Beautiful Palm Trees

Palm trees are a favorite of many individuals and they have a prominent place in the landscapes of South Florida. They flourish in the climate and there’s a myriad of species from which to choose. The following are some popular choices and will provide a beautiful addition to any landscape.

Canary Island Date

Native to the Canary Islands as the name indicates, it’s also known as the pineapple palm. While the dates it produces are edible, they’re not of the highest quality. The tree’s primary value is as an ornamental that grows 33 to 66 ft. tall. There are records noting rare instances of specimens attaining heights of 131 ft.

Royal Palm

Tall and stately, royal palms grow 1 to 2 ft. per year with a mature height of 50 to 80 ft., though 90 ft. heights are possible. They produce fragrant cream-colored blossoms and dark purple fruits called nuts. It can be grown indoors with sufficient light, but won’t attain its natural height. It’s resistant to a variety of insect pests and diseases.

Cat Palm

With a maximum height of 6 to 8 ft. and a fluffy appearance, its an excellent choice for growing indoors. It’s often used as a dense, short screen when grown outdoors. It’s a type of cluster palm that doesn’t have a central stem, but rather a clump of stems. It’s a slow growing palm.

Silver Date

Silver date palm is just one of the common names by which the Sylvester palm is known. It’s a slow growing species ranging from 13 to 52 ft., depending on conditions. It’s popular landscaping tree for around pools, as an accent tree and lining streets. The tree has white to yellow blossoms, the fruit can be used to make jelly and wine, and the fronds are silvery-blue in color. Date palms are some of the oldest species in the world.

Bismarck

Growing from 30 to 60 ft. in height, the palm can attain growth rates of 2 to 3 ft. per year under optimal  conditions. It should be planted away from buildings due to its wide root system and large crown. Foliage is silver-blue.

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.

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561-779-9760

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Holiday Plants to add to Your Front Yard

Florida residents are unique in that they have a wide variety of plants they can cultivate in their yard and garden to get them in the Christmas spirit. However, you should be aware that many of the plants associated with the holidays are toxic to pets and children.

Amaryllis

The big, beautiful blossoms of amaryllis can easily be 6 inches across and they’re long lasting. Get bulbs in Nov. and they’ll bloom in 4 to 8 weeks. They need indirect sun and don’t overwater them.

Candy Cane Sorrel

The red and white striped, trumpet shaped blooms can be grown in full sun or partial shade. The blooms fold up at night, further enhancing the candy cane appearance. They’re low-growing and are great planted near the door. They don’t like high heat or humidity, so they often wither during the summer. They like direct sunlight or partial shade.

Cyclamen

Available in red, white, pink and purple, they’re especially welcoming around the front door. They prefer cooler temperatures, should be planted in the autumn, and protected from temps 40 F and below. They’re toxic to children and pets.

Holly

Resistant to hurricanes, the green foliage and red berries are indicative of the holiday season. Only female holly plants bear berries. Left on its own, holly can grow 12 ft. wide and 40 ft. tall. It’s best grown as a hedge.

Mistletoe

A parasitic plant, it must attach itself to another plant to grow and thrive. It can be grown on elm, hackberry, laurel oak, sycamore and wild cherry. Mistletoe is poisonous when ingested. Always wash your hands after handling it.

Poinsettia

The tropical plant is associated with Christmas and the holiday season. In South Florida, it can be planted outdoors, though it typically doesn’t thrive due to overwatering. It needs at least 6 hours of indirect sunlight, temperatures between 55 and 65 F. at night, and 65 to 70 F in the day. Water sparingly and only when the leaves feel dry to the touch.

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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5 Best Evergreen Shrubs

There are evergreen shrubs that will grow and thrive in South Florida and they’re not of the fir, pine or spruce variety. Many produce berries and blossoms. Growing evergreens can be challenging if they’re not given the right conditions. The best shrub will be different for each person.

Banana Shrub

A member of the magnolia family, it slowly grows to 10 ft. tall and can be trimmed to keep it in shape. It has fragrant yellow blossoms of 1½  inches in spring that stay until summer. It works well as a screen, in borders and can even be espaliered.

