Florida is one of the world’s highest lightning strike regions. Securely grounding homes and buildings is a common practice (and building code requirement) to mitigate the damage done by random hits from these high voltage events. This same type of system can be used on trees to improve their chances of surviving a lightning strike….Read more
Tag: Home Landscaping and Gardening
A Spicy Addition to the Home Garden in the Sunshine State
Panhandle Florida’s gardens are still producing in August, at least in plots where the weeds have not overtaken the remaining vegetable plants. Granted, the choice of crops is limited to a few stalwarts able to handle the 90-degree plus temperatures, the high humidity and the intermittent rains, some of which have been brutal in their…Read more
Techniques for When Your Trees Need a Little Extra Support
When reviewing trees for safety, identifying hazardous or weak limbs which may fail is an important part of the evaluation. Poor structure, decay caused by disease or other defects may be the cause of the problem bough. The usual remedy for resolving the threat is the removal of the dangerous limbs that have the potential…Read more
Keeping Palms Healthy in the Sunshine State
Technically panhandle Florida is on the borderline of the sub-tropics by virtue of its latitudinal location. It is roughly halfway between the tropical zone and the northern temperate zone, getting, by most estimates, the best of both worlds. There are winters here and they are usually pretty mild, at least by Minnesota standards. A light…Read more
One Way a Storm’s Effects Can Be Seen Long Into the Future
The likely aftermath of Hurricane Debby has the potential to be anywhere from inconvenient for some panhandle Florida homeowners to severe for others. At the very least there will be many twigs, branches and limbs to remove from the yard and landscape. Many will experience the loss of a favored tree, or its severe damage….Read more
A Fine Native Addition to the Garden
Spring is typically considered the season of flowers in panhandle Florida. While there are blooms during the rest of the year, in the relatively moderate climate of panhandle Florida, it is spring which displays the majority of the blossoms. It is true that Juan Ponce de Leon named this state, albeit indirectly. He landed somewhere…Read more
The Importance of Pollinators in the Home Landscape
Numerous studies have demonstrated the importance of pollinators to our ecosystems. The insects and animals that move pollen from one plant to another ensure a good majority of the world’s crop and food production. Recent studies have shown that approximately 75 percent of the plants cultivated for human benefit are pollinated by insect and animal…Read more
Summer Watering Tips in the Sunshine State
One fact everyone can agree on is it is hot, and humid, in panhandle Florida. The heat and humidity have been a daily experience for weeks, starting well before sunrise and continuing past sunset. In all likelihood this sticky trend will continue for at least several months. Still, there are many home landscaping chores which…Read more
The Legal Responsibilities of Tree Ownership
We are blessed in Florida to have so many amazing trees and rich urban canopies. Unfortunately, just like in many other states, urban canopies are under constant stress from development and construction activities. Many property owners have trees in poor structural condition, trees that have suffered from neglect, disease, construction damage, or which are simply…Read more
Important Watering Tips for Surviving Summer’s Heat
It has been really hot outside, and dry too. Any July in north Florida is usually in the low 90’s to nobody’s surprise, but in 2024 even the weeds are wilting between showers. This heatwave began in June and will run on for an indeterminate length. The landscape, along with people and pets, is reflecting…Read more