Monthly Archives: February 2022

Do It Yourself Pond Filter Clean Out

Follow these steps for Do It Yourself pond filter clean out for better start-up success regardless of your equipment configuration. Do It Yourselfers often build and clean out their water gardens constructed with professional-grade equipment such as Aquascape Biofall filters installed by pond building contractors. The time a filter can go before needing a cleanout varies depending on various factors related to the pond size, type of equipment installed, fish and plant load.
Although Earth Works builds pond systems with skimmers, including submersible pumps and biofall filters we understand that your DIY pond might be put together differently, you can still benefit from knowing how best to complete your pond filter clean out ahead of Spring.
-When designing a pond, you should consider:
-A pond layout that prevents debris buildup.
-Use a pump with a proper flow and turnover rate for the size and fish load.
-Piping from the pump to biofall should be adequate diameter, length, and height considering effects of friction loss and head pressure.

Do It Yourself pond builders can have all sorts of pond configurations along with mix and match pond equipment. So let’s set aside the platitudes of the ‘perfect pond design and configuration’ and consider getting the best performance out of the system you’ve got.
Cleaning the debris from your filter heading into Spring is an essential general rule. As water temperatures increase, so do the bacteria and algae populations. Built-up debris serves as a petri dish to grow harmful strains of bacteria that cause bacterial infections and algae blooms that can result in fish kills.

DIY pond with Aquascape Biofall 6000 installed

Using the example of a DIY pond build that includes an Aquascape Biofall 6000 follow these steps to clean out yours. The Aquascape Biofall 2500 & 1000 could be cleaned following the same procedures. This pond example is a koi pond that consists of an external pump that draws from the pond bottom drain and pumps water through a 2″ line to one of the bulkhead connections on the bottom of the biofall.
-If you do regular water changes, make this part of one of those regularly scheduled events.
-Turn off your pump and draw down the water level in the pond to the bottom of the biofall. Likewise, empty the biofall reservoir.

Biofall reservoir being drained by using a sump pump.

-There are a variety of sump pumps available for quickly drawing down pond water levels. These same pumps can be used for removing the water and sludge buildup from the bottom of the biofall reservoir. While the filter sludge can be scooped out with a bucket or shop vacuum, there are specialty pumps like the Oase Pondovac that contractors use for their clean-out services. “I can’t imagine doing this work without one,” says Josiah Crousore Specialty Water Gardens & Landscapes, Columbia, MO. “It comes in especially handy for just your situation, cleaning out pump vaults, skimmers, biofall boxes, etc. No more hand scooping muck and dead frogs for me. We use it throughout the year for all kinds of tasks related to maintenance or transferring water. It’s not 100% perfect at everything but nothing is. They ain’t cheap but I promise you wouldn’t regret getting one. The Oase vacuums are built pretty tough, especially the pump and vacuum motors.”
-When draining water from your pond, utilize this nutrient-rich water within your landscape to fertilize the plants.
-Remove the rock tray, fine and coarse filter material, and bioballs. It’s good to have a dedicated area to clean pond material that is out of the way, and that doesn’t flood your yard or your neighbors.

DIYer’s dedicated area for cleaning equipment that won’t flood neighbors.

-Spray off all the sludge and debris from the filter material. Thoroughly clean both sides of filter mats and bagged bioballs until the cleaning water clears. Cleaning the filter media removes all the good bacteria that you can replenish with Beneficial Bacteria by Aquascape, and Maintain that includes beneficial bacteria, along with a flocculant, and phosphate binder. There are time-release formulas that can be used with our Aquascape Automatic Dosing Systems as well.

Proper cleaning of filter media requires water pressure and patience.

-Return your filter media to the biofall filter. Although simply designed the Aquascape biofall components must be installed properly with the large coarse filter material placed at the bottom and bags of bioballs placed on top. For extra filtering of suspended fine particles include fine filter material in the path of the flowing water over the filter spillway.

-Refill pond water (treated with detox or Maintain), and restart your filter. The biofilm and beneficial bacteria colonization will begin thereafter, but depending on temperature and pond configuration there can be water clouding and increased algae growth prior to optimum filter performance.

