[Ozzello]

Seeing SO MANY zone 10 plants working into your 9B landscapes. (You can claim 9A, but I will disagree.)

Just saw dozens of large Clusia around a new home last week. THEY WON'T LIVE HERE. Any more than the Foxtail Palms, Areca Palms or Bottle Palms that were suddenly commonly used (At least by uneducated and greedy landscapers) when Feeney was being built..
Pretty stuff is so easy to sell. Just look at all the dead crotons every year. And landscapers telling you 29 degrees was a "cold winter".

Folks. you can expect an AVERAGE winter, to hit 25 F a couple times.

Just because your new landscape designer is down the street working or works at big pretty nursery does not make them educated nor give them integrity. You should look for both. There are a few of us out there, but 80% of the new landscapes out there are going to need extensive and EXPENSIVE RE-LANDSCAPING within 3 to 5 years. Yes, that means most of you.
Don't be in such a hurry that you landscape your home TWICE in a length of time where well designed landscapes are still getting better.

Google is on your phone folks, if your landscape designer has you at a nursery picking out your plants, and going to use every plant you chose to landscape your house, AT LEAST Google the cold hardiness, and how large those plants get.
Stop believing everything you hear. Making a lot of money landscaping, does not mean they are good landscapers, it means they are good salespeople.

[Babbs1957]

I'm glad you wrote that, it now all makes sense. Last month I visited a palm nursery looking for a particular palm (not knowing what I was doing). The guy working there said they won't have that palm until the summer palms come in. He then pointed around and said to wait until I saw all these removed and all new tilling complete. Then I would know the summer palms will be coming in.

So they sell the winter palms to some and the summer palms to the others? I guess a warranty on life would not make sense. Each year, the opposite season palm has issues, so the excuse is it was a weird cold snap or summer water issues? I guess it would actually live, just not very well with slow growth, poor leaves and an overall sickly look year after year. Still alive, so warranty kinda pointless.

[Ozzello]

Originally Posted by Babbs1957

I'm glad you wrote that, it now all makes sense. Last month I visited a palm nursery looking for a particular palm (not knowing what I was doing). The guy working there said they won't have that palm until the summer palms come in. He then pointed around and said to wait until I saw all these removed and all new tilling complete. Then I would know the summer palms will be coming in.

So, they sell the winter palms to some and the summer palms to the others? I guess a warranty on life would not make sense. Each year, the opposite season palm has issues, so the excuse is it was a weird cold snap or summer water issues? I guess it would actually live, just not very well with slow growth, poor leaves and an overall sickly look year after year. Still alive, so warranty kind of pointless.

There are no "summer" or "winter" palms. If the palm is healthy and planted correctly, and WATERED properly... summer isn't a problem for ANY palm.
There are a very few palms with a shade preference. Younger Chinese Fan and Lady Palm are the bulk of what you should be planting in this area that should have partial shade or even full shade.

Most of the issues I am seeing with newly planted palms are caused by mounding, poor handling, and poor planting methods by installers or nurseries. Next comes the "I turned off my irrigation because it rained a 1/4" a couple days a few months back" poor looking plants people. I won't go further into them.

I began studying horticulture in 1980 and continue to do so. Have conversed with world class landscapers, and horticulturists with master's degrees from all over the world for nearly half a century, and NEVER HEARD, of a winter or summer palm.
Would LOVE to know what nursery is spreading this nonsense, and to what end.
I find much misinformation beginning in nurseries stem from lazy help, or greedy help, or just plain dumb help.

I even published last year, (speaking of landscape plants and trees, not annuals) "If you can't plant it in the winter here, you shouldn't plant it here... ever". Same goes for the other 3 seasons.

And there is NO PLANT or TREE, that I suggest or design into my landscapes, that I don't give a 1-year warrantee on, WHENEVER I plant it.
Though I will plant for customers that WANT crotons or other subtropical planted , after I educate them, and explain they are not covered against freeze.

[Nell57]

I’ve lived in florida for 16 years and I agree with everything OZELLO says.
Take your time…enjoy learning about Florida Friendly plants. Pay attention to the plants The Villages is using in their plantings. You know they want hardy selections.
Yes crotons are touchy and you might lose them. It’s still a plant I’ll sometimes use, for the color. I think of them the way I did of geraniums in the north. Maybe more of an annual than a perennial.
But Many years they will survive several seasons.
Remember in Florida plants want to live. Sometimes by just cutting the dead foliage all the way to the ground it will regrow.
Palm trees? Take your time and enjoy your research.
Don’t let landscapers overplant your property. It’s all going to GROW….and you’ll pay a lot to landscapers for maintenance.

[Ozzello]

Agreed Nell.

So many landscaper/nurseries out for a quick buck.

Remember, there is NO ZERO MAINTENANCE.
Everything that grows needs water, food, and the much overlooked.. PROPER pH window for the soil.
The newer the area (of The Villages) you live in, the more likely someone is trying to scam you into a poorly designed landscape. Get a couple estimates, learn what the plants and trees they suggest look like, and then drive North of Hwy 44 and look at those homes and how those suggestions look now. If you don't see ANY of those plants or trees, call some more landscape designers.
Big difference between a REAL landscape designer, and a landscape salesman. Only a handful of good designers out there with the integrity to endanger a sale by being honest with you. Unfortunate we can't service every homeowner that wants a good landscape as soon as you move in, but if you have any doubts, just keep calling for estimates till you find that unicorn.

[MPFlan]

I have read a lot of your posts and appreciate your wisdom. Can you recommend a landscape designer?

[Topspinmo]

Some claim my Acalypha amentacea wilkesiana: Copperleaf won’t make through winters. I’ve started them off 2 plants I brought 10 years ago. Frozen back several times temps as cold as 27F. All have come back even bigger and better than before.

[Ozzello]

Originally Posted by MPFlan

I have read a lot of your posts and appreciate your wisdom. Can you recommend a landscape designer?

Bobby at Escapes Landscaping. 352 303 8610

[Ozzello]

Originally Posted by MPFlan

I have read a lot of your posts and appreciate your wisdom. Can you recommend a landscape designer?

Originally Posted by Topspinmo

Some claim my Acalypha amentacea wilkesiana: Copperleaf won’t make through winters. I’ve started them off 2 plants I brought 10 years ago. Frozen back several times temps as cold as 27F. All have come back even bigger and better than before.

Very nice!
Those villa walls are helping a LOT.
Average low temp for this area is 26. Seen it in the teens a few times as well.