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Growing Citrus
Citrus and other edible plants are among the fastest growing areas at nurseries and garden centers. Homeowners realize the desirability of having access to various citrus cultivars throughout the year. Edible plants are generally not low maintenance and we hope that some of this information will be a good starting point to select citrus best suited to your needs and obtaining optimal growing success.
When and How to Plant Citrus
Containerized citrus trees can be planted throughout the year. Pick a spot with 50% or more sun on well-drained soil, preferably where it will have protection in winter from cold north and west winds. Avoid septic tanks and drain lines. Clear away any weeds or grass. If you are planting where another tree has been recently removed, you may have problems with fungal diseases spread from the old, decaying roots to the newly planted tree; termites may move from old wood to destroy the roots of the newly planted tree. Minimize these risks by removing the remaining old roots and debris.
Have water available. Dig the hole larger than the container. Carefully remove tree from the container. Inspect your roots for evidence of pot binding, a mass of roots growing in a spiral around the root ball, or J-rooting, horizontal growth of the main roots. Either of these conditions can affect future growth. If roots are pot bound, make several vertical slashes through the root ball, or carefully remove obviously crowded roots to allow the potting soil and roots to interact with the soil of your planting site. It may be easier to cut some of the roots with pruning shears and to pull them gently until they protrude from the ball. If roots are not pot bound, don't cut them. Roots should be moist before planting.
The soil and tree are likely to settle. Plant the root ball above the existing grade an inch or so. Backfill around the plant to half-fill the hole and press the soil down to remove air pockets. Water the hole thoroughly and allow the soil to settle. Backfill again to near the top of the hole, and firm the soil around the tree. Excessive mulch should NOT be used.
Growing Pears in Florida
Yes, certain varieties of pear trees can be successfully grown in South Florida. Floradahome, Hood, and Pineapple are the only cultivars recommended for SW Florida.
Planting Information
Use a known pear cultivar on suitable rootstocks. Pear trees can be planted on a variety of soil types, however, they grow best in a fertile, sandy loam soil with deep internal drainage.
Plant trees anytime during the dormant season, but the period from late December through January is best because it allows time the roots to become established. Mixing nutrient-rich amendment with the native soil can be beneficial to transition from the soil used by the grower and to "jump-start" the growth process.
The planting hole should be dug large enough so that the root system is not crowded, bent, or broken. The plant should be placed at the same height they stood in the nursery or slightly higher. Put one or two shovels full of soil around the root ball in the hole, and pack it firmly around the roots. Repeat this procedure until the hole is full of soil and the plant is firmly in place.
It is desirable to add water when the hole is about two-thirds filled with soil in order to settle the soil around the roots. After the water has soaked into the soil, finish filling the hole. Fertilizer should NOT be placed directly in the hole at planting time.
Flordahome and Pineapple pear trees require cross-pollination and should be inter-planted with each other or with Hood, as these three cultivars tend to bloom together.
Growing Peaches and Nectarines
It surprises many of our customers when they see the large variety of edible plants for sale at our nursery. Peaches and nectarines are two of our favorites that can be grown in SW Florida. successfully in SW Florida. Peach and nectarine trees are two popular sellers at the nursery. This article provides information on how to select and successfully grow these delicious fruit trees.
General information:
The nectarine is actually a waxy-skin peach. A nectarine is obtained when a single gene change causes the absence of fuzz on the skin. Clingstone, Semi-cling and Freestone refer to the pit and the meat of the peach. Meat that does not detach from the pit is Clingstone. Meat that falls right off the pit is Freestone. Semi-cling is when the meat falls off the pit only when it is fully ripe. The melting flesh varieties are best suited for homeowners since they do not do well for commercial packing because they are too soft and bruise easily. Melting varieties are super sweet and juicy.
Before You Plant
These steps apply to all large plants. (Some of this information was obtained from Bachman’s Planting Guide.)
