipped Leaf: A specified procedure of shortening the leaves by cutting the leaf tips. Tipped leaves are not gradable therefore this must occur after the grading process.
Vascular tissue: Water and carbohydrate conducting plant tissue that is covered by the outer non-vascular pseudobark.
Vertical fissures: Naturally occuring vertical expansion cracks. These present no health risk to the palm when less than one-inch deep.
Step 1. Eliminating factors are severe problems that decrease the palm’s chance for survival in the new site. Any one of these factors eliminates the palm from Grades and Standards consideration. The palm is termed “Not Gradable,” regardless of other attributes.
a) Evidence of palm weevils or symptoms of lethal diseases such as Fusarium Wilt, Ganoderma butt rot, phytoplasma diseases, Thielaviopsis trunk rot, or Phytophthora bud rot. b) Wood boring insect damage. c) Exposure of or damage to vascular tissue.* d) Abrupt tapering within the top foot of the woody trunk reducing the diameter by more than 20%. e) Extreme succulence. f ) Naturally occurring vertical fissures exceeding one-inch in depth.g) Pseudobark damage totaling more than 20 square inches.* h) Failure to meet the minimum requirements for root ball measurement or Florida No. 2 leaf count in Table 1.
Step 3. Downgrading Factors a) Pseudobark damage between 5 and 10 square inches. Enter one ‘YES’ for each occurrence.* b) Pseudobark damage between 10 and 20 square inches. This is in addition to the previous pseudobark damage downgrade.* c) Abrupt tapering within the top foot of woody trunk reducing the diameter by 10% to 15%. d) Abrupt tapering within the top foot of woody trunk reducing the diameter by 16% to 20%. This is in addition to the previous abrupt tapering downgrade.
There is no requirement that sellers provide this information unless you ask. The high standards of the Florida palm tree grading process protect your investment, but only if you know it exists and you ask the grade when making your purchase. Ask your nursery if they are a Florida fancy palm provider prior to your purchase.
For comprehensive solutions to your specific lawn, garden, and landscaping need, contact Earth Works of Jacksonville online or at 904-996-0712. Earth Works operates a retail Garden Center/Plant Nursery with Florida Fancy palm stock in Jacksonville and provides landscaping, hardscaping, water features, lawn care service, lawn spraying, and drainage solutions.
Earth Works proudly serves 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.
Good gardening soil is a loose mix of air, water, minerals, and organic matter including humus, roots, and organisms. Of the 18 essential elements for plant growth and development nine are called macronutrients with the most common being carbon (C), hydrogen (H), and oxygen (O), which are key for the production of carbohydrates, proteins, and nucleic acids. Carbon makes up about 50% of soil by weight. All the organic matter in your garden, including compost, animal manure, and leaf litter, are mostly carbon. Additional macronutrients are nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), and sulphur (S). The nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) constitute the NPK formula associated with fertilizers as they are key to plant growth and development. Lack of macronutrients in soil inhibits proper plant growth and development.
Micronutrients include iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), boron (B), molybdenum (Mo), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), chlorine (Cl), nickel (Ni), cobalt (Co), sodium (S), and silicon (Si). “Deficiencies in any of these nutrients—particularly the macronutrients—can adversely affect plant growth,” according to UC Davis University of California. “Depending on the specific nutrient, a lack can cause stunted growth, slow growth, or chlorosis (yellowing of the leaves). Extreme deficiencies may result in leaves showing signs of cell death.”
Essential factors for good gardening soil include the physical properties, mineral composition, pH, water holding capacity, and the absence of toxins. Healthy soil is filled with nutrients, microbes, and minerals that provide food for plants, help them grow strong roots, and help prevent diseases. Earth Works provides a variety of specially formulated good gardening soil to enhance Northeast Florida gardeners success in containers, raised beds, and directly in the ground.
