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We are now installing internet based irrigation controllers that are tied into the local weather stations through the internet to help monitor irrigation needs on a real time basis.

The homeowners had a deep appreciation of Polynesian and African architecture and locations and wanted the home to reflect the culture, materials and design themes of those rich cultures. Together with the home builder, Michael K Walker & Associates, they decided to open the home design up by means of a contest. Guy Peterson OFA, was selected with the winning design, that featured a series of connected pavilions utilized design cues that drew from both the Polynesian and African cultures but also incorporated the highly functional and clean lines of modern architecture. Additionally the home utilizes many of the latest green-technologies to have a minimal impact on the local environment.

Waterfront areas such as Sarasota or Bradenton even more so as the close proximity to the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico prevent serious frosts even in the odd cold snap. When planning a landscape, a designer can utilize a full palette of plant material with everything from exotic tropical palm trees, fruit trees, ornamentals, cacti and succulents, and of course native trees and shrubs.

A garden is truly a living sculpture. Any landscape design concept should be to provide the garden occupants a pleasant area for entertainment and relaxation. Planning a landscape begins with the desires of the owners as well as the abilities of the land. In Florida, many landscape design concepts need to begin with the natural water in the area. The plans need to extend to consider runoff and how the plants and land will tolerate salt water intrusion from weather events and of course a scarcity of water during Florida's dry season.

The new landscape gallery provides a novel way for visitors to view past projects based on clickable tags. The gallery showcases the company's work in a way that will be more relevant for visitors with specific interests.

Visitors interested in a specific location, or design aspect such as "water feature" can simply click the tag to view the related projects. The gallery includes high-quality photos and job descriptions from various landscape design and maintenance jobs around the Sarasota area including the barrier islands.

With the end of the rainy season and the onset of Florida's long dry season it's a great time to take a look at your irrigation system and determine if everything is in order. Below are some tips to help you make sure you are both providing enough water to keep your turn and landscape healthy and not using too much resulting in higher costs, unhealthy plants and breaking water restrictions.

The State of Florida is currently experiencing the introduction of new harmful insects that specifically feed on plants and trees. In an effort to reduce broad applications of dangerous insecticides, we are exploring the release of beneficial insects into the landscape.

Pathways along properties are a great example of a small space that has lots of potential. While a path along a home or property line may not have a large horizontal surface it also has a large vertical surface to make use of. Florida's climate allows us to use a variety of vines that will cling to vertical surfaces and can provide a stunning backdrop. If the area is under full sun at least 6 hrs per day bougainvillea can be grown and cropped to create a path lined with colorful magenta blooms. Varieties of Jasmine can be planted to provide both a visual feast and a treat for the sense with amazing fragrant blooms and dark thick foliage. Many small to medium sized palm trees are perfect for lining paths or for use in other small spaces. Our professional designers can create an the illusion more space by curving the path or having it wind around other focal points like, bird baths, park benches, large planters or decorative vases.

Projects on Siesta Key, Longboat Key and other Sarasota area properties that are directly on the waterfront require a well-planned design that takes in account several factors. First and foremost the design has to look great, but because the property is directly on the water extra care is needed to make sure any water that runs off the roof, and hard surfaces of the property is reduced to trapped to keep pollutants and excess fertilizer from washing into the bay.

As the Sarasota area continues to grow one of the challenges developers, architects and city planners will encounter when building a structure or creating a paved road is the effect of a large non-permeable surface has on runoff. Once a large waterproof surface has been created it can generates massive amounts of runoff during a rain storm.

Other than the term “Landscape Design” no other term in the landscape construction industry is more general than “Hardscape”. Hardscaping can serve many purposes and can be anything from simple pottery in a planted are to large water features, pool decks, stone terraces, pavilions or outdoor fireplaces. Adding hardscape elements to the natural landscape can completely change the nature of a space by adding an artistic focal point, improved access, a new function or enhanced privacy.

A presentation recently posted by Grants Gardens featuring detailed information on the differences between Florida native Plants and use of exotics in local landscapes. In this presentation Grant explains how native plants can be a benefit to home owners in landscape maintenance savings, water usage savings, reduce environmental impact and enhance the sustainability of a home.

As a landscape designer who believes in a reduced impact on the local environment is always the best way to go I rarely recommend large amounts of turf, especially when that turf is located along Sarasota's canals or bays.

Driving about on Siesta Key or Sarasota roadways you may seem some pretty exotic looking palm trees. While some of these are fairly well-known there are plenty of exotic palm tree species around to keep a tropical plant or gardening enthusiast interested.

Here are some of the reasons why people become disillusioned with irrigation systems. If you are dissatisfied with your current irrigation system contact Grants Gardens and we will be happy to design and install a custom irrigation system that will perform well without headaches. We also can repair or upgrade current systems to bring them into top performance.

For those without a skilled lawn maintenance company at their beck and call maintaining a beautiful green lawn of the unpredictable Florida winter can be difficult. Will winters in the Sarasota area are extremely mild, the combination of often, a prolonged dry season with a few cold fronts that can pass through, adds stresses to turf that are not present most of the year.

One of the benefits of living in the Sarasota Florida area is being able to grow beautiful and productive citrus trees. Nothing says Florida like being out side in the evening when the fragrance of blooming Orange trees is carried in the air.

The wonderful micro-climate on the Sarasota area islands, like Longboat Key, Siesta Key and Lido key create a warmer area making it possible to grow tropical plants from hardiness zones further south. This allows for islands landscapers to select from a large variety of palm trees including some very exotic species to create a tropical paradise in your yard.