• Choose a plant fits the site.
• Look up! Determine if the mature plant will interfere with power/phone lines or anything else overhead.
• Locate wiring, pipes or utilities before digging by calling Sunshine State One Call at telephone number #811.
• Handle plants carefully and them by grasping the container, NOT the branches or trunks.
• Prune out any broken branches and remove any tags on the plant.
How to Install Your New Plants
Dig a wide (at least 50% larger than the root ball), shallow hole for your new plant. PLANT THE ROOT BALL approximately 10% ABOVE GRADE. Place the dirt from the hole around the rootball, NOT on top of the new planting. Even one inch of dirt on top of the new root ball can suffocate the plant.
If plantings are made during the dry months or at sites without irrigation, it may be advantageous to create a soil “dam” around your new plant that can hold water. Once the plant is established or the rainy season arrives, the dam can be raked away so water will slope away from the new plant.
It is NOT necessary to pull the roots away from the rootball before planting. Disturbing the roots can cause stress to the plant and defoliate or even kill the new plant. If a plant is rootbound, make several shallow vertical cuts on the sides of the rootball before planting. Significantly rootbound plants may not attain optimal growth. We strive to carry only “fresh” plants recently acquired from the grower.
New plantings will need to be treated with care and attention. We recommend that these plants should be watered daily for the first month; every other day for the next thirty days; and every third day for the following month. Plants should be carefully monitored during the first year to make sure that they are not stressed by lack of water as they become established. Establishment may take several months depending on the kind of plant and environmental conditions. ALL plants will need regular fertilization.
How is your soil?
Soil conditions: Southwest Florida soils are generally sandy. Sandy soil is ideal for plant success in south Florida. because of the amount of rain that we receive during the summer months. Most of our plants like "dry feet" and many will not prosper or will even die if drainage is poor. You generally do not need to amend the soil if it is primarily sand.
Compacted soil with rocks and shells drain poorly. If you have these soil conditions you may benefit from a good soil amendment. We have had excellent results at the nursery and in our landscape projects using Fafard's Organic Soil Conditioner. This dark, rich composted pine bark holds moisture, breaks up hard, dense soil, and stimulates root growth. Mix it half and half with the existing soil.
Citrus and other edible plants are often grown in rich, fertile soil. These plants may benefit from using a soil amendment, and experience less stress as the roots become extablished into the existing soil. Other soil amendment products can be used such as worm castings, and manure. Remember, it is important to mix these amendment products with the existing soil.
What Is A Sustainable Plant or Landscape?
Sustainable plants and landscapes are what we call, SmartPlants and SmartScapes.
Florida’s unique climate of intense rain, heat and humidity, followed often by drought and cold create an often daunting challenge for those wishing to create successful gardens and landscapes.
Riverland Nursery was created to assist homeowners, businesses, and homeowner associations with the knowledge and selection of hardy plants that will flourish with minimal water and care. These include native Florida plants, as well as non-natives that have the characteristics needed for success.
Many plants that we showcase and recommend are wildlife attractants. These are plants that attract various birds, hummingbirds and butterflies that can make your garden and landscape an educational and joyful experience.
Please vist the Florida Yards & Neighbrhoods site for more great information about sustainable landscaping practices.
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The Importance of Plant Nutrition
Healthy plants spring from rich soil. Naturally fertile soils arefound in other parts of the United States but most of our growing ground is made of sand, seasoned with lime rock, and peppered with shells. If it looks like it used to be the ocean floor, your are right. Here is one of the greatest challenges to plant growth and success.
The amount of "data" and advice on plant nutrition is dizzying and often contradictory. This is a summary of various articles by experts on Florida plantnutrition that makes sense and will give you the good results that you desire in Southwest Florida.
The amount of salt that you put on your steak and how you like it done is strictly a matter of taste. But plants don't have opinions, they have needs. The following describes plant's nutritional needs and how gardeners can provide them.
