[graciegirl]

Up here in Ohio, I would just hop in my car and drive to the nursery, pick out plants, bushes, trees etc. and bring them home, dig a hole and drop them in.

When I ask questions about planting things here, people always say things like "Your landscaper will get the proper permits."

I wasn't planning on a landscaper except for a largish palm to shade the lanai. (green bananas mindset) Need shade NOW.

What is allowed and not allowed by the supreme beings who govern all in The Villages?

I am still thinking in the mindset of annuals, like petunias, are they perennials in Florida? Do they grow at all? (Since there is no dormant time etc.) Does Lowes and Home Depot sell plants like they do here in Ohio?

Now don't get ideas that I am going to try to plant a rainforest, I am not. I just like to have a hand in things and love to get dirty. I LIKE to garden.

[samhass]

Gracie, If they prosecuted everyone in TV that planted something w/o a permit, I'll bet up to 95% would stand accused. I think when you start adding hardscaping like walls and such you must go before the ARB.

[MnGirl]

You can plant almost anything. Just not Bamboo. The Villages is more concerned about walls, fences, structures of any kind. Petunias, only grow in the winter. Knock Out Roses, and Bush Daisies are the only plant I believe that blooms all year.

[Lil Dancer]

I believe tehcnically you'e supposed to submit all landscaping plans to the Architectural Review Board, but as Samhass said, most probably do not. I did get an okay from ARB to plant bamboo, but it was the clumping variety, not the running type (that is extremely invasive!).

The bush daisies MnGirl mentioned are really pretty and bloom a long time (yellow). Lantana seems to bloom a long time. Mine bloomed all winter (it comes in purple or gold variety). My hibiscus bloomed all winter too, I don't know what it does in the summer. The blooms were spectacular - just a $3.99 plant I bought at Lowe's. But you need to cover it up when it gets really cold.

[handieman]

Gracie?? Go for it. Over to Home Depot and Lowes you will have a ball deciding what to plant. There is a nursery just down the hill south of colony plaza on 466a. They are very friendly and helpful and the prices are very reasonable. Just use common sense and you will have no complaints just compliments. They get kinda picky if you plant closer than 5 feet of the street so keep that in mind. Besides the snowplows damage your plants :yikes:

Handie :joke:

[Hancle704]

Just be careful about what you plant close to house. With an extended growing season you may find that trees and bushes grow faster,fuller and taller than you may have experienced in the past. They can be very difficult to move later on.

Look around and ask before you spend the money. Another caution, some folks will sell you anything, and not all trees, shrubs and plants can tolerate the sometimes cooler weather and occasional frost in Central FL. as well as those that are indigenous to So. FL.

[Hyacinth Bucket]

Wisteria - we have been traveling in France for the past two weeks and everywhere we looked people had Wisteria growing all around their houses. Has anyone had any luck with this plant in TV?

I was told that the plants that I saw were decades old.

Hyacinth Bucket

[samhass]

Hyacinth, I have wisteria in Pa. I'll bet it would love Florida.

[Mikitv]

summers in ARK are extremely hot and Hibiscus do real well here. Do see lots of wisteria down here too but only blooms in the spring. Hibiscus don't do very well here in winter because of low 20-30 temps but summer they are constantly blooming.

[travelstiles]

I found the following book helpful, and it can be purchased at Barnes & Noble:
Gardening in Florida, a Month-by-Month Guide by Tom MacCubbin.
Also, check out the local garden clubs, and the cooperative extension center programs at http://sumter.ifas.ufl.edu/.

[Lil Dancer]

Originally Posted by Hancle704

Just be careful about what you plant close to house. With an extended growing season you may find that trees and bushes grow faster,fuller and taller than you may have experienced in the past. They can be very difficult to move later on.

Look around and ask before you spend the money. Another caution, some folks will sell you anything, and not all trees, shrubs and plants can tolerate the sometimes cooler weather and occasional frost in Central FL. as well as those that are indigenous to So. FL.

This is very good advice. I look at some of the landscaping that even the professionals have done, and the plantings are too close to each other. Probably the owner wants an "immediate impact", but down the road you'll spend all your time pruning. Also, as Hancle said, the frost can be a problem. If you're going to be around, and you don't mind covering up somethng once in awhile, this may not be a problem. Also, depending on your house, you may have microclimates where you can get away with a frost intolerant plant or two. Our house is block and stucco, and retains the heat, so my hibiscus can stand the cold down to mid 20's before i have to cover it up. Our neighbors have some shrubs they didn't cover, and the frost got them, but once spring came the shrubs came back and now they're beautiful. So that's another option too.

[Hyacinth Bucket]

Sam thanks for the info. I will plant some when we get to TV.

Travel, I have seen this book - what is your opinion of it?

Thanks,

HB

[rsetterlund]

Handie,

While we were in TV we visited an open house. The agent informed us that TV has a 20 foot set back from the street and you have to stay 10 feet from that (20 + 10 = 30). But that is for extending your home. We talked to many TV owners and they all plant flowers next to their homes with out getting permits. As others have said if you are reasonable you should not get into trouble.

[jadebox]

Can you imagine how clogged up the permit office would get if everyone had to get permission to plant a flower. Maybe palms, schrubs,walkways etc but please none needed for flowers.