In the next series of blogs, I am going to address a problem many homeowners eventually face. How do you deal with an older landscape?
Down here in the south, things grow fast. There is no dormant, or cold period, to moderate the growth. Yes, there are changes to the pace of growth during different seasons, but few plants will actually drop their leaves and go dormant for 3-4 months of the year. Because of this, the average life span of the landscape is accelerated. In south Florida, it is safe to say this life span is 12-15 years for most foundation plantings, hedging, and mass planting. Trees grow larger at a much faster rate, often leaving only trunks to look at from the eaves of the home to the ground. Those graceful palm fronds are now above the roof line. This dramatically changes the look of the landscape from what it was when first planted.
This also puts the homeowner in the position of needing to relandscape. But do you rip everything out and start from scratch, or do you rejuvenate your existing landscape?
Before you make this decision, there are a few things you need to consider.
1. What are your landscape goals? Are you looking for a new look, or merely to improve on your existing landscape? Do you need to change a viewpoint, traffic pattern or maybe add a piece of hardscape?
2. Do you have a budget for the work to be done? Bear in mind that removal of some larger established plants will eat into that budget.
3. Does your existing landscape serve a purpose other than beautifying your home? Are you screening something from view, defining your property lines or trying to cut down on the noise from nearby traffic?
4. Does your landscape create “good neighbor vibes”?Do you and your neighbor both benefit from the existing plants? Take into consideration if relandscaping will cause a strain on your relationship with your neighbor.
5. How accessible is the area in question? This may be an essential factor if any equipment is necessary to do the job.
6. Is your current landscape achieving goals a new landscape may not be able to do until it is established? For instance; is a large tree providing shade that a new tree would take years to offer.
7. Are you looking to hire a professional landscaper or do the work yourself?
You should be able to answer these questions before you proceed with any further with your landscape plans. In the next post, I will discuss the pros and cons of rejuvenating your landscape ~vs. ~ completely re-landscaping your area.
Gossip from the Southern Garden 
I was very surprised on how fast shrubs etc. grew in the South after relocating from the North. I had to redo my 18 year old overgrown landscape.
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Yes, that is about the livespan of most landscapes. After 20 years, many of the smaller plants have outgrown their location, or become woody and weak. But on the bright side, in that span the trees and palms have matured at are now a key fixture to your site.
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