Pests and Pesticides
We are frequently asked about how to best control unwanted garden pests and thought this article from the Institute of Food and Agricultural Services, Univ of Florida might be useful.
The best advice is to stay away from insecticides unless you see a problem. Pesticides that drip into our waterways cause fish kills and other environmental problems. I recommend that you use organic controls whenever you can. Insects build up resistance to pesticides, creating superbugs. Use the safest product possible and make sure you have the problem correctly identified so you will not use the wrong pesticide. Less usually is better than more. I have sprayed only twice on my property in the past 17 years for a localized problem.
General Suggestions:
Spray in the early morning or late evening when the temperature is below 85 degrees. Spraying when temperatures are over 85 degrees can burn leaves and cause leaf yellowing or leaf drop. Do not spray if it is windy as some sprays stain or could hurt adjacent plantings. Copper fungicide is an example as it can stain everything electric blue like your house or paving. Repeat treatment in 7-10 days to kill new pests hatching from eggs. Use a spreader sticker or a few drops of soap with your pesticide mix to help the spray adhere to the plant.
Plants That Can Tolerate Standing Water
With the advent of the rainy season, we are frequently asked about plants that will survive in standing water. These are some of our suggestions for our SW Florida climate. These are also great plants to use if you are building a rain garden.
PALMS: Paurotis, Spindle, Royal, Needle, Saw Palmetto and Sabal Palm
GRASSES: Lemon Grass, Sand Cordgrass, Miscanthus, Muhly and Fakahatchee Grass, Blue Flag Iris and Rain Lily
SHRUBS: Green and Silver Buttonwood, Buttonbush, Galberry, Walter's Viburnum, Screw Pine, Florida Anise, Yaupon and Buford's Holly, Leather Fern, Myrsine and Wax Myrtle. Note: Some of the shrubs and trees will need to be established in drier soil before in order to tolerate standing water for lengthy periods.
TREES: Red Maple, Pond Apple, Loblolly Bay, Dahoon Holly, Pop Ash, Sweetgum, Sweetbay Magnolia, Sycamore, and Pond Cypress
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Rain Gardens for Watershed Protection
This is a summation of an article by Nancy Miller, TAPP Project Coordinator & Pam Sawyer, Master Gardener. The source of the article is from Think About Personal Pollution (TAPP), City of Tallahassee.
Almost every homeowner has occasionally been stumped about what to do with excess water washing across the yard during and after a rainstorm. Sometimes the water puddles in an inconvenient place beside the walkway or rushes off so fast that it carries the soil away with it. The moment has arrived to consider replacing some of that lawn with a rain garden.
A rain garden is a landscaped area designed to capture and hold excess water for a short period, allowing it to soak into the soil. The garden is planted with vegetation that prefers a slightly wetter environment, but can tolerate dry times, too. It is a place to grow beautiful plants like Blue-flag iris and Black-eyed Susans, and offers a break in the monotony of ordinary landscaping. Rain gardens are easy to maintain and many rain garden plants attract birds and other wildlife.
As towns grow into cities with more and more roofs, driveways, lawns and highways, the water that once filtered down to underground water supplies now runs into the nearest storm drain. A typical city block absorbs five times LESS water than a wooded area of the same size. Water managers are concerned about replenishment of underground water supplies and increasing pollutants in storm water runoff. Rain gardens are becoming more and more popular because they divert water away from streets and parking lots and provide a place for water to “rest” temporarily while it is absorbed and travels downward into the ground.
Poisonous Plants
We are often asked about plants which may be poisonous to pets, livestock or horses. There are several listings of toxic plants available online but they are lengthy and encompass many plants that aren’t grown in SW Florida.
This is a list of plants that are considered poisonous to dogs and cats to some degree that are found in our area. We have compiled this list from the www.petpoisonhelpline.com and the ASCPA websites. This is NOT a comprehensive list and should be used only as an initial and cursory source of information. If you believe that your pet has ingested a poisonous plant, call your veterinarian or your local emergency vet immediately. Asterisks (*) denote a higher degree of toxicity.
