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

It can be tempting to use a weed killer on your garden to reduce the amount of work involved in keeping it weed free. Don’t do it. You should never apply weed killer to a vegetable garden for a number of very good reasons. Also known as herbicides, it’s important to understand how weed killers work.

The chemicals used in weed killers linger in the soil for months and some remain for years. The spray can drift to kill nearby plants and they can be especially dangerous when it rains. Soil that contains the chemicals can be washed downhill during heavy rains which it affects gardens, lawns, native plants, and waterways. It can also enter the water storage systems that supply drinking water and aquifers.

Some weed killers work by inhibiting or destroying root formation. Others block protein production or photosynthesis. Individuals need protective equipment to apply them. People, pets and wildlife can become sick when exposed to them and they even have the ability to affect DNA. Even after they’ve dried, the residue from weed killers are dangerous and can be tracked into homes and other locations by people and pets.

There are alternatives to weed killers, but they do require more effort. Other options can be highly attractive compared to the dangers and toxic effects of weed killers. Pulling weeds when they’re small prevents them from maturing, flowering, and spreading seeds far and wide.

Home remedies of vinegar, water and dish soap are effective on weeds, but the spray can affect nearby plants. Unlike commercial preparations, the formula doesn’t remain in the soil very long and typically breaks down in 2-3 days – less if it rains.

However, one of the most effective ways to prevent weed growth is mulching. It reduces evaporation and helps retain moisture in the soil, which means less irrigation and reduced water bills. As it decomposes, it adds nutrients to the soil and increases the ability of soil to hold water.

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

Almost anyone can grow a garden and they don’t need acres of space to do it. There are a number of vegetables that grow well in pots and can be placed on patios, decks or next to fences. They can be tucked in any place there’s enough space for the pot in which they’ll grow. A minimum pot depth of 12 in. is required, with sufficient drainage holes. Avoid black pots due to the tropical climate.

Beans

Bush type beans can be grown without support. A climbing variety is happy to ramble over a trellis or vertically on a deck or up a fence with a little help.

Chili Peppers

Multiple varieties are available, each with its own level of spiciness.

Lettuce

Leaf lettuce – rather than head lettuce – grows well in pots and gardeners can choose from varieties in various colors to add interest to dishes. “Baby” leaves can be harvested or individuals can wait until the leaves mature to pick them.

Peas

Just like beans, growing peas in a pot is easy. A dwarf or bushy variety works very well in pots and typically won’t need support. Climbing varieties can be grown in a pot and allowed to climb vertically up a fence, pole or netting.

Spinach

This is a veggie that can even be grown on a windowsill. It has a shallow root system, so be careful when harvesting. Different varieties have different colors and variations in flavor.

Sweet Peppers

Choose traditional bell peppers or one of the long sweet varieties. Both adapt well to being grown in containers.

Tomatoes

Known as a vegetable, but classified as a fruit, its highly productive and needs full sun. Choose a cherry or grape tomato variety. However, one species, the Atlas Hybrid, is a beefsteak tomato created specifically for growing in pots. Just be prepared to provide plant support if needed.

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

Groundcovers are an often-overlooked option for flower beds. They require little care, quickly fill in their allotted area, and provide a brilliant burst of color. There are also types that don’t bloom, but produce interesting foliage. Groundcovers help keep down weed growth and help curb erosion.

Beach Verbena

This is a perennial groundcover that can stabilize dunes and it’s equally at home in full sun landscapes inland. There are tall and short versions, with the shorter varieties making the best groundcover. They bloom profusely throughout the summer. Verbena is heat and drought tolerant, and available in colors of red, blue, purple, pink, lavender, white, and bi-colors.

Moss Roses

The delicate appearance of moss roses belies its hardiness. Sold as an annual, it will freely reseed itself even in northern climates. It requires full sun and is a semi-succulent. Blooms encompass single and double varieties in shades of red, yellow, white, pink, orange, scarlet and bi-colors. The groundcover will happily bloom all season. However, it can be poisonous to pets if ingested.

Sea Fig

Also known as ice plant, the succulent rarely grows over 6 in. in height. Bright pink, white or yellow blooms adorn the plants for most of the summer and into autumn. The foliage evergreen, but plants will experience some dieback in winter months. They’re resistant to drought, heat and salt, and honey bees find them very attractive. They like full sun, but will tolerate light shade.

