Professional Landscape Planting and Garden Design in Southwest Florida
Vibrant, Florida-Friendly Plantings Installed for Long-Term Success
Our professional plant installation services transform bare yards into lush tropical paradises by selecting the right species for your specific soil and light conditions. We serve homeowners in North Port, Port Charlotte, Venice, and Englewood, applying the “Right Plant, Right Place” philosophy which is the cornerstone of the Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ program. Many landscapes fail because plants are installed too deep, in poor soil, or in areas with incompatible drainage. Our experienced crews handle every detail, from excavating proper planting pits and amending the native sand with organic compost to setting plants at the correct grade to prevent root rot. We coordinate seamlessly with irrigation services to ensure new plantings receive the critical water coverage needed for establishment. Whether you need a privacy hedge of Clusia or Podocarpus, a colorful bed of Crotons and Hibiscus, or a stunning Foxtail Palm centerpiece, we design layouts that account for the mature size of the plants, preventing overcrowding. By combining high-quality nursery stock with rock or mulch finishes and concrete curbing borders, we create sustainable, low-maintenance gardens that thrive in the Florida heat.
- Instantly boosts curb appeal with vibrant colors and textures
- Increases privacy with strategically placed hedging and screening
- Reduces cooling costs by shading home walls and A/C units
- Prevents erosion by stabilizing soil with deep root systems
- Prevents erosion by stabilizing soil with deep root systems
Privacy Hedges
We install dense, fast-growing screening plants like Areca Palms, Clusia, or Podocarpus along property lines. Proper spacing ensures a solid "living wall" for privacy while allowing enough airflow to prevent fungal diseases common in humid climates.
Tropical Accents
Add splashes of color with tropical varieties like Crotons, Ixora, and Hibiscus. We group plants with similar water and light needs together, following tropical design principles to create cohesive, vibrant beds that pop against green sod.
Specimen Palms
We install large statement palms such as Foxtails, Christmas Palms, or Roebelenii. Our team handles the heavy lifting and bracing required to ensure these expensive trees remain upright and stable during their critical rooting period.
Successful planting projects require more than just digging a hole; they demand a deep understanding of horticulture and local environmental factors. Our process begins with a site evaluation to determine sun exposure (full sun vs. shade), soil composition, and drainage patterns. We select plant material from reputable local nurseries, ensuring you receive healthy, pest-free stock acclimatized to our region. During installation, we follow UF/IFAS planting specifications: digging holes 1.5 times wider than the root ball but no deeper, ensuring the root flare sits slightly above grade to encourage oxygen exchange. We amend the backfill soil with organic matter to improve nutrient retention in our sandy soil. Post-installation is just as critical; we adjust your sprinkler system to provide the daily watering required for establishment and apply a layer of mulch or rock to retain moisture and regulate soil temperature. We also educate you on long-term care, including fertilization schedules and pruning techniques. Whether part of a full landscape renovation or a simple garden refresh, our planting services are backed by expertise that ensures your investment grows.
Plant Categories
Crotons
Bold, multicolored foliage plants that thrive in the Florida sun, perfect for adding year-round color without relying on seasonal flowers.
Clusia
Drought-tolerant, broad-leafed hedging plants (Autograph Tree) that create excellent low-maintenance privacy screens and salt-tolerant barriers.
Hibiscus
Classic tropical shrubs producing large, vibrant blooms in reds, pinks, and yellows, ideal for accent corners and pool decks.
Foxtail Palm
Self-cleaning palms with bushy, plume-like fronds that add an elegant, high-end tropical look to driveways and center islands.
Crape Myrtle
Flowering deciduous trees offering spectacular summer blooms and interesting bark texture, widely used as hardy ornamental focal points.
Roebelenii
Pygmy Date Palms are small, multi-trunk accent palms perfect for tight spaces, entryways, or planting inside pool cages.
Liriope
Grass-like border plants used to define bed edges and walkways, offering durability and neat, clumping growth habits.
Jasmine
Spreading groundcover (Minima) that creates a dense, weed-suppressing mat, often used as a turf substitute in shady areas.
Blue Daze
Low-growing flowering plants featuring true blue flowers that love the heat and cascade beautifully over retaining walls.
Pro Installation
Root Bound Plants
Improper Depth
Wrong Location
Lack of Water
DIY Planting
Root Bound Plants
Improper Depth
Wrong Location
Lack of Water
Design & Layout
We arrange plants while still in pots to visualize the layout, ensuring proper spacing and layering before digging begins.
This “staging” phase allows us to adjust the design for the best aesthetic. We account for the mature width of each plant so they won’t crowd each other or your house in a few years.
Soil Prep
We remove weeds and amend the sandy soil with organic compost to improve water retention and nutrient availability.
Florida’s sandy soil drains too quickly for many plants. Adding organic matter gives new roots a “sponge” to drink from, significantly increasing survival rates during the stress of transplanting.
Installation
We dig holes to the correct depth, ensuring the root flare is visible, and backfill firmly to eliminate air pockets.
Planting too deep (“volcano planting”) suffocates roots and causes rot. We plant slightly high or level with the grade, following industry best practices for air pruning and root health.
Water & Finish
We hand-water every plant to settle the soil and install mulch or rock to lock in moisture and regulate temperature.
The first watering is the most important. We also check your irrigation system to ensure heads are spraying the new beds and set the timer for a temporary establishment schedule.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions About New Plants
Watering is the single most critical factor in plant survival. For the first 30 days, most new shrubs and trees require daily irrigation to keep the root ball moist while roots expand into the surrounding soil. According to UF/IFAS establishment guidelines, 3-gallon shrubs need about 1 gallon of water per irrigation event. After the first month, you can gradually taper off to every other day, then to twice a week. We will program your irrigation timer for this “establishment schedule,” but you must monitor it. If plants look wilted in the afternoon heat but perk up in the morning, that is normal. If they stay wilted, they need water immediately.
No, you should generally wait 30 to 60 days before applying heavy granular fertilizer to new plantings. New roots are sensitive and can be “burned” by salts in fertilizer. The plants come from the nursery fully charged with nutrients. The priority for the first two months is root growth, not leaf growth. Once established, you can begin a regular fertilization schedule, preferably using a slow-release product with minor elements (Magnesium, Iron, Manganese) tailored for Florida soils, following local fertilizer ordinances which often ban nitrogen/phosphorus during the summer rainy season.
Despite best efforts, “transplant shock” can sometimes occur. We source only high-quality, healthy stock from reputable nurseries to minimize this risk. If a plant fails within a specified period (typically 30 days for labor/materials) due to installation error or plant defect, we will replace it. However, plant warranties generally do not cover “Acts of God” like hurricanes, frost damage, or—most importantly—lack of watering by the homeowner. Since we cannot control your irrigation timer after we leave, ensuring the water stays on is the homeowner’s responsibility. We provide detailed care instructions to help you succeed.
Planting too close to the foundation is a common mistake that leads to moisture problems, pest access, and root damage. We adhere to proper spacing guidelines based on the plant’s mature size, not its size in the pot. Generally, shrubs should be planted at least 2-3 feet from the wall to allow for airflow and maintenance access. Larger trees should be significantly further away to prevent branches from rubbing the roof or roots interfering with the foundation. We design layouts that frame your house beautifully without compromising its structural integrity or creating a bridge for ants and termites.