The Rugose Spiraling Whitefly, also known as Gumbo Limbo Spiraling Whitefly is new Whitefly to South West Florida. This new whitefly is a large, slow-moving insect capable of infesting a wide range of landscape plants such as: Gumbo Limbo, White Bird of Paradise, Mango, Black Olive, Palms, Copperleaf, Cocoplum, Wax Myrtle.

Are your old hedges looking tired and are not providing privacy? Your hedge may be a candidate for rejuvenation. Rejuvenation pruning is an aggressive pruning practice to restore and reinvigorate hedging plant material. Healthy plants and correct timing are important considerations. The preferred time for rejuvenation/renovative pruning is just before bud break in the early spring. The aggressively pruned shrubs will flush and in a very short space of time take on a healthy vigorous growth habit.

Nothing says Florida like a yard with large palm trees. But in the Sarasota area especially in waterfront locations like Longboat Key, and Siesta Key you can select from a huge variety of palms for your landscape. However with all that variety of palm tree shapes, sizes and colors also comes a variety of conditions suitable for each. To help make sense of things we will be posting updates on different varieties of palm trees to help you in your plant selections.

Longboat Key's climate and location, while beautiful does present some challenges for large landscape projects. Particularly for waterfront locations when the home owner wants a really impressive tropical landscape that's runs right up to either a canal or beach front.

The Sarasota area economy prospers when we attract visitors both seasonal and new residents. Everyone who visits our area is impressed with the amazing tropical landscapes with lush exotic plants that line the beachfront homes and neighborhoods of Sarasota and her islands.

After years of providing great landscape design and maintenance service for Sarasota's most beautiful locations, Grants Gardens wants your vote. The Sarasota Herald Tribune is holding the Readers Choice Awards and we would be deeply honored if you would put in a good word for the hardworking Landscapers, Arborists, Irrigation specialists and designers at Grants Gardens.

During the Florida summer landscapes are usually blessed with plenty of water and optimum growing conditions for the tropical plants Southwest Floridians love. But with fall it's as if a switch is thrown and just like that the rains nearly stop. For many t would seem the solution is simple – just increase your landscape irrigation or water your turf more, however while that is part of the solution it's not the whole story. Coupled with the dryer conditions is cooler temps and and almost guaranteed cold snap or two. The somewhat unpredictable temperatures of our area during the winter months can make applying the correct amount of water to your landscape more challenging.

Holiday lights add cheer to the season, but if not properly installed and cared for, they can become a hazard. Make your holiday a safe one by inspecting and testing your lights before hanging them. Use caution with placement and use, and never leave the lights unattended if you are not home.

Use extension cords correctly. Do not use inside cords for outside decoration, and do not overload them by putting more than three strings of lights into one cord. Try to use the length of cord that you will need. Current going through the cords can heat them up, so you do not want a cord coiled on the floor in layers. This could be a fire hazard.

Turn the holiday lights off periodically when they are on a Christmas tree, especially a cut tree inside your home. The lights can heat up, especially if there is an undetected crack in the cord, causing a fire. After four hours, give the bulbs a little time to cool off before putting them back on. If you have a live Christmas tree keep it watered, a dry tree is most liable to catch fire from even a spark caused by pulling the cord out of a socket.

Should I use LED lights?

They look just like the standard incandescent holiday that you’ve grown used to, only better. For one thing, they last longer with a 50,000 hour bulb life, they are safer – due to burning at a lower temperature, and are practically unbreakable. But most importantly, the LED lights are more efficient – they use 90% less energy than the lights your neighbor Phil leaves up year-round.

According to the website getwithgreen.com, an average Christmas tree decorated with incandescent string lights will use 75 KW per 30-day period. The same tree using LED lights will burn only 7.5 KW, a savings of 68.5 KW per Christmas tree. Consider if you will, the sheer number of Christmas Trees in your neighborhood, your town, or your city. Throw in the amount of outdoor lighting that we see this time of year as well, and that’s a significant amount of energy being used – energy that could be saved merely by everyone switching to the more eco-friendly LED lighting.

Save Money and be Safer By Properly Storing Holiday Lights

Storing the lights so they do not crimp and tangle is for safety reasons, but also makes it easier for you to use them the following year. Coil them up and keep them in place using bread twist ties and then store them in a plastic bag, freezer bag size. You can also wind them around an empty cardboard wrapping paper roll and then cut a slit in the cardboard to anchor the end. By correctly storing your lights, you will get many years of use from them.

Wash your hands immediately after handling your holiday lights. Many of the cords contain lead, and it can rub off on your hands. There will be a manufacturer’s warning on your lights if they contain this substance.

Happy Holidays and if all of the above sounds like too much work contact Grants Gardens – We now offer a holiday lighting decorating service! Just Call us and we will bring and install a beautiful lighting display that is sure to get your neighbors attention.

Looking to add some additional color to your landscape for your holiday guests?

Grants Gardens can make your home more festive by adding some colorful plantings including beautiful flowers with your landscape maintenance service. We love to add color to landscapes, however please remember it’s the season (as in snowbird season) and you should plan ahead by requesting your next colorful additions at least two weeks.

Why? Grants Gardens always uses the highest quality plants for our landscaping service and that means we do not store the plants for long periods of time, rather we get the plants for your landscape fresh from the nurseries just prior to planting in your yard. This ensures only healthy full plants are used but also means we may need additional time to procure your plants during the busy season.

Another bit of news to consider for Impatiens lovers – the Impatiens crop has been wiped out by a fungus called Downy Mildew so it will take time for growers to get resupplied with resistant strains, however fear not. Grants Gardens can still add bursting color to your landscape this holiday season, we have excellent varieties of Begonias and Geraniums.

Both Begonias and Geraniums come in several stunning colors. Sarasota area residents will find this a perfect choice for decorating this holiday season. Colorful and hardy these beautiful flowers really bring life and color to your garden.