by Joe Mantkowski, ArtisTree Landscape Designer, LICHP, LEED GA

I think I can safely say that no one on has ever surprised Mom on Mother’s Day with a nice breakfast in bed and a tall bouquet of mother-in-law’s tongue.  Which is too bad, because being the landscape designer that I am, I have a special affinity for any plant with “mother” in its name, especially when it doesn’t get the respect it deserves (like my mom sometimes).

Mother-in-law’s tongue, or Sansevieria, has numerous qualities to put you in a rosy mood:

•    Lower growers make a nice dense groundcover in contained spaces.
•    Tall growers add visual interest and texture to flower beds.
•    Under good growing conditions, the flowers will produce clusters of berries.
•    They’re easy to propagate by using leaf cuttings or dividing them from suckers around the mother plant.
•    They come in endless colors and patterns ranging from deep grayish-greens to being delicately edged in creamy yellows or banded in bright shades of golds.

 If I may use one more “mom” metaphor, mother-in-law tongues are forgiving. They don’t mind if you forget to water them and survive in sun or shade (despite the misperception that they’re just a common houseplant). Placed in your landscape, they can create a breathtaking effect.

So the question you’re dying to ask: Am I getting mother-in-law’s tongue for my mom or mother-in-law this Mother’s Day?

Are you kidding me? We’ll probably just do cards again!

 by Kirk Brummett, RLA, ArtisTree Landscape Architect

You gotta love it. The first day of Spring rolls around and homeowners become best buds with their buds all over again -- the tightly furled buds of a prolific azalea, a buttery hibiscus or velvety-purple day lily. Doesn’t matter if plants are annuals or perennials, it’s as though humans are waking up and seeing their colorful blossoms for the very first time.

Spring has a way of doing that to us, even here in “seasonless” Florida. I had the privilege of witnessing a homeowner’s euphoria just last week -- a woman whose words were spilling over like a cascading bougainvillea as she walked through her courtyard to discuss her desired landscape. It was sort of a supercalifragilisticexpialidocious moment where, in her state of extreme excitement, all her words tumbled out together. Unfortunately, there’s no way I could ever write them down, but I was at least able to make out one of her last sentences as we walked around to the front.

Sweeping her arms across a shaded expanse of sidewalk pavers, she asked, “What do you think about planting some bougainazaleas over here?”

   by Steve Tanaka, ISA Certified Arborist, No. FL-5306A, Tree Division Manager

The homeowner was more mad at himself than anything else, having let Palmetto Weevils kill his prized pineapple palm. His words came out like an unintended eulogy: “It was such a nice-looking palm. I remember planting it myself and watching it grow into this beautiful specimen. It was the kind of tree that stood by you, you know what I mean?”

What the man failed to do was notice the early signs of full-blown Palmetto Weevil infestation, which include 1) decline of the younger fronds, and 2) drooping of the older fronds during initial infestation stages to where they eventually collapse.

And by collapse, I mean your affected pineapple palm will look like a melted-out candle.

So I offered words of comfort. “Let us install a new one for you, and this time, make sure you follow proper maintenance procedures, including trimming, fertilization, water management and preventive treatments. We can help you with that.” I knew the prized palm would be missed, but in the right time, the homeowner would have another one to admire and care for.  

If you own Pineapple or Bismarck palms, know that these species are susceptible to Palmetto Weevil damage and see that they get proper care. Treatment is difficult after initial symptoms have appeared, and the liklihood of tree death is almost inevitable.

 by Jennifer Lassen, CAD Technician/Project Coordinator

The female caller was talking so fast that I could barely make out what she was saying. She had never hired a professional landscape design company before, and in her excitement, words tumbled out like marbles from a vase: 

“… everything has to be blue … not a tree but not a shrub either … I’m thinking a succulent pond … what about a privacy wall created out of annuals … could you possibly bring in butterflies ...?”

OK, maybe I’m exaggerating a bit, but as ArtisTree’s project coordinator for landscape design projects, I have the pleasure of hearing all kinds of unique requests, and thanks to our talented design team, we exceed expectations time and again.  But scheduling is also a critical factor affecting the successful completion of your design project. If you’re a homeowner contemplating a small job or full-scale renovation, keep in mind the myriad minutia and milestones that must be met to bring your vision to life, including:

• Converting your exterior site plan to a computer-aided design (CAD) drawing; 

• Designing your landscape and presenting for approval;

• Ordering project materials, including plants, dirt, sod, water features, hardscapes and lighting;

• Preparing detailed plans for installation teams;

• Calling in “locates” of all utilities so wires aren’t cut;

• Rescheduling for rain delays;

• Coordinating who will be on your site during installation (this includes your dog and pet iguanas);

• More rescheduling for rain delays;

• Providing you with plenty of post-installation maintenance guidance.

