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Shrubs 101: The Florida Shrub Maintenance Guide You’ve Been Missing
Michael Tomaino
Shrubs may seem like a simple addition to a landscape or lawn, but boy, oh boy, do they add style, texture, and flavor to your unique property.
Not only are shrubs an extremely popular landscaping feature for their aesthetic presence and ability to provide privacy, but they’re also easy to care for and can contribute to the health and well-being of other flora and fauna in your landscape.
Overall, shrubs are a great choice for adding privacy, spicing up your landscape, and giving your yard a healthy dose of personality. That’s why the team at Landcrafters put their heads together and came up with a shrub guide you can use to flawlessly integrate shrubs into your Tampa Bay landscape.
Check out our shrub guide below for a complete look at what kind of shrubs you should be using in your Florida yard, the right way to care for them, and the shrub tools that make all the difference.
Not only are shrubs an extremely popular landscaping feature for their aesthetic presence and ability to provide privacy, but they’re also easy to care for and can contribute to the health and well-being of other flora and fauna in your landscape.
Overall, shrubs are a great choice for adding privacy, spicing up your landscape, and giving your yard a healthy dose of personality. That’s why the team at Landcrafters put their heads together and came up with a shrub guide you can use to flawlessly integrate shrubs into your Tampa Bay landscape.
Check out our shrub guide below for a complete look at what kind of shrubs you should be using in your Florida yard, the right way to care for them, and the shrub tools that make all the difference.
Your Guide to Shrub Maintenance in Tampa Bay
Pick Florida-Friendly Shrubs for the Least Amount of Trouble
We’re going to kick off this shrub guide with a heaping dose of reality – we live in Florida, and landscaping here can be a little tricky. From the sandy soil and salty coastline to the scorching sun and strong storm season, the Sunshine State’s climate does not make caring for shrubs in Florida easy.
No matter what you’re planning to plant in Tampa, you’re undoubtedly going to deal with some Florida-specific issues. So, what is the best way to face these challenges and mitigate any potential issues?
Opt for native Florida plants, friends! Starting with native Florida shrubs is going to make your life–and landscaping endeavors–so much easier. If you pick a naturally occurring Florida shrub, you can bet that you’re going to get results that will make your heart sing it a love song.
No matter what you’re planning to plant in Tampa, you’re undoubtedly going to deal with some Florida-specific issues. So, what is the best way to face these challenges and mitigate any potential issues?
Opt for native Florida plants, friends! Starting with native Florida shrubs is going to make your life–and landscaping endeavors–so much easier. If you pick a naturally occurring Florida shrub, you can bet that you’re going to get results that will make your heart sing it a love song.
To kickstart your venture into Florida-friendly shrubs, here is a list of some of our favorites. While you’re certainly not limited to these options, they are a great place to start!
- Beautyberry
- Bahama Senna
- Wild Coffee
- Fire Bush
- Sea Grape
Low-Maintenance Florida Shrubs Still Require Some TLC
One of the main reasons that people choose shrubs for their yard is because they’re famously durable and low-maintenance. While this reputation is pretty accurate, maintaining shrubs in Florida does require a bit of effort and expertise. You can’t just plant them, water them once, and then forget they exist.
Like any other plant, shrubs are living things that will prosper when they’re well taken care of.
No matter if you pick a very low-maintenance shrub (like allamanda) or a beautiful flowering shrub (like Bird of Paradise), you’ll need to do the research and take the time to understand each shrub’s individual needs. Gathering this knowledge and acting accordingly is essential to Florida shrub maintenance.
Of course, you can simplify your shrub maintenance in Florida by chatting with your local landscaping company. They help determine what kind of care each shrub needs, facilitate your research, and even monitor your shrubs daily to find the maintenance they need to reach their full potential.
Like any other plant, shrubs are living things that will prosper when they’re well taken care of.
