Monthly Archives: February 2023

Flooding Yard Fixes in Northeast Florida

February 20th, 2023 by earthworksjax Uncategorized

Flooding Yard Fixes in Northeast Florida

Flooding, topsoil erosion, uprooted trees, and fungal diseases require flooding yard fixes that Earth Works strives to provide for Northeast Florida homeowners and businesses. While we cannot control the weather, we can consider monthly average rainfall and conclude that our Florida rainy season is July through September. Weather patterns such as La Nina and El Nino provide information on whether we should expect more or less rain during the season.

No matter how challenging your drainage issue may appear we’ve probably seen worse and can provide you with drainage solutions to suit your needs.

 

Drainage Fixes:

Adequately addressing the potential for flood waters and soil erosion on your property requires properly engineered drainage solutions for your impervious surfaces, including roofs, driveways, decks, patios, and water gardens. Fundamentally, drainage is removing water from an area. However, stormwater regulations developed to protect the environment and prevent flooding restrict the percent of your property that can be built upon with impervious structures and the extent of required onsite stormwater storage. Allowable drainage systems include gutters, French drains, channel drains, swales, permeable paving material, and storm drains. Earth Works landscape designers regularly consult with clients to remedy flooding yard problems that meet state and municipal stormwater regulations.

Tree Staking:
Tree staking protects newly planted tall trees from excessive rain that softens their roots grip while preventing wind from blowing them over, resulting in tree and property damage. Six months to one year is the typical time recommended for staking newly planted trees such as palms and other tall, heavy trees. While most plants don’t require staking, even naysayers must admit that tomato plants can benefit from staking. Earth Works Landscaping division stakes large trees for its clients and the garden center stocks staking kits.

Fungus:
Fungal treatments become necessary as fungus is one of the underlying problems that occur from too much water in your garden that can be a result of poor drainage. Fungus thrives in damp environments and can quickly devastate a wide variety of plants. We see powdery & downy mildew, black spot, brown patch, leaf spot, and blight on vegetable plants, fruit trees, shrubs, ornamentals, shade trees, and lawns. Bonide Copper Fungicide and Neem oil are both approved for organic gardening and are available at Earth Works Gardens. Additionally, the Earth Works Lawn Care division can diagnose and treat fungus in your lawn along with providing turf fertilization, disease, weed, and pest control.

Services

  • Landscape Design & Installation
  • Paver Patios, Paver Walkways, Paver Driveways
  • Firepits, Retaining Walls , Seat Walls,
  • Landscape Lighting, Drainage design & Installation,
  • Lawn Care Services, Lawn Maintenance, Lawn Fertilization
  • Lawn Pest Control, Lawn Weed Control
  • Aeration and Top Dressing
  • Water Features, Koi Ponds,
  • Waterfalls, Bubbling Fountains
  • Garden Center & Pond Supply Store

General Services Areas

Jacksonville (Jax), Jacksonville Beach, Neptune Beach, Atlantic Beach, Ponte Vedra Beach, Ponte Vedra, Fernandina Beach, Amelia Island, Orange Park, St. Johns, Nocatee

Earth Works

Location

GARDEN CENTER
12501 Beach Blvd
Jacksonville, FL 32246

LANDSCAPE OPERATIONS
(not open to the public)
St. Johns Bluff
1057 St. Johns Bluff Rd. N.
Jacksonville, FL 32225

Hours

Monday-Saturday 9-5
Sunday 10-5

HOLIDAY CLOSINGS
New Year’s Day • Easter • Memorial Day
July 4th • Labor Day • Thanksgiving Day
Christmas Eve • Christmas Day

Quicklinks

Shop
About us
Careers
Contact Us
Reviews

Drainage Swale Landscape Design

February 19th, 2023 by earthworksjax Uncategorized

Drainage Swale Landscape Design

Earth Works Landscape Designer, discusses the benefits of incorporating a drainage swale in this Atlantic Beach landscape design to provide aesthetic benefits while protecting the environment and other neighbors’ property from stormwater runoff. “The city will make you do that based on your coverage no matter if you are under or over; they want the water to sit on your property and stay on your property,” Cacchione said. “So that is what this swale is designed to do. It’s an eighteen-inch dip in the lawn, in the grade.” Cisterns and submersible sump pumps are alternatives stormwater retention options, although more costly than building a dry drainage swale that’s an integral part of this beautiful landscape design.

Whether making modifications to the landscape yourself or contracting with a landscape company, the same regulations apply. Flooding complaints in Atlantic Beach result in city inspectors arriving to find a solution to those complaints. “If the city has to tell you where that’s got to go (stormwater management system), that’s gonna be on the sides of the house where you have no room,” Cacchione said with some frustration. “It cannot be decoratively, aesthetically pleasing integrated into your landscape like we did here. So really think about the placement of that in your new plan and how it’s gonna work with your footprint.”

