After more freeze days in Winter than in recent years, many Northeast Florida homeowners are heading to garden centers to replace plants and want to do more landscaping for pollinators. “It’s really easy here in Northeast Florida to attract the birds, the bees, the butterflies, all the beneficial pollinators and insects that we want to have in our garden,” said Matt Barlow, Earth Works Garden Center Manager. “Simply put, you need to have a combination of flowers that not only attract them for the pollen but also for the nectar. So each insect is going to be looking for different things. So it needs to be a combination of nectar plants and pollen plants. So the bees are really interested in pollen. And then the butterflies and some of the other insects will be looking for nectar.”
Landscape designers assist clients in creating landing strips. These multi-level layered plantings draw pollinators to the garden, where plants serve as food sources and nesting habitat and protection from the elements and predators. Lawn care service providers can likewise assist by enhancing soil constituents and conserve water that can reduce plant stress and the need for pesticides that typically harm pollinators.
“Aim for at least ten flowering plant species selected to complement one another, according to the University of Florida IFAS Extension. “Specifically, design your garden to have three or more different plants blooming at any given time during the growing season, which is year-round in southern Florida, and March through November in northern areas of the state. Because bees often prefer dense floral displays, arranging flowering plants in clumps with multiple individuals per species will increase the attractiveness of the garden to bees.”
While native plant species are best for both nectar and pollen sources, they are increasingly difficult to acquire. When landscaping for pollinators your area native plant societies such as the Florida Native Plant Society (www.fnps.org) is vital for information about the availability of Florida native plants.
“Some great nectar plants for your fluttering friends will be things like pentas, salvias; they are the top two with lantana as well. Lantana alone will bring in more varieties of butterflies, I think, than any other single plant in your garden, said Barlow. “So I’d have at least a handful of lantanas to mix and sprinkle in. We have some really nice bunching, compact varieties that you can use. Traditionally people think of lantana as that giant elephant in the garden that just sprawls everywhere. Well, there are a lot of new improved and compact varieties that you can bring into your garden. Pentas are great because they are naturally compact. Most varieties 18 inches at the most. There are some larger growing varieties, but the pentas are easy because you can grow them in both full sun and partial sun. So if you don’t have a full sun position, which is four hours at the minimum, you can also use pentas if you are getting less than that.
A lot of the salvias that we have in are going to come in blues and purples, and that is important because blues, purples, and reds are the spectrum that the insects see. Also, the hummingbirds see blues and reds. Just by having blue and red in the garden, it will act as a beacon that will bring them in. And once they find the garden, they will be back day after day after day. If you were to walk around the garden center here in late Spring and all throughout the Summer, you’ll see the butterflies; the hummingbirds are just all over these tables.
The purple and the red are crucial, and they look nice together. There is some nice contrast between the colors and then sprinkle in other types of colors too because they will feed off of the other colors, but it’s the blues, the purples, and red that are going to bring them in.”
Other nectar plants available for landscaping for pollinators include Bleeding Heart, Coneflowers, Coreopsis, Cosmos, Dianthus, Hibiscus, Gaillardia, Marigold, Petunias, Verbena, and Viburnum. While milkweed is widely known as a host plant for Monarch butterflies and required to complete their lifecycle, there are others. Commercially available host plants include Bougainvillea (Cloudless Sulphur butterfly), Dill (Black Swallowtail butterfly), Dusty Miller (Painted Lady butterfly), Oleander (Queen & Monarch butterfly), Passion Vine (Gulf Fritillary), Snapdragon (Buckeye butterfly), and Violets (multiple Fritillary butterfly species). Visit our article on Butterfly, Gardening Basics for more information.
“If you have any questions on specific varieties and how to mix them together, stop in here at Earth Works, and any one of us here would be more than happy to help you put together your pollinator garden,” said Barlow. Earth Works landscape designers are also available to help landscaping for pollinators in an eco-friendly fashion, and the lawn care division provides regular maintenance.
And remember that 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.
In what some consider a Florida real estate post-pandemic gold rush, landscaping for curb appeal in Northeast Florida’s hot real estate market is more critical than ever, benefiting both higher resale value and improved homeowner satisfaction. Earth Works Landscape Designer John Cacchione showcases landscape design elements that improve property value and customer satisfaction at a new estate build.