Good Gardening Soil Available at Earth Works include: Black Gold Natural & Organic Succulent & Cactus Potting Mix Soil is a Sungro Horticulture product recommended in indoor and outdoor containers and with houseplants. Ingredients include Canadian Sphagnum Peat Moss, Bark, Earthworm Castings, Horticultural Grade Perlite, Pumice, or Cinders.
Black Gold Natural & Organic Potting Mix Soil is recommended in raised beds, indoor and outdoor containers, houseplants, hanging baskets, and window boxes. It’s appropriate for growing bedding plants, vegetables, herbs, annuals, and perennials. Ingredients include Canadian Sphagnum Peat Moss, Composted or Aged Bark, Compost, Earthworm Castings, Horticultural Grade Perlite, Pumice, or Cinders, and Organic Grade Fertilizer. Also included is RESiLIENCE, a silicon-enriched additive that may enhance plant growth, flowering and improve resistance to wilting.
Fafard Pro Potting Mix Soil is recommended for indoor and outdoor all-purpose container plantings. Ingredients include Vermiculite, Perlite, Compost, Pine Bark, Canadian Sphagnum Peat Moss, Dolomite Lime, a Wetting Agent, and RESiLIENCE.
Fafard Ultra Container Mix with Extended Feed Soil is recommended in hanging baskets, window boxes, indoor and outdoor containers. It’s appropriate for growing bedding plants, annuals, perennials, houseplants, seeds, cuttings, vegetables and herbs. Ingredients include Canadian Sphagnum Peat Moss, Pine Bark, Compost, RESiLIENCE®, Perlite, Dolomite Lime, Wetting Agent, and Water-Holding Crystals.
FoxFarm Planting Mix Soil is a blend of soil amendments, including aged forest products, sphagnum peat moss, and earthworm castings. This is an all-purpose soil. The aged forest products and peat moss in FoxFarm Original Planting Mix may make it more effective at holding moisture around the roots of plants.
Happy Frog Original Potting Soil is a FoxFarm product designed for container plantings. It includes earthworm castings, bat guano, and aged forest products amended with soil microbes.
Lucky Dog K-9 Kube Growers Blend Soil is a FoxFarm product for rooted cuttings, and young plant starts for use in both indoor and outdoor cultivation and contains earthworm castings, perlite, peat moss, and mycorrhizal fungi.
Ocean Forest Potting Soil is a FoxFarm product designed for container gardeners. Ingredients include a blend of aged forest products, sphagnum peat moss, earthworm castings, bat guano, fish emulsion, and crab meal. The Aged forest products, sandy loam, and sphagnum peat moss give Ocean Forest a light, aerated texture.
ProMix Organic Premium Organic Vegetable and Herb Mix Soil is for us directly in the ground or containers and is great for fruits, herbs, and vegetables. Ingredients include Canadian sphagnum peat moss, Peat humus, Compost, Perlite, Gypsum, Limestone (for pH adjustment), Organic fertilizer, and Mycorrhizae.
Wild Earth Mix Soil bags and bulk are all-purpose soil for container gardens, raised beds, and use directly in the ground. Ingredients include organic compost, aged forest products, kelp, and peat humus.
For comprehensive solutions to your specific lawn, garden, and landscaping need, 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.
Earth Works proudly serves 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.
Proper palm pruning beautifies these stately specimens in the landscape and protects them from stress from poor care and environmental pressure. Benefits of Proper Palm Pruning Include: • Preserving the health of the palm. • Improving their appearance. • Eliminating places for pests to hide. • Reducing wind resistance during bad weather. • Reducing fire hazards from the highly flammable dead fronds. There are self-cleaning palms for people who don’t want to worry about pruning. Self-cleaning palms include King Alexander (Archontophoenix alexandrae), Royal palm (Roystonea regia), Chinese Fan palm (Livistona chinensis), and Christmas palm (Adonidia merrillii).