Drainage Services

Managing stormwater runoff is considered critical to protecting the environment and the property rights of neighbors who don’t want to be flooded by others’ activities. Historically, drainage quickly removed rainwater, resulting in erosion, sedimentation, freshwater intrusion, algae blooms, and fish kills. Fertilizers, animal waste, petroleum products, pathogens, and other pollutants end up in lakes, estuaries, rivers, and the ocean.

Hardscaping projects must take into consideration all sources of water conveyance to comply with the city code. “The downspouts from the house they are all connected underground and run to the swale,” Cacchione said. “So all of the water from the roof is collected. Nothing is going out into the street.” Make sure your landscaping company understands and readily complies with applicable regulations.

“Studies in Florida have determined that the first one inch of runoff generally carries 90% of the pollution from a storm,” according to the Florida Department of Environmental Regulation. “The 1989 STORMWATER LEGISLATION establishes a statewide watershed management framework that relies upon a cooperative effort between the Department of Environmental Regulation, water management districts and local governments.”

Development pressure at environmentally sensitive beaches results in more significant stormwater restrictions and enforcement typically than inland communities. In 2019, Atlantic Beach enacted ordinance 90-19-238 that restricts maximum lot coverage with impervious materials to 45 percent. “Onsite stormwater storage is required for all development or redevelopment projects and any modification to an existing structure that increases the impervious area by more than 250 square feet” according to the City of Atlantic Beach Fact Sheet. Additionally, the regulation attributes 50 percent impervious status for swimming pool square footage. It can require on-site stormwater retention for driveways and sidewalks if modification or replacement varies from their original footprint.

For more information on your most cost-effective drainage options in your next landscaping and hardscaping project contact Earth Works for a design consultation.

Good drainage is nothing to quack about

Services

  • Landscape Design & Installation
  • Paver Patios, Paver Walkways, Paver Driveways
  • Firepits, Retaining Walls , Seat Walls,
  • Landscape Lighting, Drainage design & Installation,
  • Lawn Care Services, Lawn Maintenance, Lawn Fertilization
  • Lawn Pest Control, Lawn Weed Control
  • Aeration and Top Dressing
  • Water Features, Koi Ponds,
  • Waterfalls, Bubbling Fountains
  • Garden Center & Pond Supply Store

General Services Areas

Jacksonville (Jax), Jacksonville Beach, Neptune Beach, Atlantic Beach, Ponte Vedra Beach, Ponte Vedra, Fernandina Beach, Amelia Island, Orange Park, St. Johns, Nocatee

Earth Works

Location

GARDEN CENTER
12501 Beach Blvd
Jacksonville, FL 32246

LANDSCAPE OPERATIONS
(not open to the public)
St. Johns Bluff
1057 St. Johns Bluff Rd. N.
Jacksonville, FL 32225

Hours

Monday-Saturday 9-5
Sunday 10-5

HOLIDAY CLOSINGS
New Year’s Day • Easter • Memorial Day
July 4th • Labor Day • Thanksgiving Day
Christmas Eve • Christmas Day

Quicklinks

Shop
About us
Careers
Contact Us
Reviews

February Lawn, Garden, and Landscaping Tips 2023

February 10th, 2023 by earthworksjax Uncategorized

February Lawn, Garden, and Landscaping Tips 2023

After hard freezes in December 2022 and numerous frost events during January in Jacksonville, we continue to encourage clients to protect tender plants as we transition into Spring with these February lawn, garden, and landscaping tips.

1) Continue protecting plants from freeze and frost damage. Where you live significantly affects the risk of frost and freezing temperatures. While the threat of frost and freezing temperatures vary on average, the last freeze day in Jacksonville is February 15 and January 23 in coastal Jacksonville Beach. 

Understand that frost can occur at as high as 37F air temperature when the dew point is 32F or below. Dew point is part of the forecasting available at the National Weather Service.

“When the dew point is below 32 degrees Fahrenheit (0 degrees Celsius), it is known as the “frost point,” referencing the fact that frost will form rather than dew because the temperature is so low,” according to All the Science. 

Frost
organic matter

2) Sharpen your mower blades for the new season. Use the mower on its mulch setting, which feeds your soil with organic matter that typically constitutes less than 5% of soil composition and is crucial for biological activity. Feeding the soil with organic matter reduces the need for fertilization by increasing microbial activity and soil structure.
The biological Benefits of Organic Matter in Soil:
– Provides food for the living organisms in the soil.
– Enhances soil microbial biodiversity and activity which can help in the suppression of diseases and pests.
– Enhances pore space through the actions of soil microorganisms. This helps to increase infiltration and reduce runoff.