HOT REAL ESTATE MARKET
Jacksonville home values have increased by 21%, the highest year-over-year increase among the top 40 metro areas in the nation according to Realtor.com’s Market Hotness rankings. This has occurred while Jacksonville remains among the most affordable according to the Boston Real Estate Times.
St John’s County property values and surrounding coastal communities are likewise in high demand as values steadily increase and the average length of homeownership increases post-pandemic.
“Homes on the market are selling quickly in St. Johns County,” reported News4Jax.com. “There is high demand and low inventory. “With resale, those are going under contract often in 24 to 48 hours, multiple offers over list price,” said Karen Zander, 97Park Real Estate owner and broker. “No one knows how much to offer.”
IMPORTANCE OF CURB APPEAL
According to the National Association of Realtors, over 70 percent of prospective homeowners consider curb appeal crucial to their home buying experience according to bankrate.com. “That first impression is important,” says Frank J. Lucco, managing director of IRR-Residential Appraisers & Consultants in Houston. “If they don’t like the looks of the front of the house, which is mostly landscaping, often they won’t even go inside.”
ELEMENTS OF LANDSCAPE DESIGN
Personalizing your landscape design to suit your choice of plants and hardscaping materials if done right creates visual appeal. Whether doing it yourself or hiring a professional, the landscape design elements include considerations of color, form, lines, scale, and texture. Remote consultations do not impair the design process, for although client tastes vary, landscape design principles remain the same. Earth Works landscape designers consult with clients worldwide and often before their home construction is completed in Northeast Florida.
Earth Works of Jacksonville Landscape Design for Curb Appeal
Cacchione’s client for this informal landscape design built a large single-story sprawling home on an expansive lot with a concrete driveway that could accommodate two traffic lanes. The flower bed in the middle of the circular driveway includes green, blue, orange, and red with an outer ring of 50 perennial Blue My Minds followed by a ring of Ixora, and orange birds of paradise, all on an incline leading up to the centerpiece triple trunk Roebelenii palm. All flower beds in the front yard include red mulch that compliments the rich colors of the home. Tan River rock form a border around the house. These rocks protect the black iron fencing around the backyard and line the generator and pool equipment pads and courtyard’s flagstone. Color is a crucial component of landscape design involving the choice of plantings, rocks, and mulch in relation to the house.
The size and growth rates of plant choices are as important as their current appearance. The collective selection of plants involves decisions of proportionality in size and spacing throughout the beds in relation to the home. “That’s something you have to think about while you are planting, doing your design,” said Cacchione. “This plant is small now, but in five years, what’s it going to look like?” On either side of the front door, small plants dominate the flower beds, including foxtail ferns and salvia. Cacchione creates focal points with gradual increases in scale from the flowers to several 10′ Mule palms.
The driveway’s curving lines create an informal design that Cacchione alters with straight lines of hardscaping along the walls of the house that serve a practical purpose and visual appeal. “We did this clean edge around the foundation, then the gravel against the stucco,” said Cacchione. “That’s important, especially with stucco. Stucco is a permeable surface that water will penetrate if it stays wet too long.” Layering with clean lines with a mix of plants, edging, rocks, mulch, and pottery provides lots of visual interest.
The concrete driveway forms a vast flower bed in front of the house leading around the side to a garage and courtyard. “The builder had this pergola existing on the design, and I felt like we needed a way to get from the driveway to the garage door,” said Cacchione. “So this was just a cool addition. And we were able to use some of the flagstones we used in the courtyard.” For color and interest in this area the plan included:
The four walls of the courtyard with doors and window viewing vantages needed a focal point. “We knew this little courtyard needed something special,” said Cacchione. “And just to create the sound of water in here is perfect.” What happens during periods of rain, though, considering the myriad of pitches of the roof? “This water feature collects all the water from the downspouts from the roof in here and are channeled into our reservoir,” said Cacchione. “Another thing in here where we are thinking about permeability. So the gravel and flagstone will allow the water to penetrate, and that also goes into the reservoir.” In the event of an overflow from storms, the water is being funneled out through installed drain pipes.