No matter if you pick a very low-maintenance shrub (like allamanda) or a beautiful flowering shrub (like Bird of Paradise), you’ll need to do the research and take the time to understand each shrub’s individual needs. Gathering this knowledge and acting accordingly is essential to Florida shrub maintenance.
Of course, you can simplify your shrub maintenance in Florida by chatting with your local landscaping company. They help determine what kind of care each shrub needs, facilitate your research, and even monitor your shrubs daily to find the maintenance they need to reach their full potential.
The Right Time to Plant Shrubs (and the Right Place)
If you want to maximize the growth and health of your Florida shrubs, you need to plant them at the right time. The period briefly after planting–where the shrubs are still establishing themselves–is among the most important phases of growth for both short- and long-term success.
Typically, the best time to plant shrubs is when it’s not super sunny, hot, or dry. If you plant your shrubs in these conditions, it’s likely that your shrubs' establishment and growth process could be negatively impacted.
The problem is that Florida is almost always sunny, hot, and dry. That’s why planting in the fall and winter is one of the best Florida shrub maintenance tips we can give you.
While people like to say that “timing is everything,” shrubs are a bit more complicated than that. Location is a big deal, too, so be intentional and selective when choosing where to plant your Florida-friendly shrubs.
Ideally, they should be placed in a spot where they can establish themselves easily. Look for adequate spoil space for root expansion and growth, good drainage, and ideal soil moisture conditions for each shrub. You’ll also want to ensure that the right nutrition is getting to the shrub’s root system.
Typically, the best time to plant shrubs is when it’s not super sunny, hot, or dry. If you plant your shrubs in these conditions, it’s likely that your shrubs' establishment and growth process could be negatively impacted.
The problem is that Florida is almost always sunny, hot, and dry. That’s why planting in the fall and winter is one of the best Florida shrub maintenance tips we can give you.
While people like to say that “timing is everything,” shrubs are a bit more complicated than that. Location is a big deal, too, so be intentional and selective when choosing where to plant your Florida-friendly shrubs.
Ideally, they should be placed in a spot where they can establish themselves easily. Look for adequate spoil space for root expansion and growth, good drainage, and ideal soil moisture conditions for each shrub. You’ll also want to ensure that the right nutrition is getting to the shrub’s root system.
How to Prune Florida Shrubs
If you want your shrubs to continue growing in a healthy and productive way, you’ll need to ensure that you’re continuously cutting back the overgrown and dead branches that are on your plant. This is where pruning comes into play.
As one of the most important steps to maintaining shrubs in Florida, there are a few precautions you’ll want to take and a few tips to abide by to ensure you’re maximizing the positive effects (and limiting any potential harm).
As one of the most important steps to maintaining shrubs in Florida, there are a few precautions you’ll want to take and a few tips to abide by to ensure you’re maximizing the positive effects (and limiting any potential harm).
- Use the right tools to safely trim your shrubs and keep yourself safe.
- Prune as close to a 45-degree angle as possible to promote new growth.
- Thin first, remove larger branches second, and then remove dead or dying branches.
Pruning your shrub is not only an essential part of caring for shrubs in Florida and keeping your plants in good growing order, but it also protects your property and house from any overgrowth damage that the shrubs might cause. In other words, pruning keeps your property beautiful, tidy, and safe!
Mulch Can Help the Health of Your Shrubs
We could write you article after article about how mulch can benefit your landscape–in fact, we have. One of the areas where mulching truly shines is in promoting the health of your shrubs, making this a must-follow tip for maintaining shrubs in Florida.
Once you’ve planted your shrubs, you’ll need to ensure that the soil is kept at an ideal temperature and is retaining enough moisture to help the shrub grow. This is especially important during the establishment phase but is beneficial throughout the life of your Florida shrubs.
Mulch does all of this and more. In fact, its benefits include the following, making mulch one of the most effective tools to promote a vibrant and healthy Tampa Bay landscape.