Top dressing supplementation for the lawn is an excellent approach to increasing organic matter in your soil. Top dressing is available by bag or truckload. And Earth Works Lawn Care offers a combination of aeration and top-dressing services.

3) Keep weeds in your lawn under control by hand pulling or using a pre-emergent herbicide before average temperatures reach 65-70F. As temperatures warm heading into Spring, the threat from the Winter weeds diminishes and is replaced by the emergence of warm-season weeds. In our temperate climate, there is some crossover in the seasonal varieties of lawn weeds.

-Florida perennial weeds include buttonweed, clover, dallisgrass, dandelion, nutsedge, and dollarweed.

-Florida annual weeds include chickweed, crabgrass, beggarweed, pulsey, goosegrass, and spurge.

 

pulling weeds
pre emergent weed control

Weed And Feed products typically include pre-emergents. UF recommends March 1 for the earliest Weed and Feed applications in North Florida. “You will not injure your lawn by waiting to fertilize, but you can certainly injure your lawn by fertilizing too early,” writes Larry Williams, the Residential Horticulture Agent for the UF/IFAS Extension Office in Okaloosa County. Difficulties in avoiding too late applications of pre-emergent herbicides and too early fertilization give some credence to using herbicides and fertilizers separately. 

Earth Works Lawn Care division eliminates these concerns for clients with weed spraying and fertilization services.

4) Remember to water your lawn throughout February when receiving less than two weekly rain events. We are under once-per-week irrigation restrictions in Duval County until the second Sunday in March, according to Chapter 366 of the City’s Ordinance Code. However, there are exceptions for new landscaping and no restrictions on hand watering. 

The three-year trend of drier-than-normal weather associated with La Nina is forecast to end this year. The latest weather forecast for the ENSO cycle predicts a shift to El Nino, bringing increased rain and flooding in SE USA and a weaker average hurricane season. Address any drainage issues on your property ahead of time.

lawn watering
annuals

5) Throughout the Winter months, including February, we continue to encourage the planting of cold-hardy annuals such as alyssum, delphinium, dusty millers, ornamental kale, and cabbage, along with violas that hold up to our coldest temperatures. “Trees and shrubs that will be in bloom include red maple, star magnolia, and spirea,” according to the University of Florida. “Despite the cooler weather, some gardeners can begin to plant warm-season crops, while others should stick to plants that can survive the cold.” Areas around the St. Johns River, its tributaries, and the beaches stay significantly warmer than other inland areas.

6) Continue with regular inspection of houseplants and those brought indoors during the winter, watching out for pests such as Spider mites that form webs along leaf margins. Insecticidal soap, Neem oil, and systemic insecticides provide treatment and protection at different phases of houseplant pest control. Rotate indoor plants to supply them with 360-degree access for inspection and for them to get the best use of available indoor light sources.

inspecting houseplants
houseplants

Watch for signs of too much or too little water and sunlight. Many plants will turn yellow from too much light or too little water. Fungus gnats and root rot also threaten the health of overwatered plants. Succulents can begin turning purple from various causes, including sudden light and temperature changes, too much light, or the wrong wavelength of certain grow lights will cause problems. If you have an issue with any of your plants or need more lawn, garden, and landscaping tips visit us at Earth Works Gardens.

Services

  • Landscape Design & Installation
  • Paver Patios, Paver Walkways, Paver Driveways
  • Firepits, Retaining Walls , Seat Walls,
  • Landscape Lighting, Drainage design & Installation,
  • Lawn Care Services, Lawn Maintenance, Lawn Fertilization
  • Lawn Pest Control, Lawn Weed Control
  • Aeration and Top Dressing
  • Water Features, Koi Ponds,
  • Waterfalls, Bubbling Fountains
  • Garden Center & Pond Supply Store

General Services Areas

Jacksonville (Jax), Jacksonville Beach, Neptune Beach, Atlantic Beach, Ponte Vedra Beach, Ponte Vedra, Fernandina Beach, Amelia Island, Orange Park, St. Johns, Nocatee

Earth Works

Location

GARDEN CENTER
12501 Beach Blvd
Jacksonville, FL 32246

LANDSCAPE OPERATIONS
(not open to the public)
St. Johns Bluff
1057 St. Johns Bluff Rd. N.
Jacksonville, FL 32225

Hours

Monday-Saturday 9-5
Sunday 10-5

HOLIDAY CLOSINGS
New Year’s Day • Easter • Memorial Day
July 4th • Labor Day • Thanksgiving Day
Christmas Eve • Christmas Day

Quicklinks

Shop
About us
Careers
Contact Us
Reviews

Common Drainage Problems and Solutions

February 2nd, 2023 by earthworksjax Uncategorized

Common Drainage Problems and Solutions

You’ve come to the right place to learn more about common drainage problems and solutions in our Northeast, Florida service area. We offer customized drainage solutions with multiple configuration options discussed in our consultation process depending on your specific needs. Each rainy season here in Florida, we receive urgent calls from home and business owners with drainage problems that require rapid identification of the causes and solutions to common drainage problems. Here in Northeast Florida, we typically have months of dry weather where drainage isn’t an issue, followed by reoccurring months of heavy rain that overwhelm drainage systems. While it’s best to address drainage issues before the rainy season, various factors result in drainage problems that did not exist before.