A portion of the backyard incorporating the swimming pool, patio, and pergola is enclosed by black metal fencing lined with edging and tan river rock. Cacchione centered a triple trunk Roebelenii behind the pool that can be viewed upon entry to the home through the front door. A rectangular flower bed connects the pool pad to the raised pergola sitting area. Texas sage line the bed behind the pool on both sides of the Roebelenii. Pringle’s podocarpus surrounds the pergola and the Bahia sod base will green up nicely as the weather warms up in the Spring and Summer.
As half of our days are shrouded in darkness, the landscaping’s beauty is revealed in new ways with a complete outdoor lighting package including blade lights on steps, path lights, large lights on palms, and wall wash lights. Whether planning to improve your landscaping for curb appeal in a new or existing home in Northeast Florida’s hot real estate market, contact Earth Works for a design consultation.
And remember that 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.
Large-scale landscape projects and complicated hardscaping and water feature installs, benefit from a professionally prepared landscape plan. Have you ever done something and realized later that those actions had unintended consequences? Improving outcomes is a core benefit of planning. Most people don’t have the equipment or horticultural and regulatory knowledge to undertake large-scale landscaping projects successfully. Merely hanging a plant from your favorite nursery or installing a few pavers does not require an extensive landscape plan. Landscape designers have training and experience in multiple disciplines including horticulture, environmental science, engineering, and art. It is less expensive to do it right the first time with a properly prepared and implemented landscape plan.
For the do-it-yourself landscaper, the University of Florida provides helpful design tips to consider when making your landscape plan.
https://youtu.be/n4RELIPsl_w
As landscape plans become larger and more complicated, you may want to hire a professional firm to develop and implement the landscape plan. “Here at Earth Works our landscape plans are all-inclusive”, Jarred Taylor, Lead Landscape Designer said. “So our landscapes will include plants, hardscapes, ponds, water features, irrigation, and drainage. One of the benefits of going with Earth Works is the fact that we have the capability of doing the install ourselves.” Some landscape designers strictly provide the drawing that requires you do-it-yourself or seek another contractor that may or may not acquire the materials and install them as needed per the plan. Headaches and finger-pointing can occur when a third party is involved in implementing the landscape plan.
Earth Works schedules landscape design consultations where your designer meets with you to listen to your ideas and do a site inspection. The designer, with in-depth knowledge of the plants, hardscaping and water feature materials, and engineering and regulator considerations, prepares the landscape plan design drawing. Earth Works also provides a video describing what to expect when you schedule a landscape consultation and how to prepare for it.
Taylor noted that for landscape design drawings he creates, they only include plants and materials available and proper for use in that particular environment that meet code and regulatory requirements. “Here at Earth Works we have a collective understanding of a lot of the different Homeowners Associations (HOA), Architectural Review Boards (ARB), and the different municipalities here in Northeast Florida,” Taylor said. He further emphasized the value a properly prepared landscape plan has that adheres to permeability, setback lines, and a litany of regulatory compliance issues before presenting your proposed design to HOAs and ARBs.
“Here at Earth Works we pride ourselves on being able to provide a beautiful outdoor living space to any homeowner who wants it,” Taylor said. “And just really working with them to give them their dreams as their ideas come to life in a beautiful and cohesive landscape that is going to last for years.” Taylor concluded, “If this is something you are interested in feel free to reach out to Earth Works call in at the garden center or fill out the contact form online.”
Jarred Taylor, Earth Works Lead Landscape Designer
And remember that 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.
You’ve probably seen waterfalls you liked in nature, neighborhood entrances, or maybe a friend’s pond or water feature. And you’ve wondered about exploring options for having one built in your yard. Luxurious water features add that resort feel to any property. Yet, you wonder what questions you should ask when searching for your pond building contractor?
As with any contracted service, consider specifics about the company background such as: -Is the contractor licensed and insured? -How many years of experience do they have building water features? -Does the contractor provide candid client testimonials? -What are past clients saying in their google and other reviews? -How do they rate with the Better Business Bureau?
Those sorts of questions are an excellent start to narrowing the selection process in identifying a qualified pond building contractor.
Additionally: -Do they have photos and videos demonstrating the types of water features they typically build? -What is their design consultation process? Can they meet with you in-person, via an online app such as zoom if you are traveling or unable to meet in person? -Are they experts in applicable area building regulations? -Do they have expertise in the permitting process? -Do they own the proper construction equipment to complete a project of your complexity? -Do they have reliable relationships for acquiring the necessary building materials and equipment unique to creating a healthy ecosystem pond such as Aquascape Inc? -Have they received approvals from your Home Owners Association (HOA) for other pond building construction projects that they satisfactorily completed? -Can they complete your water feature when you want it for a price you can afford? -Do they provide quality guarantees? -How long before they start the pond building after you sign the contract?