The degree of clinical signs of ingesting poison are often dependent on the species, age, breed, or size of your pet; and how much of the poisonous plant ingested.
Salt Tolerant Plants
Many homeowners in Southwest Florida live very near the Gulf of Mexico and other places with elevated salinity levels which often adversely affect plant success. Wells that have experienced some degree of saltwater intrusion can also present planting challenges. It may be useful to test your well water and to take soil samples. This is a list comprised mainly of Florida native plants that will tolerate various levels of salinity and are usually readily available from our nursery. This is NOT a complete list of acidic tolerant plants.
Creating a Bird Habitat
The importance of attracting birds to our urban and suburban landscapes is often overlooked. Birds play a vital role in our sensitive eco-systems not to mention the beauty and pleasure derived from watching and listening to them in our gardens. Planting a garden or landscape that will attract birds to your yard is as simple as providing them with food, water, shelter and nesting spaces. Some birds eat berries and fruit, some eat nuts, some eat seeds, and some eat insects. Be sure not to use insecticides in your bird habitat, as they will destroy an important food source for the birds. The following lists include Florida native trees and shrubs known to attract a variety of birds to Florida landscapes. Most of these plants are growing in Riverland's demonstration gardens and are available for purchase.
Water Conservation
South Florida has experienced significant development in the last decade which has put pressure on our amount of available water in our aquafirs that are used for irrigation and drinking. Approximately 50% of the water that is consumed is for irrigation. In addition, we have had lower rainfall amounts than normal over the last few years. The result has been chronic water shortages to various degrees.
Download a great guide with some water saving tips here.
Most people are unaware that Palm Beach was three weeks away from running out of fresh water earlier this summer! It is critical for the future of our communities, that we design "smarter" landscapes which use less turf , grouping and using plants that require less water, and using more efficient irrigation systems such as drip.
Using Trees for Energy Conservation
It is estimated that the potential value of “low energy” landscapes can result in a 20-30% reduction in energy consumption. Presently, residential energy use in Florida accounts for 23% of the total energy budget.
A major benefit of landscaping is to limit solar radiation on windows and exterior walls. In South Florida during the five-month period from mid-May to mid-September, temperatures exceed human comfort levels. Trees are the most effective form of plant material for limiting solar radiation. Proper placement should ensure maximum shading. Tree shade can be most effective on the surfaces of east and west sides of residences. Deciduous trees can be used effectively during winter months (Nov – February) when the warming effect of the sun can be beneficial.*
Visit us to view and evaluate the best tree options for your home.
*Information courtesy of the Dept. of Environmental Horticulture, IFAS, University of Florida.
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Fantastic Plants for Fragrance in the Garden
Fragrant flowers and aromatic foliage add to our garden enjoyment by giving us pleasure as we take in the wonderful fragrances they produce. The primary purpose of scent in flowers is to attract pollinators (usually insects) for fertilization. Biology aside, we just love breathing in the richly fragrant air that tells us the citrus trees, jasmines, gardenias, etc. are blooming. Place a fragrant plant near a lanai, patio or walkway and it will be a reminder to stop and "take time to smell the roses".
Some of 
our favorite plants for fragrance:
Allspice Tree, Pimenta Dioica
Angel's Trumpet, Brugmansia spp.
Arabian Jasmine, Jasminum Sanbac
Banana Shrub, Michelia Figo
Bay Rum Tree, Pimenta Dioica
Fiddlewood, Citharexylum Fruticosum
Joy Perfume Tree, Michelia Alba
Lady of the Night, Brunsfelsia Nitida
Michelia figo, Banana Shrub
Sweet Acasia, Acacia Farnesiana
Sweet Almond, Alosia Virgata
Tea Olive, Osmanthus Fragrans
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