Common Drainage Problems and Solutions
Gutters Downspouts

-Gutters and Downspouts are a good starting point for identifying and determining solutions to common drainage problems. Gutter systems may be non-existent, inadequate, or need damage repair or unclogging. According to the National Association of Homebuilders, the average lifespan of gutters and downspouts is thirty years.
However, the average lifespan of the gutters and downspouts is dependent on construction material, quality of installation, and operating conditions. Roof construction material, pitch, age, and service history contribute to gutters and downspouts’ working conditions. Seasonal leaf drops on the roof can clog uncovered gutter systems requiring gutter and downspout cleanouts multiple times per year. We recommend that when seeking causes and solutions to drainage problems around your home or business, start with an assessment of the working condition of your gutters and downspouts.

-Improper slopes and grading of yards result in common drainage problems. Varying elevations in a landscape, whether naturally occurring or a result of earth moving to build a home, other structures, and landscaping, contribute to the quality of drainage on a property. The elevation and grading of neighboring properties can impact drainage on your property. Take note and stay aware of how surface water flows on your property from year to year and annual changes due to earth moving on your property that was purposeful as with landscaping or a result of erosion. Fixing the grade for a property can be minor or significant, requiring a few bags of dirt or truckloads spread with a bulldozer.

Downspouts

-Landscaping done incorrectly contributes to common drainage problems. Displacing soil to plant trees, shrubs, and groupings of plants in flower beds along with amending soils for turf collectively alter the yard’s slope and elevation. The altered surface water flow can result in flooding, erosion, and additional drainage problems. No matter how large or small the landscape project, be aware of its potential to affect drainage on your property. And make drainage considerations a part of your landscape design priorities.

-Roots and debris clogging drain pipes are common drainage problems. Underground drainage system pipes are constructed from various materials that include a range of corrugated and PVC rigid pipes. Perforated piping is most susceptible to intrusion by roots, although clogs can occur with any piping. Earth Works provides an access point at the base of the downspout for easy cleanout with a garden hose for rigid pipe installs. Each type of drainage pipe has its advantages for specific applications and drainage needs that we discuss with property owners during the design consultation process.

-Soil Composition and Compaction contribute to common drainage problems. Although much of our regional soil composition is highly permeable well-draining sand-building activities and landscaping result in compaction that impacts drainage. Heavy rain on highly compacted soil results in less percolation of water into the soil and an increased risk of flooding and stormwater runoff. While we provide mechanical compaction under paver patios, we also offer mechanical aeration services for turf to improve the percolation of water into the lawn and increase nutrient uptake as part of our recommended annual aeration and top dressing services.

Regardless of the cause of your drainage problems, Earth Works provides solutions not limited to French drains; gravity drains, channel drains, swales, cisterns, and sump pump systems that meet federal, state, and local regulations designed to protect your property, safety, and the environment. Our drainage systems are guaranteed to work and warranted for one year on parts and labor.

Step-By-Step at a 2022 Northeast Florida Drainage Project (Thanks Bruce!)

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Services

  • Landscape Design & Installation
  • Paver Patios, Paver Walkways, Paver Driveways
  • Firepits, Retaining Walls , Seat Walls,
  • Landscape Lighting, Drainage design & Installation,
  • Lawn Care Services, Lawn Maintenance, Lawn Fertilization
  • Lawn Pest Control, Lawn Weed Control
  • Aeration and Top Dressing
  • Water Features, Koi Ponds,
  • Waterfalls, Bubbling Fountains
  • Garden Center & Pond Supply Store

General Services Areas

Jacksonville (Jax), Jacksonville Beach, Neptune Beach, Atlantic Beach, Ponte Vedra Beach, Ponte Vedra, Fernandina Beach, Amelia Island, Orange Park, St. Johns, Nocatee

Earth Works

Location

GARDEN CENTER
12501 Beach Blvd
Jacksonville, FL 32246

LANDSCAPE OPERATIONS
(not open to the public)
St. Johns Bluff
1057 St. Johns Bluff Rd. N.
Jacksonville, FL 32225

Hours

Monday-Saturday 9-5
Sunday 10-5

HOLIDAY CLOSINGS
New Year’s Day • Easter • Memorial Day
July 4th • Labor Day • Thanksgiving Day
Christmas Eve • Christmas Day

Quicklinks

Shop
About us
Careers
Contact Us
Reviews

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