The first step in proper palm pruning is to inspect and assess the source of any damage to the palms. Trimming your palm tree is no substitute for appropriate fertilization and care. You can’t fix mineral deficiencies and damage from pests, pathogens, and disease by pruning the tree.
What Tools do I Need to Properly Prune Palms? Proper palm pruning tools include: gloves, eye protection, pruning shears, loppers, telescoping pole saw, ladder, rubbing alcohol, bleach, or other comparable disinfectants to clean tools before and after use to avoid spreading pathogens and disease between plants. Tree trimming services should use ladders or a bucket truck rather than climbing with spiked shoes that damage the trunks and invite pests, pathogens, and diseases. Ask others who prune your palm trees to disinfect their tools and don’t allow them to climb them with spiked shoes.
How Often Should I Trim my Palms? Typically once per year in Spring is the best time and frequency to trim palm trees. Avoid removing the healthy green fronds. Instead, focus on eliminating brown and yellowing palm fronds damaged at the end of their life cycle. The fruiting flower stalks, or inflorescence, can be removed at this time to conserve the plants’ energy and reduce hazards from falling fruit and the corresponding mess, odor, and insect attraction.
Proper Palm Pruning Techniques Start pruning below the canopy and work up and around the tree to a horizontal frond position like arms on a clock at 9 and 3. Palms are monocots, plants that emerge from one leaf. Each new leaf emerges from the apical meristem, commonly referred to as the heart of the palm at the very top of the tree. “Death of the apical meristem in a palm results in the death of that stem in clustering species and death of the entire palm in single-stem species,” according to the University of Florida IFAS. “It also means that stem wounds, which would eventually be compartmentalized and grown over in dicot trees, are permanent in palms.” Due to the circumference of the palm trunks continuing to expand trim fronds 1/2-3/4″ back from the tree trunk on smaller palms such as Pygmy date palm (Phoenix roebelinii) and 4-6″ from the trunk on large palm trees. The remaining portion of the frond on the trunk is referred to as the boot, which will die and in most species form a crisscrossing pattern that will eventually fall off or can be carefully removed.
The Sylvester date palm tree (Phoenix sylvestris) is known for its signature diamond-cut trunk. To create the diamond-cut tree farms prune for this look with a reciprocating saw that prevents trunk damage while exposing their orange genetic coloration. Although the color will fade in the months and years ahead it can be restored by pressure washing. Loppers and pole saws are recommended for Sylvester date palm tree annual pruning and a reciprocating saw, NOT a chainsaw when striving to duplicate the diamond cut. The beauty of your tropical landscape will increase along with the health of your palms by using these proper palm pruning techniques.
For comprehensive solutions to your specific lawn, garden, and landscaping need, 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.
Earth Works proudly serves 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.
Here are the photo entries for the houseplant lover photo social media contest that began on February 1 for Facebook and Instagram. Contest requirements were, “Lovers of houseplants upload your best houseplant photos in the comment section for a chance to win $50. Entry deadline Feb. 27 and winner announcement to be made on Feb 28th. .”
Regardless, of whether participants prefer low light houseplants or difficult to grow varieties everyone was welcome to enter. Houseplant identification or specific plant knowledge was not required, but rather a love of houseplants and sharing photos was key. See the original post on Facebook.
After reviewing so many amazing houseplants from our many contributors we offer congratulations to our Houseplant Lover Photo Contest Winner Sammy T Ch for an image of his collection with him included! We’d further extend honorable mention to Jess Dickie for their submission. In so doing Sammy T Ch wins a $50 gift certificate from Earth Works! We have quarterly contests, sometimes more, and encourage your participation in upcoming contests to be announced.
There were so many gorgeous images submitted! Thank you everyone for your love of houseplants and for your willingness to share them with us!
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Whether you are a houseplant lover or not for comprehensive solutions to your specific lawn, garden, and landscaping need, 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.
Earth Works proudly serves 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.
Earth Works offers these koi handling tips for beginners interested in protecting the health of one of the most popular fish available for ponds and water gardens.