Dwarf Chenille

It grows to about 6 in. in high and flowers in full sun to partial shade. Flowers are brighter red the more sun they receive. A relatively slow grower, it blooms more during warm weather, but will do so periodically throughout the year. The blossoms are upright and have a fuzzy appearance. It will even tolerate mowing to encourage new growth, as long as it’s not cut too short.

Sunshine Mimosa

This is a perennial legume that likes full sun to light shade. It’s also known as powderpuff mimosa. Blossoms are small and have the appearance of pink puff balls. Leaves are fernlike and will shrink back when touched. It’s a quick grower and excellent for areas where erosion is a problem.

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

One of the biggest problems that gardeners encounter is identifying plants that provide color and can withstand the intense summer heat of South Florida. There’s no need to despair. There are a number of plants that can take the heat while providing waves of color from spring through autumn.

Canna

The lilies are available in standard and dwarf varieties in shades of red, yellow, orange, pink, apricot and salmon. Standard size cannas grow 4 to 5 ft. and dwarf varieties are 3 to 4 ft. They do need shelter from high winds, don’t like to become too dry, and are heavy feeders.

Coneflowers

Echinacea blooms all summer long and grows up to 36 in. tall. They’re drought-resistant and available in colors of red, yellow, orange, purple, pink and white. Some bi-color hybrids are also available. They’re highly attractive to bees and butterflies, blooming summer through autumn. The plants self-sow easily.

Cosmos

A native of Mexico, these are annuals that won’t wilt in the heat. Cosmos come in colors of red, orange, lavender, pink and white. They begin blooming in late summer and species are available ranging from 1 to 6 ft. in height.

Gerbera

The plants bloom summer through autumn in shades of red, yellow, orange, lavender, pink and white. They grow 6 to 12 inches tall and the blossoms can be cut for use in bouquets. They are equally at home in flowerbeds or containers. Gerberas are typically treated as perennials in South Florida. They like morning sun and afternoon shade.

Marigolds

The red, orange and yellows of marigolds provide color from spring to fall. The annuals can be grown in flowerbeds or as a potted plant and are attractive to butterflies. They’re available in species ranging from 6 in. tall to those that can reach 3 to 4 ft. in height.

Shooting Stars

Available in pink, purple and white varieties, shooting stars bloom May through June with uniquely shaped blossoms. A perennial and native wildflower found throughout the U.S. in wetlands and woodlands to semi-arid prairies, they grow to about 2 ft. high.

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

More popularly known as an English garden, its characterized by structured informality that gives it a wild appearance to the untrained eye. It provides a stark contrast to the strictly planted and regimented style typical of most gardens in the U.S.

The style was highly popular in England from the mid-18^th century to early 19^th century and can still be seen in the English countryside. It was designed as an idealized version of nature and pioneered by William Kent and Charles Bridgemen as a protest against rigid architectural style gardens.

Elements encompassed lakes or ponds, gently rolling lawns, tree groves, bridges, and even decorative Gothic type ruins were used to create a pastoral landscape in large tracts of land. In later years, it was revised to include graveled walkways, shrubs and flowers.

In rural areas, English gardens were practiced on a smaller scale that primarily focused on the plants without the rolling lawns, lakes, bridges and other decorative touches. Also known as cottage gardens, they relied more heavily on plants with fragrant blossoms, along with medicinals, herbs and vegetables. The English garden was also invested with political meaning – as in disrupting the established norms. Shrubs were often used as natural borders.

An English garden is full of contrasting colors, textures, shapes and sizes that provide relief from the formal, regimented styles of strict lines to create a softer look. The gardens were installed with mindfulness for complimentary plantings, successive bloom times, and natural harmony.

English and American gardeners have a distinctly different view of gardening. For those that prefer straight lines, minimal maintenance, want to impress the neighbors, or just want an appealing view from the outside, an English garden won’t satisfy. Those that enjoy a little wildness in their garden can create an English garden landscape that’s practical, whimsical and low maintenance with the correct mix of plants.

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

In days gone by, almost every home had a small herb garden just outside the back door. The herbs were used to flavor dishes and in preserving garden produce for the winter. The practice declined for many years, but is making a spectacular comeback as people seek natural spices and healthy alternatives.

Herbs typically don’t do well in intense heat and are best planted in the spring or autumn months in South Florida. However, herbs that include oregano, rosemary and thyme can be planted almost any time of the year and thrive. Some stay where they’re planted, while others like to spread and sprawl.

Plants or seeds can be planted directly in the ground, in raised beds, and in containers on decks and patios. It’s easy to tuck herbs in amongst flower beds. They’ll require at least 6 hours of sun and will do well being shaded from intense, afternoon sun – especially mint.