Chinese Fringe Flower

It blooms in spring with long-lasting pink, frilly blossoms. It attains a vase shape with drooping branches and does best in full sun or partial shade. It grows 6 to 15 ft. tall and has a spread similar in size. The shrub can be grown as a hedge, border or screen. Depending on the shrub, it can have red, yellow, pink or white flowers in single or double blooms. It prefers full sun to partial shade and is resistant to heat, drought and salt.

Firebush

Blooming almost year-round, the bush has 4-to-8-inch leaves. Blossoms are reddish-orange, tube shaped, and attracts butterflies and hummingbirds. It produces small, black berries, can grow up to 12 ft. in height, and is drought and salt tolerant. Plant it in full sun to shade as a screen or hedge.

Gardenia

The sweet-smelling flowers of gardenia will perfume an entire yard. Blooms can be red, yellow, pink and some have purple mottling, it creates a low hedge of 2 to 4 ft. tall, depending on the variety.

Pineapple Guava

Salt and drought tolerate, it grows up to 15 ft. tall. Pink or white 2 in. flowers appear in spring and the egg-shaped fruit is edible. It’s low maintenance and prefers full sun to partial shade.

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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Landscape Design Can Help Sell Your Home

Real estate agents will be the first to tell you that a home must have curb appeal when trying to sell it. Curb appeal refers to how attractive your home looks when viewed by a potential buyer approaching the house.

Real estate agents often suggest a new coat of paint, cleaning windows or even upgrading a mailbox. Curb appeal should also extend to your landscape design, since buyers are purchasing the entire package, not just the house.

The good news is that you don’t have to spend a bundle to add aesthetic value to your yard. There are a variety of inexpensive ways to flatter your grounds without calling in the landscapers.

Mulch

If you already have mulch in flowerbeds and around trees or bushes, put down a new application to make everything look bright and new. If you haven’t mulched, consider doing so. It’s good for the plants, soil, and it’s a low-cost option.

Instant Color

Plant some colorful annuals around the front door or along a walkway. They provide a splash of color and add a welcoming touch to entryways. Alternatively, you might want to consider a couple of containers with those bright annuals or some hanging baskets.

Trees and Bushes

Trim any dead or unsightly limbs from trees and do the same with bushes to make them neat and tidy looking. Remove any dead branches, leaves or debris on the ground and don’t forget to remove the remnants of any trimming you’ve done.

Tidy Perennials

Perennial flowers tend to get out of hand without annual maintenance. Eliminate dead or dying plants. If you want to take a particular flower to your new home, now is a good time to dig it up.

Irrigation, Water Features

Make sure the irrigation system is working well and scrub down any water fountains. Clear algae from ponds and attend to any faucet leaks.

Power Washing

Use a power washer to clean steps, walkways and driveways. A power washer is also a good way to clean water fountains.

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

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Best Herbs for Indoor Gardens

Herbs add flavor and color to any culinary endeavor and they can be grown indoors. No one has to go without herbs, even if they don’t have outdoor garden space. Herb growers should choose herbs they regularly use when cooking.

The biggest challenge for most people is finding the sunniest space in their home for the herbs to thrive. For those that don’t have a sufficiently sunny space, consider grow lights under kitchen cabinets and similar locations. Herbs will require at least 6 hours of light each day.

Small herb starts can be purchased and cultivated at home or grown from seed. It’s important to plant them in pots that will be large enough for them to expand. Planters should have drainage holes to allow water to drain without drowning.

The most common – and easiest – herbs to grow indoors are:

  • Basil – for salads, sauces, sandwiches
  • Bay laurel – for soup, stew, rice pilaf
  • Chervil – for Bearnaise sauce, omelet, salad, poultry, egg dishes
  • Chives – for garnishes, soups, salads
  • Cilantro – for soup, stew, Mexican dishes, garnish
  • Kaffir lime – for curry, soup, stew, fried rice, stir fry
  • Lemongrass – for sauces, marinades, curry paste, grilled meat
  • Mint – for salads, desserts, tea, mixed drinks
  • Oregano – for soup, stew, casseroles, meat, tomato sauce
  • Parsley – for soup, salad, sauces, stuffing, fish, meat dishes
  • Rosemary – for potatoes, soup, salad, meat dishes
  • Sage – meat, stuffing, vegetable dishes, pastas dishes
  • Thyme – for soup, stew, sauces, potatoes, rice

For adventurous herb fans, there are also herbs that grow without full or bright sunlight. They’ll do well with indirect light. They include lovage, a plant with a lemony flavor that’s good for tea, soups and salads, and potatoes. It grows rather large for indoor environments – up to 6 ft. in the right conditions. Other low-light options are sweet cicely, also known as myrrh; Corsican mint; wasabi; tarragon; and angelica.