Ponds, waterfalls, and water features of every sort imaginable are an investment that enhances your quality of life when appropriately built by experienced and reputable pond building contractors. We encourage you to shop around and consider contractors’ reputations, knowledge, experience, and generally if you like and trust them in deciding to have them build the pond of your dreams.
And remember that 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 provides quotes for annual winter pond clean out service for Aquascape ecosystem ponds we built and any pond system design whether it was a commercial or DIY constructed pond. Earth Works designs and builds low-maintenance ecosystem ponds that collect the majority of debris in the skimmer basket, but some debris settles to the pond bottom that requires periodic clean out. From our experience with unserviced pond debris buildup for water quality concerns, we recommend an annual winter pond clean out service.
“So we recommend once a year,” Jason Duffney, Earth Works owner said at recent Pond Clean Out Seminar. “That’s what we have found is the secret sauce. Don’t wait beyond three years.” Thus, when contacting Earth Works to schedule a pond clean out our standard quotations are based on annual service of your pond considering its size, equipment configuration and design. Pond clean out pricing increases for ponds that have multiple years of built up muck and debris.
Looks can be deceiving when trying to assess if your pond needs the clean out after year one, two or three. “It may not look that bad,” Glenn Stanza, Earth Works pond clean out specialist said. “You just wait and see how much dirt comes out of that pond (during clean out). The dirt settles, there is going to be sediment in the bottom of that thing. It’s bad. And if you let it go and let it go there is so much dirt in there that the pond can’t handle it. It can’t flush it out.”
Winter is the best time to schedule your annual pond clean out for the health of your pond ecosystem. ‘If you do a clean out like we are doing here in June, July, August, September you have to sign a waiver,” Jason Duffney said. “It’s too hot. We actually think it is very bad to do those clean outs that time of year. It’s just not good for the pond. So, once a year and do it ideally December, January and February are the best months.” As an incentive, Earth Works provides discounts on pond clean outs scheduled during the cooler months for the health of your pond ecosystem and to accommodate your year-long enjoyment.
And remember that 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.
There are many types and varieties of roses available at Earth Works for your North Florida landscape that have unique care requirements. Drift roses, knockouts, hybrid teas, miniatures, bush and climbing roses are among the types of this popular shrub that we encounter. Once your roses are established though as a general rule we follow the University of Florida recommendation that your rose pruning is done for North Florida in the late winter months of January and February as their leaf buds begin to swell and break dormancy.
The key benefits of properly timed rose pruning include encouraging disease-free healthy growth and appearance, new growth, and better blooms. As with other plant varieties, pruning can be done any time of year to address dead, diseased, damaged, or dangerous growth.
Don’t fret or fear pruning incorrectly as it is better to have pruned your roses back than not at all as they are resilient, but unkept potentially dead, diseased, or damaged canes are a detriment to their health and others in the rose bed. Proper rose pruning includes thinning out crisscrossing rose canes that by pruning increases air circulation and sunlight penetration, which encourages photosynthesis, and reduces moisture on leaf surfaces that are an invitation for pests and disease.
As a general rule with plant shape in mind, cut rose canes back 1/3 to 1/2 making clean cuts at a 45-degree angle with sterilized pruning shears directly above the bud eye where new branching occurs. Likewise, cut out suckers that arise from rootstock and remove accumulated debris at the plant base. Then in February resume your monthly fertilization schedule for a bountiful season of beautiful rose blooms. For more specific rose variety information visit and speak with an Earth Works garden guide at our Jacksonville garden center.
And remember that 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.
The word “xeriscape” is derived from the Greek “xeros,” meaning dry, and “scape,” a kind of view or scene. Together, xeriscaping is landscaping with slow-growing, drought-tolerant plants to conserve water and establish a waste-efficient landscape.
Landscapes can be designed from the start to reduce the amount of resources needed to maintain them. By selecting the appropriate plants and efficient irrigation systems, a balance can be achieved to fit your aesthetic needs as well as reduce resource use. Benefits of xeriscaping include cost savings through lower water bills and a reduction in the labor needed to maintain your landscape.