Supercharge your water changes with MAINTAIN

-After successfully completing your pond filter clean out bathe and sanitize yourself as the bacteria splattered on your skin can cause a variety of health problems that we don’t want to discuss.

Earth Works is a Certified Aquascape Contractor designing ponds and serving as a retail supplier of the full line of high-quality Aquascape pond equipment and supplies in Northeast Florida. If your pond performance is inadequate for your needs contact Earth Works or another Certified Aquascape Contractor for a design consultation.

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 Spring Lawn and Garden Checklist

Get prepared and ready for a successful season ahead using tips from our Spring lawn and garden checklist.

  • Aeration and Top Dressing renews your lawn soil with the required nutrients. Earth Works lawn care division provides this service. Our garden center likewise has many varieties of high quality soils for your gardening needs.
  • If your pond hasn’t had a clean out in a few years consider doing so or schedule with Earth Works prior to the heat of summer and potential adverse affects of bad bacteria buildup in the detritus.
  • Apply pre-emergent herbicide before average temperatures reach 65-70F. Apply Weed & Feed products after March 1st when nitrogen is bioavailable once warm season sod breaks dormancy.
  • Sharpen and sanitize lawn and garden cutting tools. Dull blades damage plants, including grass and foliage plants inviting pests and pathogens.
  • Check lawn tools to ensure they’re operational. Note: if your lawnmower, edger, and weed eater are gasoline-powered, the fuel should be used up or emptied as it separates and can clog hoses and carburetors, resulting in hard-start issues and equipment failure. Be sure there are no leaks that damage your plants and harm the environment.
  • Prune back Ornamental Grasses like Muhly and Fountain grasses that may have a lot of last year’s brown.
  • Prepare for spring herbs and veggies like cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant.       
  • Run through the irrigation system, testing it to ensure its working condition and that it’s covering the lawn and beds adequately. Sprinkler heads could be broken, damaged, or covered with soil preventing them from proper operation. Lines can be broken underground. The Duval County watering restriction allowance increases from once per week to twice starting on the second Sunday in March, according to Chapter 366 of the City of Jacksonville Ordinance Code. If under drought conditions with less than two rain events per week, hand-watering isn’t restricted. Daily new landscape watering is also an allowed exception to the local ordinance.
  • Clean up flower beds that may have a build-up of oak and other leaves that served as Winter mulch that can now be moved to compost piles, trash cans and bags for removal.
  • Divide perennials (Like African Iris, Agapanthus, or Amaryllis). Provide your collection room for growth and share the access with friends.
  • Perform essential maintenance of hardscaping (Pressure wash, stain wood structures, inspect outdoor lighting, etc.).
  • Prune Trees & Shrubs as the threat of Winter frost and freezes subside. 
  • Prepare New Beds (Refresh with Biotone and compost)
  • Plant Container-Grown Plants typically in March past the final threat of frost and freezing temperatures. Plenty of pottery choices are available at Earth Works garden center.
  • Fertilize lawn and gardening beginning in March with slow release and/or liquid fertilizers available at the garden center.
  • If you’ve had tree or shrub wood boring beetles issues consider treating with Fertilome Tree & Shrub Drench, which provides 12 months of protection.
  • Start a Compost Pile (Anytime).
  • Clean Bird Feeders and Baths, along with raking up seed hulls that have accumulated on the ground.
  • When in Doubt, Mulch (Pine Bark is best!).

Stop by the Earth Works garden center if you need more information or assistance implementing any part of our Northeast Florida Spring Lawn and Garden checklist. Get a free quote for lawn service and fertilization and book a landscape design consultation today!

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.

Praying Mantis: Beneficial or Not?

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.”

credit CropWalk

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 Container Gardening Recipe 2022

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 Geraniums make 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 Chablis gives 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.

Northeast Florida Fancy Palm Provider

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.

Palm Chlorosis credit Florida Today

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.

Palm Necrosis credit UF IFAS

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.

Pseudobark credit UF IFAS

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.