Introduction: What is a Koi Fish?
Koi fish are a type of ornamental carp bred primarily for their colors, patterns, size, shape, and, most importantly, their friendly nature. They have been selectively bred over centuries, first in China and then most significantly in Japan. Koi are also known in Japan as Nishikigoi, “living jewels”. Grand Champion koi at the annual All Japan Koi Show are valued at more than a million dollars. Worldwide koi fish are mostly kept for decorative purposes in outdoor ponds or water gardens growing up to four feet long in optimum growing conditions. The oldest known koi, Hanako, was hatched in 1751 and died in 1977, making her a whopping 226 years old! Learn more about Hanako.
Improper koi handling can result in koi stress, injury, or death.
Large Koi Handling Tips Step by Step
If you don’t have specialized equipment such as sock nets to evenly support the weight of large koi, consider these tips to protect your koi from injury.
-Remove all jewelry that might scratch or otherwise injure the fish before attempting to pick up and carry.
-Wash your hands and wet with dechlorinated water or the water the koi are being removed from before touching the koi to protect their slime coat.
-Net fish when possible to reduce thrashing that can cause physical damage and increase fish stress that invites infections. Avoid rapid or erratic movements with the net to keep the koi calm and reduce the chance of jumping.
-When lifting large koi support their underbelly to avoid internal organ damage, especially in the case of large round-bellied females (large males have elongated torpedo-shaped).
-After safely moving the koi, you can supplement aeration to increase oxygen saturation in their holding tank or a new location to assist in calming the fish and reducing stress. There are also products like ‘Stress Coat’ that condition the water helping koi more rapidly replace any lost slime coat and heal wounds.
Visit the Earth Works Garden Center that stocks koi, goldfish, plecostomus, and supplies for all your koi, pond, and water garden needs.
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.
Earth Works proudly serves 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.
Start Draining the Pond – An inexpensive pump or a sump pump is sufficient. Be sure you save some of the pond water to fill a container with for the fish.
Disconnect the Circulation System – This will allow the water in the plumbing to drain out.
Catch the Fish – Drain the pond down to the lowest shelf to catch fish easily and safely.
Remove Debris – Remove the large debris like leaves and twigs once the pond is drained.
Wash the Pond – A 1500 psi pressure washer or a high-pressure nozzle on a garden hose is recommended for pond cleaning.
Rinse the Pond – Rinse the pond from top to bottom with a garden hose without the high-pressure nozzle, as it continues to pump it out.
Clean the Fiters – Spray the filtration media until relatively clean and rinse down the inside of the filter units.
Refill the Pond – Pull the clean-out pump out and refill the pond.
De-Chlorinate the Water – Most city water contains chlorine and chloramine and requires treatment with a de-chlorinator before introducing fish.
Reintroduce the Fish – To properly acclimate your fish, you’ll want to put them in the pond as soon as the water is high enough for them to swim. Then slowly continue to add water to original levels. In extreme cold weather you may want to put fish with old pond water in a container to float in the pond allowing the water temperature to even out slowly.
For your quote to schedule your pond clean-out service and for comprehensive solutions to your specific lawn, garden, and landscaping need, contact us in the Jacksonville area for landscaping, hardscaping, water features, lawn care service, lawn spraying, and drainage solutions.
Earth Works proudly serves 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.
Introducing A New Monthly Feature Container Gardening – a recipe for happiness! Each month be sure to check out our latest recipe.
Our first recipe is a full sun cool weather planter. This recipe follows the basic concept of combining “thrillers, fillers, and spillers.” Thrillers are the dramatic tall plants, fillers the mid-size plants that will grow in nicely, and spillers are blooming or vining plants that will “spill “over the edge of your planter.
1. Angelonia, an upright bloomer, is placed at the back of the pot.
3. Alyssum will continue to bloom and grow, flowing over the edge of the container.
For comprehensive solutions to your specific lawn, garden, and landscaping need, 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.
