Most are familiar with the shape of maples, oaks and flowering pear trees. There are some unusual trees native to countries around the world that can be grown in Florida due to the state’s unique climate. The trees have unusual appearances, growth habits, and histories that make them well worth the effort. It’s important before planting any species to ensure it’s not invasive.

Baobab

The first impression when people see a Baobab tree is that it was planted upside down. The effect is heightened when the tree sheds it leaves. It can be grown in South Florida, but may be tricky. It’s often referred to as the “Tree of Life” since it can live thousands of years. The trunks can hold several gallons of water and in its native Africa, it’s tapped and plugged for water.

Dawn Redwood

A holdover from prehistoric times and once thought to be extinct, it’s a deciduous tree that looks like an evergreen and has a distinctly pyramidal shape. The tree’s needles turn yellow and rust red each year before dropping. The hardy tree regrows its foliage each spring. It’s the smallest of the redwood species and can even survive northern winters.

Dragon’s Blood Tree

A native of the Socotra archipelago, it’s technically not a tree and gets its name from the red sap it produces. Its upturned canopy resembles an umbrella. Scientists classify the tree as a remnant of the Mio-Pliocene Laurasian forests that are almost entirely extinct.

Jabuticaba Tree

It’s an ordinary looking tree native to Brazil – until it produces fruit. Hairy white blooms give way to black fruit that grows in the branches and along the trunk. If conditions are right, it can fruit several times a year and many use the fruits to make juice or wine.

Rainbow Eucalyptus

This isn’t a tree to be grown in limited space as it can grow up to 250 ft. tall and is one of the fastest growing in the world. It gets its name from the strange coloration it displays when its bark is shed and each layer can be a different color. Over time, it returns to its natural brown hue before repeating the process. It has leaves that are more than six inches long that are aromatic when crushed and small white flowers when in bloom. It doesn’t tolerate frost.

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 have 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

Poinsettias and mistletoe add color and interest to homes during the holiday season, providing a festive environment. What you may not know is that many of those traditional decorative plants can cause a rash at the very least and some are highly toxic to children and pets.

It will be safer to purchase imitation plants with which to decorate. If you absolutely have to decorate with live plants, be sure they’re well above reach of children, dogs, cats, ferrets, birds and other pets. The following are some of the most popular plants for decorating during the holidays that you should know about.

Holly

The berries of the holly plant resemble candies to children and a plaything to pets, but eating the berries can be fatal.

Amaryllis

The big, beautiful blooms of amaryllis are a sight to behold and popular for decorating and gift giving. The bulbs and leaves are both toxic and can result in abdominal pain, convulsions and irregular heartbeat.

Calla Lily

The tubers are the primary danger. Ingesting them causes nausea and vomiting, along with convulsions and paralysis.

Cyclamen

Available in multiple colors, the tubers can result in nausea and vomiting, convulsions and paralysis.

Christmas Cactus

None of the cacti sold around the holidays is poisonous, but it causes nausea and vomiting in cats.

Christmas Trees

While cedars, firs and pines are only mildly toxic, ingesting the needles can result in perorations to the intestinal system. It’s unlikely that kids or pets would try to eat the needles, but it’s something of which you need to be aware.

Jerusalem Cherry

The plant is a species of nightshade and the fruits are poisonous. The fruits resemble cherry tomatoes, which make them attractive to children and pets, but they’re extremely dangerous to people, dogs, cats and birds.

Mistletoe

It may be fun to kiss under the mistletoe, but the plant produces a deadly toxin. Ingesting any part of the plant can cause nausea and abdominal pain, along with blurred vision and changes in blood pressure.

Peace Lily

The large white flowers of the peace lily beautiful, but they’re toxic to people if eaten and poisonous to dogs and cats.

Poinsettia

The brightly colored holiday flower isn’t poisonous, but the sap can cause varying degrees of irritation to the mouth, esophagus and stomach, resulting in nausea and vomiting.

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 have 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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The unique weather conditions in Florida means that you can still have colorful blossoms, even during the cooler months. Many flowering annuals can be planted in October and will provide color until spring.

African Daisy

Similar in appearance to a daisy, they’re available in striking single and bi-colored varieties. They’re especially prolific when temperatures are in the 50s or 60s. They’re great in beds, borders, and containers.

Calendula

Bold golden or yellow flowers and easy-care plants make this a favorite for brightening up any location. They’re best in beds and borders, but won’t balk at containers.

Cyclamen

Variegated, heart-shaped leaves and blooms in an array of colors are the hallmarks of this plant. They make a big impact in the garden or when planted in pots or containers.

Dianthus

There are dozens of fragrant species that achieve multiple heights and even a light frost won’t stop them. They’re great in borders or containers and some are tough enough that they’re classified as bi-annuals.

Dusty Miller

While they do bloom, the main attraction with these is their silver foliage. They’re an ideal filler plant for baskets and containers. They’re resistant to deer, drought, and disease.

Geraniums

These vigorous plants bloom profusely in cooler weather. They come in an assortment of colors, in upright and trailing varieties, that are great in pots, planters, and window boxes.

Pansies

These cheerful flowers love cooler weather and are available in a multitude of colors. They can be planted in beds, pots or containers.

Petunias

These hardy and prolific flowers actually do better outside the heat of summer. They’re available in solid and uniquely striped bi-colors and are happy in beds, pots or containers.

