Butterfly gardens are a complex creation of selected plants and flowers designed to attract and support communities of beautiful enchanted butterflies. Butterfly gardens should have both types of plants to support your magical butterfly community.
The first type of plant is called a host plant. A host plant serves two purposes, one as a place for butterflies to lay their eggs and two as a food source for the butterfly larvae or caterpillars.
The second type is a flowering plant that produces nector which is adult butterfly food. Butterflies are attracted to the flowering plants because of their colorand aroma. The most popular colors for butterfly gardens are Yellow, Red and Purple.
The key to atracting many diferent butterflies to your butterfly gardens are the diversity of your plants.
Butterfly Gardens don’t necessarily need to be an elaborate overwhelming stage of plants and flowers. Just a few choice selected plants can make a simple patio into one of the most beautiful lavash butterfly gardens you will ever see
Category: Blog
My new little friends
In June 2012 I was at a client’s house in Oviedo and up came these cute little ducks and Mommy duck from the pond behind the house looking for something to eat. I went to my truck and got a piece of Rice Crispy Marshmallow bar, man did they gobbled that up. They probably had enough sugar rush to fly to Brazil and back. I did notice them starting to quack a little faster
Notice Momma duck in the back. She was waiting for her ducklings to get feed before she ate. I didn’t let her wait though I could tell she was hungry too, so I threw her a few morsels that she gladly gobbled up before her little pigs could get it, as if to say “no you little pigs this is mine.” Good for you Mom. Then she gave me a quack as if to say thank you. That day I think I learned to understand a little “duck” Anyway click the link if you are looking for a lawn care service that’s not a quack
Another Pennington® Smart Seed™ Hands-On Experiment
Every bag of Pennington® Smart Seed™ contains pure seed and no filler. The seed varieties used in Pennington® Smart Seed™ are some of the most advanced varieties available and have been developed for their drought tolerance. At least 60 percent of the seed in every bag of Pennington® Smart Seed™ has been qualified by the Turfgrass Water Conservation Alliance (TWCA) for its drought tolerance. Pennington Seed is one of the three founding members of the TWCA, which works with state university systems and private research enterprises to develop turfgrasses that use less water. For more information go here Planting grass seed
What Garden Features Attract Butterflies?
Besides plants and flowers, there are some garden features that will also attract butterflies and other pollinators to your yard, such as; a water source, sun catchers & sun globes, large rocks or stones, and some rotten fruit.
Mud puddles are important to butterflies, bees, and dragonflies as a good source of water. One can be made from a shallow planter saucer filled with sand and kept moist. Butterflies do not have tongues or lips and thus cannot drink like other animals. They instead, extend a tube called proboscis into a flower for nectar or into mud, to extract water. Mud puddles are very important to have in the garden.
Sun catchers, sun globes and any garden feature that flashes or shines, will attract butterflies. Once you’ve got his attention, he’ll poke around for the other goodies. Rotting fruit is a big favorite of butterflies so, toss those rotten apples out there for them. Butterflies and dragonflies really like to bask in the sun early in the morning. A large rock or two are great places for the butterflies to sit and dry their wings before they begin the day. I set mine in the mud puddle and they seem to like the set up.
A few flowers for nectar, some plants for the nursery (caterpillars), shinny toys, snacks and a drink–what more could a butterfly want??
By Robin Gravis
Robin’s Bloomin’ Butterflies
321-420-3381
See my store at Zazzle
BUTTERFLY ATTRACTING PLANTS–Milkweed for Monarchs
The star of the show for butterfly gardens throughout North America is the Milkweed. It is both nectar and larval host plant exclusive to the Monarch butterfly. There are other butterflies that will nectar the Milkweed but, only the Monarch caterpillar will feed on it and on no other plant. The Milkweed leaves are poisonous to other insects and animals which is what gives the Monarch butterfly it’s toxic status as a defense mechanism. Milkweed is a must for any butterfly garden and is very easy to grow. Technically, it is a weed and so it will require very little care. It is drought tolerant, thrives in almost any type of soil, and reseeds readily. You will only need one Milkweed in your butterfly garden and in no time at all, there will be several new plants.
The Monarch butterfly population has greatly declined over the past few years. There are a few different environmental factors, both natural and man-made that researchers hold responsible for the low numbers. The amazing Monarch butterfly migrates every fall to a few choice spots to over-winter–a couple places along the California coast, and the most popular spot is in the mountains of central Mexico. There are a few organizations that monitor the Monarchs around the country, tagging and counting they keep watch. They all seem to agree that the Monarch butterfly still needs our help to increase their population. All we need to do is plant more Milkweed. Simple!!