Elements of Xeriscaping
Designing a resource-efficient landscape requires the incorporation of a few design elements.
• Zoning–grouping plants in the landscape according to their water requirements. For example, water-loving plants should be grouped separately from drought-tolerant plants. This allows for the proper amount of water to be distributed to the plants as they need it.
• Use of drought-tolerant plants–these plants require less water and are adapted to drought conditions and soils with low water-holding capacities.
• Drought-tolerant turf–Ask your local nurseries which grass varieties have excellent drought tolerance and will grow well in your yard’s soil type. Centipede grass is appropriate for most of the Southeast. In Florida, bahiagrass, bermudagrass, and zoysiagrass all have excellent drought tolerance and may be suitable for your area as well. During dry periods, allow the turf to go dormant. When the rain comes, these grasses will turn green again.
• Mulch, mulch, mulch–because mulch reduces evaporation, it is used extensively in xeriscaping to replace areas that require extensive watering. Mulch can also be used to create paths or walkways throughout your landscape.
A few great plants for xeriscaping in NE Florida
1. Fakahatchee Grass. A Florida native grass that is drought tolerant but able to deal with those rainy summer days here in N.E. FL. It is somewhat salt tolerant as well and likes full sun. Many kinds of grass are considered drought tolerant and are perfect for xeriscaping. Others include Pampas, Fountain, Muhly, and Cord grasses
2. Helianthus. Commonly known as the beach sunflower, this cheerful, low-growing plant has bright, sunflowerlike blooms. A mature plant can cover several feet in diameter, so it makes a great ground cover. It will attract many species of butterflies.
3. Sunshine Mimosa. This is also known as the powderpuff mimosa, because of its distinctive pink flowers that resemble little fiber-optic puffs. It has deep roots, so once you get it established, it requires very little maintenance. A healthy, mature plant can spread as much as 12 inches in a day, providing excellent ground cover. It can even be mixed with grass and mowed without damaging the plant.
4. Coreopsis. Its sunny, daisylike flowers are beautiful and great for butterflies and pollinators. Once it is established, it’s sun- and drought-tolerant. A mature plant will re-seed itself, which means you don’t just have it once, you have it all the time. Fun fact: The coreopsis is Florida’s state wildflower.
5. Gaillardia. Also known as blanket flower, it has distinctive bright orange and red flowers. It is highly salt-tolerant, prefers sunny locations, and it will seed itself. As an added bonus, the pretty blossoms can last a long time in flower arrangements.
2. Agave and Yucca Plants. Few plants can match the bold and dramatic landscape impact of agave and yucca, both excellent choices for truly low maintenance low water gardening. These amazingly tough plants endure the extremes, hot sun, sandy soil, dry conditions, and salty spots with elegance and style. Combine with landscape boulders for a finishing touch.
Most water gardeners are aware of the importance that good quality water plays in a pond habitat. Not knowing how to get or keep water quality can sometimes prove challenging. Your water may be clear, but your fish might be acting differently, which can signify that something might be a little off in your pond’s water.
With a little education and experience, you’ll become better equipped to solve whatever pond water issues you might have. For starters, follow our 7 tips below to help keep your pond water clean!
1. Maintain a healthy fish population
If you have more than 10” of fish for every 100 gallons of water, your pond is likely over-populated. Excessive fish waste can cause an imbalance in pond water. Consider finding some of them a new home. Many pond retailers and contractors will accept your fish.
2. Don’t over-feed your fish
When you feed fish more than they can eat, the uneaten food is left to decay in the pond. Be careful not to feed your fish more than once per day, and no more than they can eat in 2 to 3 minutes. Choose a quality fish food – preferably one that floats as opposed to sinking to the bottom of the pond if left uneaten.
3. Create a proper balance of plants
At season’s peak, you should have 40% to 60% of the surface area of your pond either covered or shaded by plants. Too many plants can cause oxygen deficiencies at night due to the photosynthetic process, when the plants take in oxygen and give off carbon dioxide. Your fish need the oxygen to survive (see tip #7).
4. Choose the right size pump for your pond
You should be circulating the entire pond’s water volume a minimum of once every hour. Make sure your pump’s flow isn’t restricted by debris in the skimmer or biological filter, and be careful not to pump water higher than it was intended. Every pump has its flow limitations. We’ve made it easy for you to choose the correct size pump for your pond and waterfall with our online pump selection guide.
