Florida's Finest Pergolas, Arbors, Decks, and Fences

GREEN GOODIES 

 

 by Pauhl Gazlay & Lance Hans at

Gardencarpentry

Santa
READY FOR WINTER? edition
December 2011

 




Video
Christmas
Light Show!
 
When I was a kid we
 just put some electric
 candles in our
windows.
 
Click the image to see
how lucky you are
not to have these people
 as neighbors.
 
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Green Goodie
polar bear
Click for info


Winter is on the way.

If you have ornamental plants outdoors you are probably familiar with the worry and preparation that comes along with winter cold snaps. 

 

Did you know that there are ways to protect your plants from the cold long before any bitter weather arrives? Click the polar bear above to find out how to prepare your plants for cold winter weather. 

 
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DON'T FORGET!
 
GARDENCARPENTRY
ALSO OFFERS THE FOLLOWING PRODUCTS
AND SERVICES! 

Outdoor rooms
Pergolas
Arbors
Decks
Fences & Gates
Trellises
Pressure washing
Deck & Fence Repair
Retaining walls
Landscape lighting
Outdoor furniture
Shade cloths
Orchid Houses
Potting benches
 

 

 

 

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Green Goodie
 
The Holidays are a
time when you may buy and bring plants such as poinsettias,
chrysanthemums,
gloxinias, and
cyclamen into your
home.
 
 Remember that these plants will often be
well fed by growers to keep them looking fresh, so don't fertilize them after
purchase as this may burn their roots and cause decline.
 
These same plants can need watering often. Check moisture daily and make sure there is good drainage from the foil and paper wraps around the pots.
 
 
 
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Project of the Month

Riverview Trellis

gardencarpentry riverview trellis
Click to see more

 

 Our Client in Riverview had hired us to build a pergola this summer.

She liked our work so much that she asked us back to add some detail work to the project.

 

Her vision was to have an outdoor room in her front yard. So style and privacy were both important since the structure would be exposed to neighbors and passing street traffic.

 

We added four permanent custom trellises to the pergola which will enable vines to fill in the sides and create a handsome and inviting front yard retreat.

 

To see more of how we did it click the image above.

 

 

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GREEN GOODIE

 

We are already seeing shorter periods of daylight and will soon be experiencing more consistently low temperatures which are both cues for grass to go dormant until Spring. While grass is dormant, overwatering and overfertilization can encourage the spread of thatch. So, back off on watering to about once every 10 days to 2 weeks and after a final fertilization in Mid-December wait until February to fertilize the lawn.

 

 PLANT OF THE MONTH

The Pansy

(Viola Hortensis)

  

 The pansy is a perennial plant that is grown as an annual by most gardeners. It thrives in cooler weather and has become a popular winter annual in Florida and similar warm climates. Pansies form small mounds of deep green foliage that are resistant to light frosts. 


It has been one of the best plants around that dodges the damages caused by the cold. The plants smile back at you with a face formed by a whimsical patterning of color blotches, making the pansy the happiest plant in the garden. With expressions ranging from mischievous to adorable to jolly, pansies are the pixies of the plant world.

 

pansies
 
 

 

Pansies are not fussy about soil. Do, however, add organic matter if your soil is very light and sandy to help retain moisture and prevent plants from wilting in bright sun. Fertilize when setting out to insure a good display of flowers.
They can grow in a wide range of light. From bright sun to partial shade. It will even grow in deep shade, but expect fewer flowers and the stems may become 'leggier'.
 
Pansies will take the Florida rains but likes for the ground to be dry before re-watering.  In our zone the pansy is a favorite winter flower in all the nurseries. It sometimes gets overlooked for the more spectacular flowering plants, but there is great beauty and satisfaction in knowing that the plant colors and hardiness of the plant will almost assure that they will be around throughout the winter season.
 
Courtesy of Wild Rose Lawn Care.

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WE NEVER KNEW..

 

Have you ever stolen a kiss under the mistletoe? This traditional Christmas plant has long held a place of veneration in the ceremonies and traditions of our European ancestors.

 

 Mistletoe is plant which often attaches itself to the bark of its host tree's upper branches. As a result, ancient Celtic Druids believed that because it was the plant rooted closest to heaven it was a holy plant. Its evergreen leaves symbolized Spring's return.  In Scandinavian lands it was considered a symbol of peace, under which warring factions (or spouses) could declare truce. Early Winter solstice traditions often emphasized mistletoe's symbolism of fertility and promise of a return to times of plenty.
 

mistletoe 

 

Ancient Greeks used mistletoe as a symbol of fertility and long life in their wedding ceremonies. In the middle ages it was hung from ceilings across Europe to ward off evil spirits. In more recent victorian times there were a number of Christmas traditions where young single men and women would kiss under balls of mistletoe to ensure that they would marry in the year to come.  

 

So give a nod to history by grabbing some mistletoe, finding someone you love, and sealing a promise with a kiss.
 And may we all live in peace!

 

P.S. If you have real mistletoe, keep it away from children and pets. The white berries are poisonous! 

 

 

 

Green Goodies Newsletter is written and brought to you by

 

GARDENCARPENTRY.COM
Your backyard living pros.

Pergolas, Arbors, Decks, Fences, Lighting and more....

 

Contact Lance Hans

(813) 505-5638

[email protected]

 

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