By Robin Gravis
Robin’s Bloomin’ Butterflies
321-420-3381
See my store at Zazzle
Rental Property and Lawn Care
Being in the rental property lawn care business Your Neighborhood Lawn Service has seen many rental properties go downhill from the outside.
Whose responsibility is it to keep up the rental property lawn care? Well who owns the property? Does the tenant get a bad lawn notice from the city or home owners association? No, the owner does.
Arguably the property owner says it’s the tenant’s responsibility and the tenants say it’s the owner’s responsibility. What is the bottom line? Who gets hurt most if the rental property is not kept up to standards. THE OWNER
There are several reasons why as the owner of a rental property you should include the cost in with the rent. Oh I know the tenants say they own mower and will keep up with the cutting of the grass trimming weed eating and up keep on the shrubs if any.
Many rental properties I have seen the lawn mower apparently broke not running on the side of the house rusting. Oh yes the tenant once in a while will borrow a neighbors mower (until that gets old) or a relative in the area. But the rental property lawn care is still being grossly neglected.
Here are some good reasons to include professional rental company lawn care in with the rent.
1) Pride. The rental property lawn care company will take more pride in the work they do than the tenant does in the place he/she lives that are not going to own.
2) Curb appeal nothing looks better than a well manicured lawn in your neighborhood
3) Keep the value of the property
4) Tenant comes home to a well manicured lawn they are more apt to take care of the inside better.
5) Keep the home owners association off your neck.
6) A professional rental property lawn care will keep up on your property which will keep the value on the property up for longer period of time.
You can get a Free Quote from Your Neighborhood Lawn Service to manage your rental property lawn care
Can Ligustrum trees be cut back to bushes?
Cutting back Ligustrum trees to shrubs may be a possible feat when used with caution. Ligustrum trees are a strong, hardy plant used for privacy hedges around pools and houses. Many “experts” frown upon cutting back the ligustrum trees to shrubs, because as they say the canopy of the ligustrum trees should not be compromised. Compromising the canopy of the tree may hinder the growth of the tree. And that may be true, but here are some pictures that tell a different story. The answer is yes, Ligustrum trees can be cut down to bushes.
it took one season of growth ( 1 year ) for the stumps of the cut Ligustrum trees to form a ball of green healthy leaves.
Although these pictures are not of the same property it still shows Ligustrum trees can be cut down to bushes. Need a Free quote?
Grass Care Calendar for Central Florida
MONTH-BY-MONTH GUIDE TO LAWN CARE
(From Month-by-Month Gardening in Florida by Tom MacCubbin/additions by Lukas Nursery)
JANUARY
- NO fertilizer or weed/feed for St. Augustine, Zoysia, or Bahia lawns
- Apply iron at one-half normal rate to renew green if needed
- Apply fungicide to combat “Brown Patch” if needed
- Mow, dig, and spot-kill weeds
- Sow annual rye grass to fill in bare spots and re-green brown lawns if desired
- DO NOT apply pesticides this time of year
FEBRUARY
- First-of-the-year weed/feed application can begin when danger of freezing weather is past
- Remove all growing crabgrass and dormant runners
- Apply a pre-emergence herbicide (repeat treatment may be needed)
- Apply fungicide to combat “Brown Patch” if needed
- Watch for chinch bug and grub activity and treat with insecticide if needed
MARCH
- Complete spring weed/feed applications (temperatures should be below 85 degrees)
- Apply insecticide if you haven’t already to combat chinch bugs, grubs, sod webworm, and bill bugs(Zoysia) if needed
APRIL
- Complete spring weed/feed by early in month if you haven’t already. This is the last chance to do selective weed control before hot weather
- Iron-only feeding (Summer Green) can be given b\Bahia turf if it is showing some yellowing even after earlier spring feeding
- Watch for lawn insects and treat as needed with insecticide DO NOT USE SELECTIVE WEED KILLERS DURING HOT WEATHER!