5. Clean debris from pond before it has a chance to decay
Your pond skimmer will remove most of the debris from the surface of your pond, but you can also use a pond net to skim leaves and small sticks before they have a chance to descend to the pond’s bottom where they’ll decay. Decaying debris, combined with fish waste and leftover fish food, can cause ammonia levels to spike in your pond.
Ammonia can be harmful to your fish and should be addressed right away. If you see your fish jumping out of the water, you likely have an ammonia spike which can happen after adding an algae treatment. You can purchase an ammonia test kit at your local pet and aquarium store and if you find the levels are high, simply treat your pond water with Ammonia Neutralizer. Beneficial microbes such as Aquascape Beneficial Bacteria helps keep your pond water healthy and clean for your finned friends. Better yet, install an Automatic Dosing System to electronically dispense beneficial bacteria and other treatments to your pond to help with breaking down debris and maintaining a proper nitrogen cycle.
6. Choose proper filtration for your pond
Just like your pond pump, your pond’s filter should match the size of your water garden. Most pond filters are based on ideal circumstances, and if you exceed those, your filter becomes less effective. Always up-size your filter so that it can handle more than the capacity of your pond and remember to clean your filter according to instructions.
There are two types of filters in an Aquascape ecosystem pond. A mechanical filter, also known as the skimmer, removes surface debris from your pond water such as leaves and small sticks. The biological filter, or BioFalls filter, is positioned to create the beginning of the waterfall in your pond. This filter uses bacteria to break down pond wastes, converting them into less harmful compounds that can be absorbed as fertilizer by your aquatic plants.
7. Keep your pond cool during the dog days of summer
When pond water exceeds 75º Fahrenheit, it has a difficult time retaining acceptable levels of dissolved oxygen, which is critical for the health of your fish. This is why it’s important to have the surface of your pond shaded by aquatic plants (see tip #3) – to help keep pond water cool. Fish need oxygen to survive. If you see them at the pond’s surface gasping for air, add an aerator to help them during times of extreme heat.
There are several levels of butterfly gardening depending on whether you want to just attract a few or provide a habitat inviting several varieties to move in lock, stock, and chrysalis. You can start by planting a few nectar plants or providing other lures to attract the butterflies in your area. You may find that you’re satisfied or that you’re so enchanted by your fluttering visitors that you want to do more.
Butterfly habitat necessities
Adult food sources In the garden, these are most often plants that provide nectar for adult butterflies. Most butterflies aren’t very picky and will feed on a variety of flowering plants, though they may have a favorite or two. Fermenting fruit also makes a good food source.
Host plants Plants that provide a site for the butterfly to lay eggs and a food source for the emerging caterpillar. Be prepared for heavy munching on host plants. Since highly preferred hosts may be unattractive or eaten until they have few leaves, mix in with other plants.
Shelter Woody plants located near the nectar plants will provide butterflies with shelter during bad weather and at night.
Water Butterflies can’t drink from open water. They prefer very wet sand or soil.
Planning a successful butterfly garden
Butterfly species Determine which species live in your area and which ones you want to attract. Several walks around your neighborhood will help you determine which butterflies are in the area and what they’re feeding on.
Select a site Choose a site for your butterfly garden that receives full sun, defined as six or more hours of direct sunlight daily. A little bit of late afternoon shade is fine, but most butterfly garden plants need bright sunlight. If you’re adding plants to an existing bed, try to cluster butterfly-attracting plants together. This provides a variety of places for butterflies to feed. If you’re creating a new garden, select a spot that’s easy to see from a porch, deck, or window so you can enjoy the bright colors and antics of visiting butterflies. Group plants together in clusters of three or other odd numbers. This looks more natural from a distance. Clustering flowers together by color, such as all red or orange blossoms together also forms a more cohesive look. Avoid the use of broad-spectrum insecticides, especially Bacillus thuringensis (BT), or any insecticide that is applied broadly in the environment.
Decide on the type of garden Select plants suited to the selected butterfly species and that will fit in with the type of garden you’d like to have whether it be formal or natural or somewhere in between. You can even have a butterfly rock garden. If you have an area that gradually slopes to the south, it’s an ideal spot for a butterfly rock garden. Include flat stones and low-growing butterfly plants, such as lantana, Stoke’s aster, and clover.
