Wise Landscaping, Inc.

One of the most Frequently Asked Questions heard by Wise Landscaping employees has to do with shade vs. sun and what to plant where. Here are some quick reference tips to use when you see the plant you can't do without!

Shade Loving St. Augustine Turf Grass Varieties:

Delmar - tolerates 3-4 hours of sun
Bitter Blue - tolerates 3-4 hours of sun (versitile variety)
Seville - tolerates 3-4 hours of sun
Amerishade - tolerates 2-3 hours of sun (Turfgrass America cultivar - most shade tolerant)

Sun Loving St. Augustine Turf Grass Varieties:

Floratam
Bitter Blue (versitle sun/shade)
Palmetto
Other Cultivars

Shade Loving Ground Covers:

Asiatic Jasmine
English Ivy

Sun Loving Ground Covers:

Juniper (variety)
Dwarf Mondo Grass
Confederate Jasmine
Purlple Trailing Lantana

Shade Loving Shrubs:

Xanadu Philodendron
Selloum Philodendron
Schefflera Arboricola
Camellia species
Ginger Alpina
Hawaiian Ti plant
Bird of Paradise

Sun Loving Shrubs:

Viburnum species
Podocarpus
Loropetalum varieties
Ruellia
Holly varieties
Thryallis
Plumbago
Ligustrum
Gardenia
Hibiscus
Bougainvillia
Anise
Jasmine varieties

For those who love bursts of color throughout their landscapes, one of the most Frequently Asked Questions is about annuals - when and where to plant:

Winter Annuals (to be enjoyed December - February):

Pansy
Petunia
Dusty Miller
Poinsettia
Phlox

Spring Annuals (to be enjoyed March - April):

Salvia
Begonia
Impatiens
Celosia
Dusty Miller
Marigold

Summer Annuals (to be enjoyed May - August):

Salvia
Begonia
Impatiens (shade only)
Coleus
Pentas
Geraniums (partial shade
Periwinkle
Torenia (summer Pansy)

Fall Annuals (to be enjoyed September - November):

Begonia
Impatiens
Dianthus
Ageratum
Snap Dragons

Vines can be a beautiful addition to any landscape. They provide an array of florals climbing on a trellis, gazebo, wall, or other means of support. What are some varieties and a few of their quirks? Here is a small sampling:

The Porcelain Berry vine is not only pretty with it's contrast of blue and green, but it is low maintenance due to the manner in which it climbs.
The Cross vine offers flowers all summer and grows quickly - satisfying the impatient gardener!
The Bowtie vine boasts a purple flower that resembles a bow-tie. Because it needs additional support from another type of vine, as it grows, its flowers will mingle to-and-fro among the other leaves and florals adding a nice mixture of color and charm.
The Blue Butterfly Pea is popular due its bloom quantity - a must for those who like climbing bursts of color. This vine grows easily from seed - helpful if it is caught in a freeze - just plant one of the brown seed pods as soon as frost season is gone and the vine will be seen again soon!
Morning Glory vines are also very popular due to their ease of care. They love full sun and require a well drained soil. There are plenty of varieties in the Morning Glory family to choose from.
The Purple Passion flower vine re-seeds itself and is easy to care for. This vine will creep into bushes and shrubs, whimsically spreading its lavendar color throughout. Watch for Butterflies to join in the beauty if you plant this vine!
Another popular vine is the Blue Sky. This vine can be somewhat aggressive in its growth and may need some extra coaching, but it is hearty and full of blooms.
For a low standing vine, choosing the Gloriosa will add splashes of red and yellow as its lily-shaped blooms grow in large clusters.
Many gardeners love to observe nature at work - bees, and hummingbirds can be attracted with a variety of vines and florals. For the Hummingbird lover, the Coral Honeysuckle vine blooms all summer long and is a favorite of the tiny bird. The Snail vine is a Bumblebee attractor and provides a pretty lavendar bloom during the summer months.
Two good vine tips: 1. Use fishing line (monofilament) to attach and train wandering vines - no need to remove as long as it hasn't been attached too tightly. 2. Be aware that vines with suction-cup pads that attach to almost any surface can be a nuisance to clean up if removal is needed. The Virginia Creeper and Boston Ivy are two vines to beware of if you don't want permanent damage to a wall or other surfaced area.

