It’s a Jungle Out There
by Marla J. Ottenstein

   To create the perfect environment for the Southwest Florida lifestyle, landscape designers are joining the inside and outside of the home together to unite and merge the two living spaces as one.
   In the luxury home market, landscape architecture and design and installation go a lot further than planting a few trees and putting in a pool. Proper, well thoughtout hardscape design can bring a sense of order to the landscape by enhancing the natural surroundings, and the installed landscaping, as it grows and matures, will enhance the homeowners’ experience.
   Certified landscape designer and co-owner of Hazeltine Nurseries in Venice, Florida, Michelle Hazeltine approaches each project with undying enthusiasm and knows first hand how important it is to visit and evaluate the site to establish a design theme that will enhance the lot. Landscape design should complement the home’s architecture and design. Hazeltine and her team work hand-in-hand with the client, interior designer, builder, architect and pool designer in an effort to enhance the client’s exterior environment.
   After the lot has been reviewed and the design theme chosen, the permanently constructed, or “hardscape” elements such as pool and decking, drive and walk-ways, fire pits, fountains, ponds and planters need to be determined. With the hardscape decisions made, it’s time to select materials and colors and to develop the plant palette selecting trees and plants based on design, color, texture and species. Irrigation and lighting decisions are made after plant selection.
   Hazeltine Nurseries is a full-service design/build business with four in-house, licensed landscape architects and five landscape designers. In addition to a separate landscape contracting division, Hazeltine has a full-time staff of paving, lighting and irrigation specialists.
   Landscaping the front of the house is all about accentuating the front door and entryway. With this in mind, the trend is to design and install more formal landscaping in the front yard to focus on the entry. Landscaping should balance the home and be in proportion to the house. It’s essential to match specific trees with the size of the home. For example: A smaller home calls for a slow-growing, small patio ligustrum rather than an oak that will eventually overpower the home. Decorative trees such as foxtail palms, pygmy date palms, Sylvester palms, flowering tabeuia trees and the east patalka holly are also excellent choices.
   Landscape designers suggest the use of similar plants to direct the eye to the entryway. Using too many kinds of plants will confuse the eye rather than engage it.The key is to balance the plant species and heights. That’s why there’s an influx of low-growing jasmine, with its carpet-like look, being used as a ground cover. Medium height dwarf Indian hawthorn and xanadu philodendron bushes are also good fillers.
   One very important part of landscape design is the type of grass used. Ultimately, the goal should be to carpet the yard with a luxuriant cover of grass. Closely trimmed Bermuda grass and zoysia grass are preferable, although most deed-restricted communities require the wide-bladed Flora tam Saint Augustine grass that is indigenous to Florida.
   Ever wonder why landscapers put islands in the center of a large driveway? The simple answer is to soften the visual impact of today’s large paved driveways. Statues, fountains, dwarf trees and lots of ornamental flowerbeds also help to deter from having the driveway look like a parking lot.
   Trends in landscape and pool design depend upon the homeowner’s personality and lifestyle. Some want a linear, clean and contemporary design, while others want an organically rich and plush tropical environment. Some people want low maintenance, slow growing and drought tolerant materials, while some want huge palms and lush gardens requiring more maintenance and care.
   In addition to fountains, waterfalls, ponds, fire pits, flowerbeds and integrated planters, one very important movement is to personalize the outside living area with anything from a Bonsai garden to a putting green, bocce court, sanded volleyball court or children’s fountain. It’s also fashionable to build open-air cabanas that accommodate outdoor, weather-resistant pool and ping-pong tables, with the added benefit that kids and teens will want to hang out at home.
   Typically, backyard foliage and plant species are less manicured and more relaxed than what is used in the front yard. Fast-growing bamboo is often used in the back for privacy. Fragrance plants, such as jasmine, gardenias, roses and honeysuckle, are also popular for backyard plantings, as are flowering crawling vines like bougainvillaea and confederate jasmine.
   Design trends are generally driven by consumer awareness. In Florida, people naturally gravitate to the outdoors, but with increased concern about the sun’s dangers, they are looking for alternative landscape designs that incorporate shade trees. Any tree that forms a natural canopy, including some of the larger flowering trees like Hong Kong orchids and Southwest Florida’s own jacaranda, as well as oak and elm or even a cluster of palms grouped together, will offer shade in the summer while still allowing sunlight to infiltrate the more sparse foliage in the winter for warmth.
   According to Hazeltine, “New homebuyers, cognizant of the dangers of the sun, are being proactive when building their homes. They are positioning their backyards to face north, allowing them to be outdoors year-round since more of the backyard is shaded in the summertime.”
   In addition to planting traditional flowerbeds, it’s fun to plant annuals in varying sized pots and containers. Containers are perfect for high impact color. People are growing herbs in pots and lots of seasonal plants to brighten-up their entryways and pool decks.The beauty of planting in containers is that it’s a relatively small area and the cost and labor involved in replacing and replanting is minimal.
   “Because Florida doesn’t have any real seasons, you’ll see mums in autumn, red, whites and blues in summer, poinsettias in winter and lots of fun pink, purple and orange plants in the spring,” says Hazeltine, who personally loves container art and has the reputation for designing and planting colorful and unique containers year-round at her home and nursery.
   To save time and money, appropriate irrigation systems should be incorporated into the overall design from the start. It’s important to know what the water source is – city, reclaimed or well – and to design an irrigation system that will best utilize that particular water source. A trained irrigation contractor knows how to manipulate irrigation systems to water numerous areas, with the specific amount of water necessary for the individual plant’s needs.
   Proper landscape lighting can make or break the scene. Lighting should enhance the environment, not overwhelm the design. “A driveway shouldn’t look like an airport runway,” says Hazeltine. When planning uplighting and path lighting, safety, as well as beauty, should be taken into consideration.
   When contemplating walkway fixtures, keep in mind that they should accentuate the plantings and foliage, not detract from them. It’s best to stay away from amusing fixtures such as mushrooms, frogs and lily pads; pathway lighting should come on at dusk and do its job.
   The goal of landscape lighting should be to emulate natural moonlight. Uplighting from the base of a tree is preferable to spotlighting from above because of maintenance and design issues. Not only is it easier to service and clean the fixture and change the bulbs from the ground rather than climbing up a tree, but the wires and electric box are hidden, resulting in a cleaner look.
   Since there are no state licensing requirements for landscaping contractors in Florida, it is imperative to hire a knowledgeable and trained landscape contractor who is experienced in the nuances and challenges of landscaping in Florida; someone who knows how to plant in Florida – the growth patterns, pruning techniques, fertilizers, pesticides, irrigation and recommended care and maintenance – that are an intrinsic part of landscaping in Florida.
   Landscape design and installation in the luxury home industry is a huge investment; oftentimes the combined pool, landscape and hardscape design will cost upwards to 10 percent of the total cost of the home. “Anyone with a truck can call themselves a ‘landscaper.’ Unfortunately, there are a lot of ‘mow and go guys’ out there,” says Hazeltine. “The reputation of the company that is going to install the project is as important as the plants themselves. Visit a company’s past projects and job sites and ask for references; if they’re a reputable company, they’ll comply with all your requests. Do your homework!”

Courtesy of Hazeltine Nurseries, Inc.
2401 North River Road, Venice, FL
941 485-1272
www.hazeltinenurseries.com

Written by Marla J. Ottenstein