Adult food plants Find out more about the native nectar plants that will attract the butterflies in your area. Butterflies are attracted by sweet-, pungent- and acrid-smelling flowers that are orange, yellow, pink, purple and red.
Other attractions Sugaring* may be just the entree for your neighborhood butterflies or perhaps a nectar feeder. You might also consider providing a “puddle” or an area for basking. Some butterflies sip moisture and nutrients from moist soil. You can provide a puddle by allowing water to stand in a depression in your yard or by placing sand in a wide shallow container and keeping it moist. Puddles should be in an open area. Butterflies also bask in the sun to raise their body temperatures so they can fly. You can accommodate them by including some flat rocks in your garden. A few extra-large rocks provide more perching and sunning spots for butterflies.
Host plants Find out more about the host plants that butterflies will lay eggs on and that will feed the caterpillars. Host plants aren’t just maternity wards. Many butterflies are more likely to frequent nectar plants that are near host plants and may feed on the host plants, too.
*Sugaring Sugaring involves combining one can of beer, a pound of sugar, a half cup of dark molasses and some very ripe fruit in a blender and allowing the mixture to thicken to a spreadable consistency. After letting the tantalizing elixir ferment for about a day, you brush it onto tree trunks or posts or place it in a dish on a flat surface and then wait for the butterflies to arrive.
Butterfly Plants
Flowers
Aster Bee balm Black-Eyed Susan Buddleia Butterfly bush Cannas Catmint Coreopsis Daylily False indigo Gaillardia Goldenrod Guara Hollyhock Joe Pye Weed Lantana
Curb appeal comes in many different forms, and it can greatly improve your ability to sell your home quickly and for a great price. Even if you’re not thinking about selling just yet, it’s a good idea to consider your landscaping and other outdoor aesthetics, as they can significantly raise your home’s value. The lawn and garden are the main factors to address, but you can also paint your front door, replace your mailbox, or add some color to your porch.
It’s a good idea to think about how you can easily maintain your lawn area and how to take preventative steps to keep the front of your home looking great. This might include sealing a wooden porch against the elements or ensuring the gutters are sturdy and clean. There are lots of things to think about, so take it one step at a time in order to prevent becoming overwhelmed.
Here are a few tips on how to get started when you need to add curb appeal to your home.
Hire a Professional
Do you hate gardening with a passion? No problem. You can find a great gardening service in your area that will help you control weeds, plan out an easy-to-maintain landscape, and/or keep bushes and trees looking beautiful without wrecking your budget. A professional gardening service can also help you keep your lawn looking great all year round, which is essential for homeowners who live in parts of the country with unforgiving winters or harsh summers.
Repaint
Painting your front door, porch, columns, shutters, fence, mailbox, or garage door can liven things up a bit and give your home a pop of color without breaking the bank. There are a few different ways you can go about it; some people like to use spray paint because it allows them to control the area a bit more. But depending on the material, you can also use a paintbrush. Make sure you wipe down the surface carefully before applying paint, cover up any hardware with tape, and wait for the right time; for most of these projects, the weather will need to be just right.
Embrace the Details
There are many little things you can do to boost your home’s curb appeal, and focusing on these details rather than going big will help you save money. Update your welcome mat, replace lighting fixtures, add small flower pots to the porch, or add a new wreath to the front door. You can also find seasonal flags to hang that will offer a bit of color to the front of your home. Just be sure not to go overboard, as too much can be just as bad as not enough. Keep things symmetrical when possible, unify the color scheme, and make sure the lawn and porch are tidy.
Fix Up the Siding and Gutters
Especially important if you’re going to be selling your home, fixing up the roof, siding, and gutters can definitely help the house stand out. These things can be affected by the weather, trees, and extreme temperatures, and they can deteriorate even in just a year’s time, making it crucial for you to stay on top of them. Also, ensuring that there are no cracks, broken parts, debris, leaves, or mold can go a long way toward creating a better aesthetic for your home.
Boosting your home’s curb appeal doesn’t have to be a stressful job that costs a lot of money. With a bit of creativity, you can make some changes that will take your house to the next level and add to its value without spending money that you could be using for something