Plucking the newest leaves and pinching back plants when needed aids in extending the harvest, while helping to keep them from flowering. Herb production slows down when the plants bloom and they’ll try to produce seeds.

Basil is extremely popular and while some varieties are annuals, there are also perennial types. Peppermint and spearmint easily spread to other areas via underground roots. It’s best grown in pots where it can be contained. Oregano can be grown year-round as a perennial. Rosemary is a perennial that can get very large if not pinched back.

Chives can be cut to the ground if they become overgrown and they’ll begin to regrow in about a week. Dill adds flavor to a variety of dishes and can become a host for black swallowtail butterflies. Fennel is another herb that can be cut to the ground and regrow. It’s often a perennial in South Florida and also provides a home for the black swallowtail – along with parsley.

Sage is an herb that can also be grown as an ornamental. Shiso is a Japanese herb that does well in South Florida for those that enjoy Asian cuisine. Typically used as a sushi garnish, it’s also known as beefsteak plant.

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

An increasing number of people are turning to gardening to provide fresh food and to alleviate stress. Gardening can be extremely relaxing and provides opportunities for bonding experiences with children. Before deciding to plant a garden, consider how the bounty of the garden will be used and whether seeds will be planted in the ground or in raised boxes. It’s possible to create an urban garden that’s appealing to every member of the family.

Raised Beds

Easy to construct or purchase as pre-made, raised beds are easier to establish, maintain, and ensure the plants are receiving adequate water and nourishment. Raised boxes can be crafted in any size desired. Just add soil and they’re ready to plant. Depending on the available space, individual boxes can be assigned to children of different ages so they can grow their favorite vegetables – just don’t be surprised if they choose flowers instead of edibles.

Vertical Vegetables

Growing vertical veggies saves space, makes harvesting easier, and its fun for youngsters. There are multiple types of beans, peas and tomatoes that can be grown around a three-piece pole “teepee.” There’s also climbing spinach and cucumbers can be trained on trellises. While not edible, the smallest varieties of gourds and pumpkins can be grown vertically and appeal to children.

Containers

Great for gardeners with little space, container gardening isn’t just for flowers. Primarily used for salad greens and herbs, containers can also accommodate produce that includes peppers, green onions and mini cucumbers. They can be placed on decks and patios.

Preferred Vegetables

Perhaps the most important consideration when gardening is to plant vegetables that the whole family actually likes and will eat. Crops can even be rotated throughout the year. Some, such as lettuce, broccoli, cauliflower, radishes and carrots are cool weather crops that grow best before the heat of high summer arrives. Warm weather crops include zucchini, watermelon, sweet potatoes, okra and eggplant.

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

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

If your plantings aren’t meeting the vision you have for your garden, there are multiple ways to revitalize it and bring the garden back to vibrant life. Each garden is different and may call for a combination of methods. Much will depend on what you want to accomplish, how much work you want to invest in the process, and your budget.

Take Stock

Make a list of existing plants and anything you do or don’t like about them. They may be invasive, not suitable for the soil or climate, and require extensive tending that you may not have the time to perform. A plant may have overgrown its space and you may even discover that a pretty plant you chose is actually toxic to people and pets.

Thinning and Trimming

There’s no way around it – some of those plants will need to be thinned and trimmed to aid in eliminating clutter. That can encompass hiring a professional service to safely remove trees that are diseased, dying or interfering with the growth of other plantings. Trimming and thinning are excellent ways to promote new growth and blooming on poorly performing vines and bushes.

Transplant or Remove

You may want to transplant some plants to a new location if their sun, shade or moisture requirements aren’t being met. Another solution for plants you really want to keep but have outgrown their space, is to simply remove part of them. Don’t forget the value of leaving spaces for highly colorful annuals. Don’t despair over plants that must be completely removed – it’s an inevitable part of the process.

Soil and Mulch

Soil loses nutrients as plants use them. Be sure to check pH levels and amend the soil or fertilize as needed. Without proper nutrients, no garden will thrive and flourish. Mulch is also a critical ingredient. It preserves moisture and aids in minimizing weeds. If you have little time for the upkeep of a garden but want the benefits, choose plants that require little maintenance and grow well in the South Florida climate.

Hard Features

You may also want to plan for some hard features in your garden such as accent lighting, fountains, waterfalls, birdbaths, and pathways. It will all depend on the size of the garden and your budget, but even without hard features, you can bring your garden to life and make it the envy of your neighborhood.

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