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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4 Questions to Ask Your Landscape Designer

Planning a new landscape or updating an old one is fun and exciting. To ensure the job is done right, you’ll want to engage the services of a professional. You’ll have many questions for your landscape designer and the following four are essential.

Know Your Budget

Before you contact a landscape designer, know how much you have available to spend and make a list of what elements you want to include. A designer can work with you to help you stay within your budget. You may decide some elements aren’t as important as you first thought or you might want to approach your design in multiple stages.

Services Offered

You’ll want a landscape designer experienced in the features you want installed and if the company offers consultations. You might also want them to manage the landscape when it’s completed. Some landscape professionals only design, while others offer design and build services. A full-service landscape design service will create a design, build it, oversee every step of the process, and offer a maintenance program.

Time

Landscape design takes time. Talk with the designer to ascertain how long the installation will require. Much depends on the size and scope of the project, the type of plants selected, and the availability of materials.

The same is true for the time it will take for the landscaping to grow into itself. Don’t expect a project that looks like it’s been there for years. Flowers can grow into their space in as little as 1 season. Trees and shrubs can take several years to attain their full size and fill in their area.

Credentials

Don’t be shy. Ask the landscape designer to see his portfolio and ask for references. Make sure the company is licensed and fully insured. Accidents do happen and you’ll want to know that your landscape designer is prepared for any contingency.

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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Landscape Layering

Everyone has experienced bloom interruption in their garden at least once. It happens when one variety is past its peak bloom season and another hasn’t risen to take its place. That’s when landscape layering can help.

It’s a technique in which a variety of different species are interplanted so when one stops blooming, another species begins flowering. It’s an effective method for ensuring bright, attractive blooms and interest throughout the season.

Landscape layering uses multiple design principles encompassing depth, scale, flow and repetition. Plants can be grouped by size, color, texture and shape to make a dramatic visual display. The strategy can incorporate flowers, grasses, shrubs and trees for a balanced appearance. It’s also effective for highlighting plants, hardscapes and focal points throughout the environment.

Plant Selection

This is a critical element in the process. It’s important to install plants that thrive in the prevailing soil and weather conditions. At the very least, the plants should be able to easily adapt.

Sun and Moisture

Each plant has its own specific sun and moisture requirements to thrive. A plant that requires full sun will perform poorly in deep shade. It pays to research the plants you want to add to the environment. South Florida has a subtropical climate and species that need a drier climate aren’t going to do well.

Visualize

Individuals can choose from multiple types of plantings and it’s important to visualize how the installations will appear when they’re mature. There are evergreen and deciduous trees from which to choose, along with ornamental types and fruit trees.

Their height and size will determine their placement in the landscape. The same is true for shrubs, grasses and flowers. It also applies to groundcovers in areas that are hilly or have poor soil. Another factor is the available area each planting will have in which to expand.

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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Things That Can Ruin Your Landscaping

A well designed and maintained landscape is beautiful to behold. Unfortunately, there are a number of things that can occur that will ruin the entire landscape. Some situations you can control, others you can’t.

Insects

Insects are all around, but an infestation is something to avoid at all costs. The problem with insects is that you never know when they’re going to appear, from where, and in what numbers. There’s also the potential for an invasive species with no natural predators. Trying to control them with chemical methods can result in the death of beneficial insects and your plantings.

Too Much Water

South Florida receives a significant amount of rain each year and it’s typically more than enough to keep plants hydrated. However, the area is also at the mercy of hurricanes and storm surges that can wash miles inland. Plants don’t like salt water. Even localized flooding from a heavy rain can be detrimental.