MAY
- Some vigorous and shallow rooted grasses (bermuda grass, zoysia grass) may need another fertilizer application
- Apply a pre-emergence herbicide if needed
- Apply fungicide at preventive or treatment rate if needed & watch for fungus infestation
- Check Bahia lawns for mole crickets, Zoysia for bill bugs & sod webworm, St. Augustine for cinch bugs & sod webworm, and all lawns for grubs, and apply insecticide if needed
JUNE
- Light fertilizer application if you missed the spring feeding
- Iron-only feeding or Summer Green product if grass is yellowing
- Apply fungicide at preventive or treatment rate if needed & watch for fungus infestation
- Control mole crickets, cinch bugs, grubs, and other insects with insecticide if needed
JULY
- Some yellowing and light green in the lawn is normal this time of year and may actually make the grass more pest resistant. Use iron-only fertilizer (Summer Green) for Bahia and St. Augustine grass or half-strength fertilizer if desired to improve green
- Apply fungicide at preventive or treatment rate if needed & watch for fungus infestation
- Check for Chinch bugs, mole crickets (Bahia), grubs, bill bugs (Zoysia) and other insects, and treat with insecticide if needed
- Mow, dig out, or spot-kill weeds with non selective herbicides (Weed Out/Roundup) during the hot months
AUGUST
- Iron-only (Summer Green) or light fertilizer application to make lawns greener
- Apply a pre-emergence herbicide if needed
- Apply fungicide at preventive or treatment rate if needed
- Check lawn weekly for signs of insects and fungus and treat with appropriate insecticide or fungicide
SEPTEMBER
- Fall feeding with complete fertilizer
- Summer insects and fungus will affect the lawn for at least one more month, treat with insecticide and fungicide if needed
- Apply fungicide at preventive or treatment rate if needed
- Wait until the later part of the month to begin selective weed control. Until then pull or spot-kill weeds with a non selective herbicide (Weed Out/Roundup)
OCTOBER
- Apply fertilizer or weed/feed now if you didn’t in September. Bahia grass will soon begin to slow its growth.
- Insects and fungus begin to decline, however chinch bugs, mole crickets, grubs, and a few other insects might still need to be treated with insecticide
- Mowing, digging, and spot-killing weeds can continue, as well as the use of selective weed-control products. Broadleaf weed types are the easiest to control
NOVEMBER
- Apply winterizer (potassium-only fertilizer) to your lawn.
- Apply a pre-emergence herbicide if needed
- Treat grubs in your lawn, and watch for chinch bugs and mole crickets and treat with insecticide as needed.
DECEMBER
- NO fertilizer or weed/feed for St. Augustine, Zoysia and Bahia lawns
- Fungicide for “Brown Patch” if needed (Fungicides do not help cold damaged lawns)
- Do not use pesticides at this time of year
- Overseed with rye grass if desired
Orange County Extension Office: 407-254-9200
Fertilome Weed & Feed (atrazine) (ST. AUGUSTINE ONLY!) (cool weather) Fertilome liquid Weed-Free Zone (carfentrazone) (cool weather) Fertilome Weed Out (2-4-D) (bahia, zoysia/ not for St. Augustine) (coolweather) Fertilome New Lawn Starter (new sod) Fertilome Winterizer (high potassium) Lukas Nursery Iron Plus Fertilizer (spring, summer, fall) Summer Green (iron, magnesium, manganese) Fertilome Weed & Grass Stopper pre-emergent (Treflan) Fertilome F-Stop fungicide granules or liquid systemic (Banner) Fertilome Bug Blaster, imidacloprid (systemic), or Dylox product (insect control)
Orlando yard clean up and landscape project March 2017
This was a grueling 4 day clean up and landscape project. On the side of the back porch we ripped out grass and weeds then installed sweet smelling Tea Olive Shrubs with Blue Daze in front.
At the back side of the back porch we cleared out stones, weeds and old weed barrier material. then installed White ruffle Azaleas with Blue Daze to enhance the landscape.
The front walk way – In Ohio we call it the devil strip. We cleared out the ferns, (took two days), installed Asiatic Jasmine , which is a ground cover that does fairly well in shaded areas. there are only a few plants that can grow in shade like this in Zone 9a. Ferns and Asiatic Jasmine. the Jasmine won.
The Crape Myrtle we pruned and cleaned up the weeds around the area and topped off the decorative grasses.
Left front yard we cleaned out Many Split Philodendrons, huge prehistoric ferns, a few Elephant Ears and countless bags of leaves. then we installed Formosa Azaleas, enhanced with New Guinea Inpatients.
Right side of back yard we cleaned out Miscellaneous growth and trimmed shrubs.
Left side of back yard as you can see were massive Split Philodendrons and other plant life that was just there. We cleared that area out and home owner may put in rubber mulch or frog plant.
In the back yard next to left neighbors house we tore out more Split Philodendrons and burned off grass, then we installed Orange colored Shrimp Plant (a butterfly attracting plant) next to neighbors house. At the fence we planted Banana Shrubs, which bloom and smell like ripe bananas. Then we enhanced the look with white Angel Wing Begonias.
Trimming high hedges
Trimming high hedges down to more manageable shrub line is one of our specialties.
Sometimes it takes hours or even a full day to accomplish this daunting task. But as you can see the work is worth it. Taking an overgrown monster hedge and taming it to a good looking well behaved line of hedges.
Would you like a Free quote on cutting back your shrubs?