		One of the most Frequently Asked Questions heard by Wise Landscaping employees has to do with shade vs. sun and what to plant where. Here are some quick reference tips to use when you see the plant you can't do without! Shade Loving St. Augustine Turf Grass Varieties: Delmar - tolerates 3-4 hours of sun Bitter Blue - tolerates 3-4 hours of sun (versitile variety) Seville - tolerates 3-4 hours of sun Amerishade - tolerates 2-3 hours of sun (Turfgrass America cultivar - most shade tolerant) Sun Loving St. Augustine Turf Grass Varieties: Floratam Bitter Blue (versitle sun/shade) Palmetto Other Cultivars Shade Loving Ground Covers: Asiatic Jasmine English Ivy Sun Loving Ground Covers: Juniper (variety) Dwarf Mondo Grass Confederate Jasmine Purlple Trailing Lantana Shade Loving Shrubs: Xanadu Philodendron Selloum Philodendron Schefflera Arboricola Camellia species Ginger Alpina Hawaiian Ti plant Bird of Paradise Sun Loving Shrubs: Viburnum species Podocarpus Loropetalum varieties Ruellia Holly varieties Thryallis Plumbago Ligustrum Gardenia Hibiscus Bougainvillia Anise Jasmine varieties For those who love bursts of color throughout their landscapes, one of the most Frequently Asked Questions is about annuals - when and where to plant: Winter Annuals (to be enjoyed December - February): Pansy Petunia Dusty Miller Poinsettia Phlox Spring Annuals (to be enjoyed March - April): Salvia Begonia Impatiens Celosia Dusty Miller Marigold Summer Annuals (to be enjoyed May - August): Salvia Begonia Impatiens (shade only) Coleus Pentas Geraniums (partial shade Periwinkle Torenia (summer Pansy) Fall Annuals (to be enjoyed September - November): Begonia Impatiens Dianthus Ageratum Snap Dragons Vines can be a beautiful addition to any landscape. They provide an array of florals climbing on a trellis, gazebo, wall, or other means of support. What are some varieties and a few of their quirks? Here is a small sampling: The Porcelain Berry vine is not only pretty with it's contrast of blue and green, but it is low maintenance due to the manner in which it climbs. The Cross vine offers flowers all summer and grows quickly - satisfying the impatient gardener! The Bowtie vine boasts a purple flower that resembles a bow-tie. Because it needs additional support from another type of vine, as it grows, its flowers will mingle to-and-fro among the other leaves and florals adding a nice mixture of color and charm. The Blue Butterfly Pea is popular due its bloom quantity - a must for those who like climbing bursts of color. This vine grows easily from seed - helpful if it is caught in a freeze - just plant one of the brown seed pods as soon as frost season is gone and the vine will be seen again soon! Morning Glory vines are also very popular due to their ease of care. They love full sun and require a well drained soil. There are plenty of varieties in the Morning Glory family to choose from. The Purple Passion flower vine re-seeds itself and is easy to care for. This vine will creep into bushes and shrubs, whimsically spreading its lavendar color throughout. Watch for Butterflies to join in the beauty if you plant this vine! Another popular vine is the Blue Sky. This vine can be somewhat aggressive in its growth and may need some extra coaching, but it is hearty and full of blooms. For a low standing vine, choosing the Gloriosa will add splashes of red and yellow as its lily-shaped blooms grow in large clusters. Many gardeners love to observe nature at work - bees, and hummingbirds can be attracted with a variety of vines and florals. For the Hummingbird lover, the Coral Honeysuckle vine blooms all summer long and is a favorite of the tiny bird. The Snail vine is a Bumblebee attractor and provides a pretty lavendar bloom during the summer months. Two good vine tips: 1. Use fishing line (monofilament) to attach and train wandering vines - no need to remove as long as it hasn't been attached too tightly. 2. Be aware that vines with suction-cup pads that attach to almost any surface can be a nuisance to clean up if removal is needed. The Virginia Creeper and Boston Ivy are two vines to beware of if you don't want permanent damage to a wall or other surfaced area.