Archives for January 2022

poinsettia

Best Place to Plant Poinsettias in Florida

The beauty of poinsettias is present during the Christmas season and in South Florida, it’s possible to plant the potted flowers in the outdoor garden. They can be a little tricky to grow, but with the right care, they can live to bloom on through many seasons.

Planting Poinsettias

One of the primary requirements for poinsettias to thrive and bloom is dark nights. They need total darkness during the autumn months. Even a little artificial light reaching them at night can delay bloom time or prevent the plant from flowering at all.

Keep holiday poinsettias in a bright, sunny location until time to plant in the spring and keep them watered. Optimal growth occurs when a poinsettia is planted in moist, fertile, well-drained soil.

Lighting

Gardeners will need to choose a place in the garden where the plant will receive full sun for most of the day, though slightly filtered shade during the hottest part of the day is acceptable. Individuals will need to pinch back the poinsettia several times throughout the summer to nurture a robust plant with numerous flower heads. Stop pinching about mid-Aug.

It’s important to keep in mind that poinsettias are large plants and will need sufficient room to grow and spread. In their native environment, poinsettias can grow into large bushes/scraggly trees, and attain heights and widths of 10 to 15 ft. Pinching back helps limit growth.

Native to Southern Mexico, the flowers have played a role in religious ceremonies for centuries. The first clippings arrived in the U.S. in 1828 thanks to Dr. Joel Poinsett, the U.S. Ambassador to Mexico, who sent them to his home in South Carolina. His breeding program resulted in plants with a longer bloom time.

A Mexican legend about the plant says a little girl had nothing but weeds to bring Jesus on Christmas day. When she walked into a church, the plant burst into the beautiful red plant associated with Christmas. The plant is known in Mexico as Flores de Noche Buena, meaning flowers of the holy night.

RCH Landscaping is a full-service landscape company based in Boca Raton, Florida. We design, install and maintain Commercial and Residential landscapes all around Boca Raton, Delray Beach, and The Palm Beach areas. Our team of highly skilled landscape technicians has an undisputed track record of creating and maintaining beautiful commercial and residential landscapes all over South Florida.

Contact RCH Landscaping Today for a Free Estimate

561-779-9760

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Residential Landscaping Company Boca

Your Lawn Requires Fewer Cuts in the Winter Time

South Florida residents are proud of their lawns and rightly so. During the winter months when other U.S. locations are suffering with cold and snow, Florida temperatures are warm, mild, and green things are still growing. A big concern for many residents is managing their lawn during cooler months and the No. 1 rule is don’t cut it as often.

Many people have lawns comprised of warm-season grasses, such as St. Augustine grass, which tends to grow much slower in cooler winter temperatures. For that reason, ryegrass is often overplanted so lawns will remain vibrant and green. Ryegrass is a cool-weather grass that does great during South Florida winters for a green lawn year-round.

Lawn

It’s important for individuals to understand that their lawn will need less mowing during the winter months. Cutting it too often will result in a lawn that appears weak and unhealthy. Even ryegrass, which grows well in cooler weather, will still grow at a slower rate. Warm weather St. Augustine grass will still continue to grow during colder months, but at a much slower rate.

Rainfall

Another factor that affects lawn growth and frequency of mowing in the winter is rainfall. October to May is the dry season in Florida and less rain means slower grass growth. Lawns typically need about 1 inch of rain during winter months.

That amount provides enough moisture to reach the roots without saturating the soil and creating runoff. If precipitation falls below that level, those with irrigation systems will need to have them adjusted to deliver the appropriate amount of water.

A word of warning about fertilizer – don’t do it during the winter. Fertilizing the lawn during winter won’t make the grass grow better, longer or lusher and can actually harm it. Lawns should be maintained at a height of about 3 inches for optimal health.

RCH Landscaping is a full-service landscape company based in Boca Raton, Florida. We design, install and maintain Commercial and Residential landscapes all around Boca Raton, Delray Beach, and The Palm Beach areas. Our team of highly skilled landscape technicians has an undisputed track record of creating and maintaining beautiful commercial and residential landscapes all over South Florida.