Vertical Fissures credit palmtalk.org

The Palm Grading Form: from FDACS

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 for Northeast Florida

Good gardening soil is universally recognized as 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.”

credit Medium.com

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 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.

Proper Palm Pruning

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.

https://youtu.be/v4e6ypVQ3nY

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.

 

Houseplant Lover Photo Contest 2022

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 mentions to Jess Dickie and Sofia Mafrouz Perez for their submissions. 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!

Debbie Akins

credit Debbie Akins
credit Debbie Akins
credit Debbie Akins
credit Debbie Akins
credit Debbie Akins
credit Debbie Akins
credit Debbie Akins
credit Debbie Akins
credit Debbie Akins
credit Debbie Akins

Gracie Allen

credit Gracie Allen

Dallas L. Alvarez

credit Dallas L. Alvarez

Joyce Amonette

Credit Joyce Amonette

Lynn Angulo

credit Lynn Angulo
credit Lynn Angulo

Ginger Ayer

Credit Ginger Ayer

Jaye Carter

credit Jaye Carter
credit Jaye Carter

Sammy T Ch

credit Sammy T Ch
credit Sammy T Ch
credit Sammy T Ch

Kimberly Chalk

credit Kimberly Chalk

Lisa Chernyshev

credit Lisa Chernyshev

Sierra Cheyenne

credit Sierra Cheyenne

Angie Christmas

credit Angie Christmas

Sarah Constande

credit Sarah Constande

Jess Dickie

credit Jess Dickie
credit Jess Dickie
credit Jess Dickie
credit Jess Dickie
credit Jess Dickie
credit Jess Dickie

Stephanie Hover-Dirscherl

Credit Stephanie Hover-Dirscherl
Credit Stephanie Hover-Dirscherl
Credit Stephanie Hover-Dirscherl
Credit Stephanie Hover-Dirscherl
Credit Stephanie Hover-Dirscherl

Edith

Credit Edith @alittlebitof_edith

Mira Fajardo

credit Mira Fajardo
credit Mira Fajardo
credit Mira Fajardo
credit Mira Fajardo
credit Mira Fajardo
credit Mira Fajardo
credit Mira Fajardo
credit Mira Fajardo
credit Mira Fajardo
credit Mira Fajardo

Brandy Williams-Onder Gardens

credit Brandy Williams-Onder Gardens

Lynnie Gomez

Credit Lynnie Gomez
Credit Lynnie Gomez

Elaine Curtis Graham

credit Elaine Curtis Graham

Patricia Graham

Credit Patricia Graham
Credit Patricia Graham

Sheri Johnson

Credit Sheri Johnson

Evelyn Bellomonte-Jones

Credit Evelyn Bellomonte-Jones

Bonnie Sexton King

Credit Bonnie Sexton King

Millie Lindner

Credit Millie Lindner

Holly Louise

credit Holly Louise
credit Holly Louise

Michelle Lynn

Credit Michelle Lynn

Martha Bravo Mancheno

Credit Martha Bravo Mancheno

Kathy Mangham

Credit Kathy Mangham

Megan Manor

Credit Megan Manor

Blanche Leavell Melvin

Credit Blanche Leavell Melvin

K Marie Chitty Merritt

Credit K Marie Chitty Merritt

Melissa Nielsen Miller

Credit Melissa Nielsen Miller
Credit Melissa Nielsen Miller

Devany Noblit

Credit Devany Noblit

Amelia Nguyen

Credit Amelia Nguyen

Alejandra Parra

credit Alejandra Parra
credit Alejandra Parra

Cindi Albright Patrick

Credit Cindi Albright Patrick

Sofia Mafrouz Perez

Credit Sofia Mafrouz Perez

Christine Rose

Credit Christine Rose

Mary Spreier

Credit Mary Spreier

Ali Thomas

credit Ali Thomas

Rachel Thompson

credit Rachel Thompson
credit Rachel Thompson

Sue Umstattd

credit Sue Umstattd

Kayla Yarber

credit Kayla Yarber

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.

Koi Handling Tips for Beginners

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.

Skip to content