Snapdragons

They’re available in dwarf, standard and trailing types in multiple, vibrant colors. Depending on the size, they’re excellent in beds, containers and as cut flowers.

Sweet Alyssum

Bountiful blooms in multiple colors on small plants make them a welcome addition. They’re fragrant and perfectly happy in pots, borders and beds.

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 have 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

Every property has them – shady spots where nothing seems to grow. The good news is that there are a variety of shade-loving plants that will flourish without full sun. Some also have bright blossoms that will add a splash of color. Few annuals tolerate shade well, so your best option will be ground covers and perennials.

The first item of business is to determine what type of shade you have – light, moderate or deep shade. Some plants prefer four or fewer hours of sun in the morning or afternoon. Others are happy in dappled shade through tree leaves and some are happy in the shifting shade that comes in close proximity to pines and evergreens.

The most difficult areas of shade are those that are very dry or wet, where no sun shines at all, soil that has a significant amount of tree roots, and locations that are shaded by structures. In some instances, it can be helpful to thin and prune trees and bushes. It allows more indirect light to enter, but should only be done by a professional. The following plants are all good for shade gardening.

Begonias – Many types are available for varying degrees of shade, have showy flowers of white, yellow, red or orange and have single, double and ruffled blossoms.

Bleeding heart – Available in red, pink, yellow and white, they bloom profusely in the spring and may bloom sporadically throughout the year.

Campanula – Known as bellflowers, they’re offered in white and hues of pink, blue, and lavender, and range from dwarf varieties to those of 12 inches in height.

Hosta – They have very dense root systems, come in variegated and non-variegated leaf varieties, and have stalks of white, to deep purple blossoms.

Iris – The plants are available in a rainbow of flower colors and each species has its own bloom time.

Primrose – Available in a multitude of single and bi-colors, they’re low-growing and the species will determine bloom times.

Shade gardening can be especially challenging, but there are numerous perennial species from which to choose that will thrive in various states of shade. They also provide brightly colored blooms that will keep you enchanted throughout the year.

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 have 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

There are hundreds of places where weeds can crop up. Good weed control begins with appropriate precautions. There are numerous methods that can be utilized to minimize weed growth in lawns, flowerbeds and gardens that that doesn’t rely on chemicals.

Till the Soil

Tilling and turning the soil between plants makes it more difficult for weeds to root. It’s a strategy that should only be performed by landscaping professionals. They have the knowledge and experience to do so without inadvertently spreading weed seeds.

Mulching

In addition to impeding weed growth, mulching aids in retaining moisture for desirable plants. As the mulch breaks down and decomposes, it contributes to the health of the soil.

Landscape Fabric/Plastic Sheets

Landscape fabric is constructed with very tiny holes that allow water to flow through to the soil while blocking shoots from weeds. It’s best used in conjunction with mulch. Plastic sheeting can be laid in flower beds to block weed growth. Cutouts in the plastic allow for the planting of desirable plants in specific ways.

Edging

Using edging around plant beds and along drives and walkways prevents weeds from sending roots into unwanted areas and spreading.

Autumn Care

Many common weeds are dead by the autumn. Reseeding a lawn is one method that can be employed in the fall to help combat weeds. As the grass seed germinates and attempts to spread its roots, it will help block weeds that are trying to rejuvenate themselves and make it more difficult for them to take root in the spring.

It’s essential that the seeds from weeds not be allowed to be disseminated to sow themselves in other locations. The best way to accomplish that is by eliminating them before they have time to flower and spread or by burning stalks. A single dandelion has the ability to produce 15,000 seeds every year and they have a high germination rate.

A thick and healthy lawn will reduce the growth of weeds through the simply expedient of crowding them out. Groundcovers are also an option to minimize weeds. The truth is that weeds exploit any open area. There’s no way to completely and permanently prevent weeds, but they can be significantly reduced.

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 have 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

Most people think in terms of one or the other when considering a fence or hedge. Home and business owners don’t have to limit themselves to just one option. There are charming and innovative ways for individuals to combine both if they desire.

Hedges

A living hedge has a softer, more natural look. A myriad of bushes can be used to accommodate varying height preferences and to create a formal or informal look. Hedges are less expensive, offer some shade, and provide shelter for wildlife. They’re also beneficial as a noise barrier, make a good windbreak, and increase the value of the property.

The drawback is that they can require several years to reach mature height and will require work to maintain a pleasing appearance. They can also easily encroach on the property of others if not trimmed regularly and may require a permit to install.

Fences

While fences have a harder appearance than a hedge, they’re also far more effective at keeping people out if security is an issue. Fencing options are now available that are eco-friendly, almost entirely maintenance free, and can even withstand hurricane force winds. Depending upon the type of fencing, they won’t need painting or staining.

A fence will almost definitely require a permit to install. They’re more expensive, but offer a good return on the investment. Fencing offers instant privacy, security, and a barrier against sound.

Hedges and Fences

The two can be combined for the most advantageous benefits of both. The most common pairing is chain link or fencing with a wrought iron look that’s combined traditional hedge plantings. The fence is placed on the outside for security and the hedge is planted on the inside of the fence. The arrangement will keep children and pets contained in safety and the plantings will provide shade and noise barrier.

No Simple Choice

Fencing, hedges or a combination of both each have their adherents. Ultimately, the decision will be up to the home or business owner, their budget, and the primary reason for the installation. It’s best to consult with a landscaping professional that can provide advice on the different options available.

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 have 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

RCH Landscaping is a full-service residential 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 have 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