Contact RCH Landscaping Today for a Free Estimate

561-779-9760

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Fertilizing Plants Can Help Restore Life

Before gardeners decide to uproot that dead-looking plant in their flower bed, try fertilizing it first. Most people assume that a poorly performing plant is suffering from lack of water, and while it may be, it’s important to understand that the plant’s health will fail if it’s not receiving the nutrients it needs.

Fertilizing Plants

Before taking any action, diagnosing the problem is critical. The plant may be getting too much water or not enough. It may need more or less sun. Be on the lookout for insect pests that can sap a plants strength and vitality.

Assuming that the roots are still alive, it’s often possible to rejuvenate a seemingly dead plant by fertilizing it. Don’t overfertilize and burn the roots. Check the root ball for signs of healthy, white roots. Plants use the nutrients in the soil as fuel for growth and flowering. Over time, those nutrients are depleted. Fertilization replaces nutrients and can give a favorite plant a new lease on life.

One of the problems stems from the South Florida soil. It’s primarily composed of rock known as Miami limestone, sand, muck, and a type of soil known as marl. Limestone has a high pH value and doesn’t retain water or nutrients well. That makes it difficult to grow plants unless the dirt has been amended or topsoil is added.

Signs to look for in a plant that lacks nutrients are stems that are weak and dying. It may also have discolored or deformed leaves, and exhibit slow or stunted growth. Before applying fertilizer, trim back any dead leaves or stems. If the stems look completely dead, trim the stem back, leaving a small amount of the stem above the soil line.

After fertilizing the problematic plant, wait at least a month. If it shows no sign of new growth, it’s probably beyond any hope of recovering. However, that dead plant can still be used to support and give life to new plants through composting.

RCH Landscaping is a full-service landscape company based in Boca Raton, Florida. We design, install and maintain Commercial and Residential landscapes all around Boca Raton, Delray Beach, and The Palm Beach areas. Our team of highly skilled landscape technicians has an undisputed track record of creating and maintaining beautiful commercial and residential landscapes all over South Florida.

Contact RCH Landscaping Today for a Free Estimate

561-779-9760

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Transform Your Yard by Adding Rock

If you’re looking to change or update your yard, but don’t know where to begin, consider the versatility of rock. The use of rock in the landscape isn’t a new concept and is referred to as hardscaping by landscaping professionals. Using rock in your yard can take many forms from gravel to large rocks and encompasses a myriad of opportunities to be creative.

Flowerbeds

Gravel in your flowerbed makes a striking contrast to the surrounding greenery and acts as a form of mulch. Using rocks is an excellent choice for areas where drainage is a problem and one of the most attractive attributes is that stone requires no maintenance.

The material is available in multiple sizes and colors, prevents weed growth, and keeps soil from washing away. If you don’t have in-the-ground flowerbeds, you can create attractive freestanding flowerboxes constructed of stone.

Rock Beds

To eliminate the work involved in beds for live plants, consider a rock bed. They can be used in the same way as a flowerbed to create interest and beauty. Combine rocks with contrasting pottery or statuary to create the semblance of a Greek stone garden.

Pathways

Rocks, stone and gravel are an easy way to create pathways and walkways. Rock can also be combined with pavers in a variety of styles. They’re equally applicable for designing unique, one-of-a-kind mosaics or “rivers” made of stone. Rocks can be utilized to create patios that will be the envy of all your neighbors. Stone pathways help keep people off grassy areas and keeps visitor’s shoes clean for less dirt in the house.

Firepits

A firepit of lava rock or fire-rated brick is an excellent way to dress up your yard. It provides warmth if the weather turns chilly and creates a focal point for festivities with family and friends.

Pond Barrier

An increasing number of people are adding ponds to their yards for relaxation and interest. Even the smallest of ponds can be ringed with stones and combined with small plantings for a fairytale look. The rocks also serve to camouflage the pond liner.

RCH Landscaping is a full-service landscape company based in Boca Raton, Florida. We design, install and maintain Commercial and Residential landscapes all around Boca Raton, Delray Beach, and The Palm Beach areas. Our team of highly skilled landscape technicians has an undisputed track record of creating and maintaining beautiful commercial and residential landscapes all over South Florida.

Contact RCH Landscaping Today for a Free Estimate

561-779-9760

Read more
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