Earth Works proudly serves 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.
Northeast Florida has a strong tradition of celebrating Florida Arbor Day, which was established in 1886 only one year after Sterling Morton established the first Arbor Day in Nebraska. Florida Arbor Day is fairly easy to remember coming on the third Friday of January since 1886. Arbor Day was famous throughout the country early on. Forty-five states and territories were on board with their own version of Arbor Day by 1920. National Arbor Day was established in 1970 by President Nixon, with the annual event commemorated on the last Friday of April.
Northeast Florida cities and county governments celebrate Arbor Day on dates separate from those established by the state and nation. The City of Jacksonville Arbor Day date is up to the mayor’s discretion each year without one currently set for 2022. The three prior dates were November 13, 2021, March 28, 2020, and April 26, 2019.
Morton loved trees planting many on his property, currently designated as Arbor Lodge State Historical Park in Nebraska. “Each generation takes the earth as trustees, Morton said. “We ought to bequeath to posterity as many forests and orchards as we have exhausted and consumed.” His older son Joy Morton founded the Morton Arboretum in Lisle, Illinois, preserving 735 acres for trees by his passing in 1934. Their legacy of tree protection is continued in your own tree planting and care in celebration of Arbor Day.
“Florida celebrates Arbor Day in January because many trees are dormant (not actively growing) and lose less water through transpiration (evaporation of water from leaves) this time of year, making them easier to transplant without putting them through too much stress,” according to the University of Florida.
Which tree(s) are you thinking of planting? Earth Works of Jacksonville has available for purchasing Live Oaks, Red Maple, Japanese Maple, St Lukes Plum, Eagleston Holly, Schilling Holly, Brodie Juniper, Blue Point Junipers, Sabal Palms, the Florida State tree along with many other palm varieties, and all the required soil and soil amendments to help your Arbor Day tree planting success. Each year Earth Works of Jacksonville provides an Arbor Day tree planting for a local charity with the Sanctuary on 8th Street being our 2021 recipient. Another charity tree planting is planned for the Florida Arbor Day 2022.
The Arbor Day Foundation promotes a wide variety of evergreen shrubs, flowering trees, fruit trees, ornamentals, nut-bearing trees, and shade trees. And there is no one tree recommended for planting on Florida Arbor Day. “The 1953 Florida legislature designated the sabal palm as the state tree, and the 1970 legislature mandated that the sabal palm should replace the cocoa palm on the state seal,” according to MyFlorida.com. “The sabal palm (Sabal palmetto) is the most widely distributed palm in Florida. It grows in almost any soil and has many uses, including food, medicine, and landscaping.”
“Before you plant, know what your tree needs for soil type, space for the canapy and room for the roots,” wrote Ginny Stibolt, of the Florida Native Plant Society. “Plan ahead for its mature size so pruning can be minimized and also plant compatible understory trees and shrubs to form a pleasant grove that may mimic what might have grown there before the invasion of the most invasive species–us.”
Northeast Florida cities, counties, and businesses host a variety of Florida Arbor Day events, including tree giveaways.
Jacksonville: The city of Jacksonville coordinates with Greenscape of Jacksonville who typically schedules a tree giveaway on Jacksonville Arbor Day, a date that’s yet to be determined for 2022. Jacksonville has been a Tree City USA recipient for 24 years. No 2022 Florida Arbor Day events scheduled.
City of Atlantic Beach: “The City of Atlantic Beach welcomes you to celebrate Arbor Day with us on Friday, January 21, according to COAB.com. “Our festivities will begin in front of the police station at 9 a.m. with opening remarks and a flag-raising by the mayor and the Environmental Stewardship Committee members. If you can’t attend in person, you can watch us on Facebook Live. At 9:45 a.m., we’ll meet at Dutton Island for our Heritage Tree dedication, and then we are planting a tree in each Commission district.” Atlantic Beach also announced in December 2021 the availability of funds for an Adopt-a-Tree program for any resident to apply to receive a free tree to plant in their Atlantic Beach front yard. “In the past, Atlantic Beach has been recognized as a Tree City USA in 1992-1995, 2001-2002 and 2015,” according to Jacksonville.com. “The designation is for the Arbor Day Foundation to help cities across the US manage and expand its tree canopy.”
