Quote:
Originally Posted by Bonanza
I've been in Florida over 30 years and by design, we do not have one palm on our property. I don't know what the problem is with the leaves falling in the fall. Most residents don't do their own lawns anyway, so it isn't a problem. For those that do, a mulching mower will take care of the problem and the leaves here or there can be blown off the planted areas. Regarding the dense shade that oaks and other shade trees provide, there are many solutions to the sparse grass growing underneath them and that is not an issue.
I happen to like the birds and wildlife that many flowering trees and oaks attract. On the other hand, palms attract cockroaches in particular and other insects, and rats choose to live in their canopy. Palms also require much more maintenance than trees, which translates into $$$.
Many residents have moved here from the north and west and want the so-called tropical look of palms. Trees provide personal shade and shade from the hot sun for your house. In turn, because of the shade they provide, they do help with your electric bill.
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Regarding the two phrases highlighted in red above:
1. Obviously you haven't
lived with one of these florida oaks shading your driveway, yard and/or house. Contrary to your phrase implying these florida oaks drop leaves only in the fall, their leaves AND GAZILLIONS OF TINY ACORNS that
rot quickly
do not "fall in the fall". They fall for 7-8 months, from about July thru March!!
Unless you sweep and wash the driveway and sidewalk up to the front door every day, all the black/brown
filth and rot from the leaves, tiny sticks and acorns get walked into the house or garage on shoe soles, and not everybody (especially seniors with physical problems) wants to go thru removing their shoes every time they walk into the house or garage. It is a constant mess to clean up to not have it tracked in and dirty or stain the rugs and floors.
2. "Many residents have moved here from the north and west" and came specifically to enjoy
greenery all year long, instead of everything looking DEAD and naked from Sept. thru April. Palms are a daily reminder that we're
not living in the cold, grey, frozen, dead-looking north as we did for decades since birth. The graceful, whispering palms outside are a joy to look at and they're what I "write home about" most.