There’s not a job that goes through where incidentals don’t turn out to be key drivers, so no matter which landscape company you decide to hire, be sure to ask about design AND scheduling capabilities. I’d elaborate more, but it’s raining and you know what that means!

 by Mike Casper, ArtisTree Irrigation Manager

 As ArtisTree's Irrigation Service Supervisor,  Leonel Gomez responds to every tough challenge with four words that have become his trademark:  "Let me try something.”

Take the hot summer morning when Leonel and ArtisTree’s irrigation crew were out in a small Sarasota community. The well pump was down, and the homeowner association president was clearly agitated, fearing that his neighborhood would be on the hook for a $3,000 replacement cost.

ArtisTree's crew peered down inside the six-inch-wide pipe. Sure enough, no water, but the pipe was vibrating. That was good; at least the motor was running. But a quick diagnosis revealed that the wires had twisted around the pipe and had become pinched. The men pulled the wires up. No motor, no pump. Both had dropped 80 feet down.

Most landscape maintenance companies would throw in the towel and quote a replacement cost. But Leonel stood up, wiped the sweat off his brow and said, "Let me try something.”

He then fashioned a nearly 80-foot-long rod of half-inch pipe and used duct tape to attach soil staples that would act as hooks to dislodge the pump and motor.

Eight hours later, after twisting and turning Leonel’s invention (and two near successes where they almost had the motor and pump pulled to the top before it dropped), the ArtisTree crew finally accomplished what it set out to do: lift the 200-pound assembly up through 80 feet of six-inch pipe in the dead heat of the summer -- a nearly impossible feat.

The HOA president was so delighted that he kissed a crew member standing nearby and then turned to Leonel to kiss him as well. Leonel took three steps back before the kiss ever landed. Still, he was glad to have helped saved the community a significant amount of money.  For  another day, he went home tired but happy to have a job that let him flex his skills, support his family -- and make a difference in someone else’s life. 

Leonel Gomez, ArtisTree Irrigation Service Supervisor

 by Clinton Lak, Landscape Designer, BSLA

A Casey Key homeowner asked ArtisTree to create a functional, sustainable, no-turf landscape design that would work on three different levels: It had to be aesthetically pleasing, minimally impactful and congruent with the home's architecture and coastal environment. It also had to accomodate her family's lifestyle, which included frequent entertaining and just kicking back. Since our client had mused on artwork viewed in the museums of Paris, one of the elements we decided to create for her was a living masterpiece -- a one-of-a-kind living wall (vertical garden) outside the master bathroom window consisting of artfully placed, drought-resistant succulents. Their tapestry of colors and textures reflected in the master-bath mirror for a truly stunning visual effect.

Living walls have become a popular art form for many homeowners throughout Florida due to their low maintenance, intense beauty, lack of heavy water usage and air-purification benefits.  Like a green roof, they capture rainwater to minimize the use of water resources.  Most green wall panels feature eco-friendly containers filled with growing medium, often installed at a slant to support the selected plants.  Occasional pruning and dead-wooding are necessary to maintain the propoer shape and color of a green wall.  ArtisTree's design experts are experienced in sustainable landscaping practices and can assist you with creating your own vertical-garden masterpiece. 

by John Lay, General Manager, Landscape Design

A great landscape design should be a personal experience that excites your senses in unexpected ways. So think outside the bag of mulch and decide on a design that makes you instantly feel good every time you step outside. Wish your landscape looked more like the tropical destinations you visit every year? Miss your northern digs and yearn for evergreens? These are important considerations, and if your landscape designer dismisses them at your initial consultation, find another.

Then insist on the right plant at the right place. Behind every color and style preference -- and literally under every leaf -- is science whispering in our ears. For instance:

- If a plant or tree is placed in the wrong location in relation to the sun, the resulting stress can cause all kinds of problems leading to pests, disease and death.

- Poor choices in growth characteristics can also be a problem. If you've requested a low-maintenance landscape, and fast-growing shrubs are installed, be ready to deal with unpleasant labor and cost issues.

- Soil conditions, drought tolerance, Florida native and fertility requirements are also crucial factors to consider when selecting trees and plants for your yard.

So get creative. Pick your landscape designer carefully. Most of all, talk art AND science.