F.A.Q.

Sugar Maple, Acer floridanum

GENERAL

Do you carry any citrus or other fruit trees?

No, we only carry native fruit and nut trees (Native persimmon, beauty berry, red mulberry, pecan, elderberry, chickasaw plum, hog plum, black cherry, paw paw, etc). We recommend visiting Sweet Baby’s Farm on 231 about 15-20mins from our nursery; they carry a wide variety of fruit including citrus. You can find them on Google or Facebook.

Do you guys deliver plants and if so, what is your delivery rate?

Yes, we can deliver plants to your house at a rate of $2.50/loaded mile. 

Do you carry any potting soil, mulch, or fertilizers of any kind?

Currently, we carry small-batch local made rabbit fertilizer by Pinto & Co. 

I have heard that Black Walnuts produce a toxic chemical that makes growing other plants nearby difficult. Do you have a list of plants that can grow near the Black Walnut safely?

Black walnut toxicity has been “known” for almost a century and has been cited in scientific articles for decades. However, it is likely to be false equivalence.

Do you carry any native grass or plant seeds for sale?

No, we currently do not offer seeds. 

DESIGNS & CONSULTATIONS

How much do you charge for landscape design services?

Landscape design services are custom tailored to each client and situation. Custom designs start at $650 while consultations start at $100. See our Design Page for more information. 

How much is the initial down payment of a project and when is it due?

The initial down payment is equivalent to 25% of the total design cost. This initial down payment is due before beginning on the project. 

What areas do you service for landscape designs and consultations?

Currently we are service the following counties for designs and Consultations: 
Bay, Washington, Walton, Gulf, Calhoun, Holmes, Jackson, Okaloosa, & Franklin County

Is there a travel fee for you coming to our house or business?

We charge a rate of $0.55/mile to anyone that is not located within Bay County. This fee will be charged each time on the drive to the clients home. The starting destination will be that of the designer assinged to work with you. We will pick the designer that is located in closest proximity to your home. 

GARDEN MAINTENANCE

Now that it is winter, I have a bunch of dead flower stalks in my yard. When should I cut these back?

Dead flower stalks are an important nesting site for many bees and other pollinators. Leaving these up until new plant growth begins to break free of the soil is an easy way to help foster many new pollinators and remember where your flowers are planted. 
Cut stalks back to the ground and lay near the plant (or another safe pile – in case soon to emerge pollinators are still tucked safely inside) near the end of February, beginning of March. You can also leave on the plant and let mother nature take of their removal. 

How do I maintain my new flowers to keep them coming back and looking nice?

Leave them as is and let them go to seed. Their seeds will disperse and may or may not germinate in your garden next year without you having to do any work. 
Research how to collect, dry, and save seeds. This will be different for each plant. This can be beneficial if you do not typically want the flowers popping up wherever they seem fit but you would like to try and grow more for the garden.
Cut back to the ground before seeds disperse throughout the garden. This will end seed dispersal so no new plants can be planted.

Know the species? Check our plant pages! We will add pruning notes for specific species when relevant. 

Help! There are a lot of bugs in my yard. What do I do about them?

Many times, bugs are a sign of a garden going back into balance. Even pests (such as mealy bugs and aphids), can be beneficial as they will attract the next stage of bugs that will soon eat them. Nature is all about the circle of life, and that means all animals co-exist for the benefit of another. 
With that being said, occasionally you may find that pests can get out of hand. Keep an eye on newly planted trees, shrubs, and flowers. Young plants can be especially vulnerable as well (much like children with weakened immune systems). If you notice a pest outbreak, simply clip off the branches or leaves containing them, bag them, and either toss, burn, or compost. If composting, make sure your compost is at least 3’x3′ in size otherwise it will not get hot enough to kill the pests inside. 

If you would like to treat your edible plants, a neem spray will help deter pests and is safe for human consumption (always wash your produce before eating). 

What type of mulch do you recommend using?

We recommend using pine straw or pine bark mulch. Most plants native to North Florida have evolved with pines trees, making this a great choice! See our Resources page for suggestions on where to source your mulch. 

What is your stance on using pesticides and herbicides?

Pesticides and herbicides are seen as a quick fix in righting the garden to how we want it. Many times, the negative effects caused by its use far outweigh the brief improvements. 
Pests will always come back, as will the weeds you are trying to get rid of- they are the “pioneers” of the plant and animal worlds, the food that feeds all other foods. 
Using pesticides and herbicides to get rid of these instead of using plants and animals to eradicate them, inevitably kills insects we don’t view as pests. For instance, 70% of bees and wasps nest underground making our yards a prime place for a healthy habitat for pollinators. These chemicals we spray along with runoff from nearby soak into the ground and kill future pollinators in the making. Excess chemicals also get into our water table, finding their way into our bodies through drinking water and the pollution of our many waterways that countless animals depend upon. 
We understand there are exceptions to using chemicals, and eradicating invasive species can be one of them. Another time we may find it useful to use small amounts of a pesticide or chemical treatment is during the seedling to sapling stage of a desired tree or shrub. However, leaving the plant alone is the best choice even at a young age as this helps the plant learn to build better natural defense systems. 
Minimizing the chemical footprint is the best thing that can be done to make a healthier planet for ourselves and the worlds wildlife.