City of Jacksonville Beach:Jacksonville Beach has had a Tree City USA designation for 34 years. No 2022 Florida Arbor Day events scheduled.
City of Neptune Beach: “Neptune Beach has been named a Tree City USA from the Arbor Day Foundation for the 19th year,” according to the City of Neptune Beach. That designation has continued now for twenty years. No 2022 Florida Arbor Day events are scheduled.
City of Fernandina Beach: “The City of Fernandina Beach has received its 19th year (2021) of national recognition as a Tree City USA community by the Arbor Day Foundation,” according to the Fernandina Observer. “This represents the City’s continued commitment honoring community forestry.” Keep Nassau Beautiful for several years now has celebrated Florida Arbor Day by hosting an Adopt-A-Tree program, which due to Covid, was a drive-through event in 2021.
“We will be planting 1 Red Maple, 1 Bald Cyprus, and 1 River Birch at Egan’s Creek Park on Friday (1/21/2022) at 9:30 a.m.” notes David Neville, Urban Forester with City of Fernandina Beach. “These trees will be planted to Honor 3 County Employees for their help in our achievement of the Growth Award (our first time receiving this award). These trees will be planted by Liberty Landscape and are 30-gallon trees. Along with these trees, we will also be planting 4 smaller Bald Cyprus trees from a grant we received through Jim Tootle. This will be at Egan’s Creek Park as well. We will be planting these trees ourselves also around 9:30.”
Clay County: The Garden Club of Green Cove Springs, in Clay County has been planting trees to celebrate Florida Arbor Day. In 2020 they planted trees at the Clay County historical Triangle. In 2019 they planted an Arizona Blue Ice Cypress at the Green Cove Springs Library in memory of Norma Jones. The City of Green Cove Springs will read a proclamation honoring the work of the Garden Club on this year’s Florida Arbor Day.
Town of Orange Park: “You are cordially invited to attend an Arbor Day program and presentation on Friday, January 21, 2022 at 11 A.M. at the Kingsley East River Overlook,” according to the Town of Orange Park. “The 41st annual Tree City USA Flag will be presented to the Town. In addition, the Town of Orange Park will be planting a Sable Palm Tree, in memory of former Mayor Steve Howard, who passed away last year.”
St Johns County: According to the St Johns County Board of County Commissioners, “To celebrate Arbor Day, the St. Johns County UF/IFAS Extension Office Master Gardeners program will be giving away free tree seedlings at 8:30 a.m. on Friday, January 19 at the following locations: •Ponte Vedra Beach Branch Library – 101 Library Blvd., Ponte Vedra Beach •Southeast Branch Library – 6670 US 1 South, St. Augustine •Bartram Trail Branch Library – 60 Davis Pond Blvd., St. Augustine •Hastings Branch Library – 6195 South Main St., Hastings •Publix at Murabella – 84 Tuscan Way, St. Augustine Available tree species include red buckeye, wild black cherry, redbud, beautyberry, southern red cedar, elderberry, arrowwood viburnum, and sycamore. For more information, please call 904.209.0430.”
If you know of additional Florida Arbor Day activities in Northeast Florida that our community should know about send information to [email protected] for inclusion in this article.
Earth Works celebrates the 2022 Florida Arbor Day with Dana Doody, Executive Director of the Jacksonville Arboretum & Botanical Gardens planting a loquat tree to memorialize the 136 years of Florida Arbor Day.
For comprehensive solutions to your specific lawn, garden, and landscaping need, 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.
Earth Works proudly serves 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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