Drought

While drought isn’t a situation that typically occurs in Florida, the possibility does exist. Install a programmable irrigation system with a moisture detector to deliver just the right amount water to each individual area. Always water during cooler evening hours.

Chemicals

The use of chemicals, whether it’s fertilizer, an herbicide or insecticide, can do irreparable damage to lawns and other plantings.

Inappropriate Planting

Installing the wrong type of plant in the environment can quickly lead to several problems. Some spread quickly, overgrow their neighbors, and become invasive. Others need different growing conditions than where they’ve been installed. Planting too close together creates overcrowding and discourages healthy growth. It also sets up conditions for disease and pests.

Over Trimming

In your pursuit of keeping lawns mowed, trees trimmed and bushes beat back, you can inadvertently over mow, cut and trim. Some types of plantings may be able to slowly recover. Others can’t. Trim and cut judiciously and keep lawns to about 3½ inches. Any shorter and it weakens the roots, resulting in poor growth or death that will leave bare patches.

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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Ways to Get Rid of Standing Water

Standing water is becoming a far greater problem than it has been in the past. Nature will typically find a way to rid itself of excess water. New home and business developments are changing the way that nature responds, leading to puddling and localized flooding. For those experiencing any of those problems, there are solutions.

Wise Watering

One of the most common sources of standing water is overwatering. Those with sprinkler systems that discover puddling should have an irrigation specialist check the system. Heads can become damaged and misaligned. The same is true for modern systems with moisture detection technology. The water flow to certain areas may need to be adjusted.

Thatch Buildup

Grass clippings and other organic materials can build up between the soil and the green zone of lawns. It occurs when organic material builds up faster than it can decompose. That buildup is known as thatch and can prevent water from penetrating the soil.

Rain Garden

One way to address excess water when a yard contains a slope and water collects is to create a rain garden. It catches rainwater, helps the soil absorb it, and can attract bees, birds and butterflies with the right plantings.

A rain garden filters water before it reaches streams, rivers and other waterways. It facilitates drainage and may even qualify individuals for a government rebate. A rain garden is a highly effective and inexpensive way to manage water and improve the environment.

Drainage System

Individuals may need to have professionals design and install a drainage system, depending on the topography of the property. It can involve installing underground pipes to channel water away and into storm drains. People can also choose what’s known as a French drain system, a gravel filled trench that directs water away from a home or business.

Dry Well

The technique is simple. It’s a deep hole filled with rocks. Water flows into the well, drains through the rocks and into the soil. It’s a good long-term solution and inexpensive. A dry well can be combined with a French drain system.

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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Low Maintenance Landscaping for Plant Beds

Everyone with plant beds wants an aesthetically pleasing landscape, but it can easily devolve into a lot of time, energy, money and work for regular maintenance. Plant beds can encompass traditional flowers, along with bushes and shrubs. For those that prefer to minimize the work aspect so they can enjoy the fruits of their labor, there are low-maintenance strategies to consider.

Perennials

The great thing about perennials is that they don’t have to be planted every year. There are flowering types and attractive options that are appreciated for their unique foliage. Annuals can be included in the mix for additional interest.

Drought Resistance

Planting drought resistant varieties of flowers, grasses, bushes and shrubs will minimize the amount of moisture needed and can help save on water bills.

Landscaping Fabric

Use professional grade landscaping fabric around plants to minimize weed growth. The fabric is economical and its perforated, allowing moisture to pass through and reach the soil.

Mulch

Mulching is an essential element in any landscape. It aids in retaining moisture so plants need less watering and helps enrich the soil. Wood mulch is the most often used. Rocks, stone, and even colored glass can be utilized, but they don’t improve the soil and tend to retain heat. Mulch of any type helps minimize weed growth.

Irrigation

Even though South Florida receives a substantial amount of rain, plants will still need watering at some point. Installing an irrigation system eliminates the time-consuming task of watering and ensure that each zone receives the optimal amount of moisture.

Trees, Flowers and Shrubs

Use a combination of all three types of plantings for beauty, shade and landscape variation. All three have their place in the landscape. Be sure and intersperse some evergreens for year-round interest and color. Individuals that choose to plant vines should ensure that they’re easy to keep with their specific bounds and won’t need a lot of pruning or training to keep them from invading other spaces.

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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