Once you’ve planted your shrubs, you’ll need to ensure that the soil is kept at an ideal temperature and is retaining enough moisture to help the shrub grow. This is especially important during the establishment phase but is beneficial throughout the life of your Florida shrubs.
Mulch does all of this and more. In fact, its benefits include the following, making mulch one of the most effective tools to promote a vibrant and healthy Tampa Bay landscape.
- Prevents soil from being over-packed.
- Minimizes soil erosion and runoff.
- Controls weeds, allowing your shrubs to grow without competition.
- Regulates soil temperature throughout the seasons–including hot summers and those random Florida freezes.
- Retains moisture, allowing roots to access water.
Mulch can keep your shrub’s root system happy, healthy, and protected. By adding mulch to your newly planted shrubs, you can help them get established and set them up for a long, healthy life. We suggest a regular routine of mulching as part of your Florida shrub maintenance. Trust us; your shrubs will thank you!
Pick the Right Shrub Maintenance Tools
If you’re planning to take care of your shrubs on your own, it’s important to make sure you’ve got the right tools for the job. Because every landscape is unique and different shrubs require different types of maintenance, we suggest calling your local landscape company to bend their ear about tools that might work best for you.
For starters, though, we suggest that you invest in the following tools. They should give you a strong and versatile foundation that you can use to perform various forms of shrub maintenance in Florida.
For starters, though, we suggest that you invest in the following tools. They should give you a strong and versatile foundation that you can use to perform various forms of shrub maintenance in Florida.
- A great pair of pruning shears to help guarantee the sharp, precise cut that you’re looking for.
- Loppers are a great choice for bigger shrubs, privacy shrubs, or shrubs with thicker branches.
- Hand trimmers or gas trimmers can make quick work of caring for shrubs in Florida, making them worth consideration if you want to maximize efficiency.
- Our biggest recommendation is to invest in a great pair of gardening gloves to keep your hands and arms safe during your shrub maintenance routine.
Florida Shrub Maintenance FAQs
At this point, you probably have a pretty strong idea of what caring for shrubs in Florida takes and the benefits of committing to a comprehensive plan. Just to make sure, we want to give you some rapid-fire answers to some of the most common questions people have about shrub maintenance in Florida.
- What are the best shrubs to plant in Tampa Bay?
- There are many Florida-friendly shrubs, including native Florida shrubs. That being said, you should consider the unique characteristics of your property and consult a professional if you want to be absolutely certain that the shrubs you choose will thrive.
- What are the keys to maintaining shrubs in Florida?
- Every shrub and landscape requires a personalized approach to ensure they flourish. Some basic shrub maintenance tips include pruning, mulching, and watering.
- When is the best time to plant shrubs in Florida?
- You should avoid planting shrubs when it is exceptionally hot or dry. In Florida, this usually means waiting until Fall to plant your new shrubs.
- Can I do my own shrub maintenance in Florida?
- Absolutely! Equipped with the right knowledge and tools, caring for shrubs in Florida is entirely possible!
Maintain Your Tampa Bay Shrubs with a Professional Touch
We hope our guide to maintaining shrubs in Florida gives you the knowledge and confidence you need to help your shrubs–and landscape at large–thrive. If you want more guidance or would prefer a professional touch to ensure your Tampa Bay landscape reaches its full potential (and maintains it), be sure to reach out to Landcrafters.
With over 25 years of experience in the Tampa Bay area, our team has the experience and expertise to help your landscape flourish. Whether you have specific shrub questions or simply want to chat about our professional landscaping services in Tampa Bay, feel free to fill out the form by requesting a consultation below or give us a call.
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Michael Tomaino
Head Gardener for Landcrafters, Inc. Michael Tomaino, a cornerstone of Landcrafters since its inception, oversees all aspects of business operations with a wealth of experience. With years of adept team management and leadership under his belt, coupled with a robust educational background, both within and beyond the industry, Michael is dedicated to steering Landcrafters towards becoming the foremost landscape management provider in the Tampa Bay Area.