The month of January is past and so far no horrible freezes, as far as plant damage at least. It looks like some areas may have gotten a little more than others. This is not unusual. Just be sure to resist the temptation to start cutting back or trimming plants where there is damage until after February 15, at which time we are usually safe from further frost damage. If you cut back damaged plants now it can leave them vulnerable to further damage if we do happen to have more frost.

Of course we are always available to come out and evaluate each yard for your trimming and plant replacement needs. Let our professional remedial landscaping crew do it for you. They are well trained in proper trimming techniques and we also take all cuttings and other debris with us when the work is complete so as to leave your outdoors looking fresh and new.

Do you need sod replacement? If so, any time after February 15^th is a great time to replace it. Here are just a few great reasons:

1. Temperatures are warm enough to encourage quick establishment of your new turf while not so hot to cause extreme heat stress.  This means less water!  Less water used is more money in your pocket!
2. Moderate temperatures also mean less evaporation.  With less evaporation, more water gets to the root system of the new sod.  This will allow your new sod to develop a deep root system which will give you grass that is more drought tolerant year round.
3. Replacing your sod now, gives the sod the time to establish well before the height of pest season.  A healthy, established lawn will have much more resistance to chinch bugs, sod webworms, fungus and other common summer pests.

4     Best of all you can take advantage of our special prices on sod replacement that are available for the entire month of February. Check our web site www.jlcoutdoors.com under Specials for Sod Replacement Special Prices that are good for the entire month of February.

Starting mid-February each year our call volume really increases. It is a good idea to give us a call now, especially for sod replacement. We will schedule a visit to your property for an evaluation and estimate and get you on schedule for the work to be completed so your lawn and plants are looking their best going into March’s milder temperatures. Of course, estimates are always free at JLC Outdoors. Just fill out the Request a Bid form on any page of our web site or give us a call at 407-595-5818’

Take a look at our latest Putting Green installation in Windermere

Here we are in the New Year of 2012. They say that ‘time flies when you are having fun’. I must have had a blast last year because 2011 certainly flew by way too fast. I am going to try to slow down some this year and maybe hold on to each moment a little longer. They become much more valuable as we age. Not complaining though. There are many great memories still in mind from last year, both business and personal, and looking forward to the same for 2012.

We want to start the New Year off by once again thanking all of our customers for making JLC Outdoors’ your choice for Lawn Maintenance and Landscaping Services. We sincerely appreciate you patronage and look forward to working with you for many more years in the future. We value each individual client and in the effort to ensure a long lasting and mutually rewarding relationship we pledge the following:

OUR CUSTOMERS RIGHTS

• Fair and competitive pricing for the work contracted.
• Professionally trained personnel who show up on a regularly scheduled basis.
• Uniformed personnel in marked company vehicles (for easy identification when on your property.)
• Crews equipped with professional equipment and proper hand tools for performing their work.
• Courteous and conscientious workers who respect our customer’s property, pay attention to detail, and take pride in their work.
• Prompt and courteous attention when customers approach our employees with work requests. (For your personal safety please do not approach employees while mowers or other equipment is in operation)
• Respect for customers neighbor’s property by ensuring we leave adjoining properties as they were when we arrived.
• Prompt and courteous responses to any problems, calls, or e-mails.
• Monthly comprehensive billing on accounts receivable.

Thanks to all our ‘Friends’ who participated in our Like Us on Facebook Contest. One of our lucky customers is going to start the New Year off with a nice surprise.

Congratulations to the Winner of our Like Us on Facebook $500.00 Grand Prize Mad Money Certificate.

Amanda Self-Scheff should receive her Mad Money Certificate this week. It can be applied in exchange for or towards any services or merchandise offered by JLC Outdoors. For a complete listing of all our weekly winners, as well as our Grand Prize winner, you can visit our web site at www.JLC-Outdoors.com and click on our Blog heading. You will find a complete listing there. Or give us a call at 407-595-5818 and we will be glad to send you one.

Many of our JLC Outdoors customers are unfamiliar with our Landscaping Design and Install Division.  Not only do we provide several maintenance plans from which to choose, but we can also provide you with a full range of landscaping services. Landscape Design and Installation; Palms Trees and Plants Installed; Annual and Perennial Rotations; Mulch and Sod Install; Clean Ups and Weed Control; Irrigation Install, Repairs and Monitoring Plans; Outdoor Low Voltage Lighting, We can even build you a custom Putting Green. Sometimes there are small and not so expensive changes or additions that can be made that will give your landscape a whole new and refreshing look.

You can give us a call at 407-595-5818 or just fill out the Request a Bid or Contact Us form on our website at www.JLC-Outdoors.com

 **This is an article that Jason posted in December 2010. Even though we have made it through December so far without freezing temperatures, this article is still very timely and appropriate for the season. It details some plants that are particularly susceptible to freeze, tells you how to protect them, and even tells you what to do post freeze. This is a must read for every homeowner.

Protecting Your Plants in a Freeze!

It’s only mid-December and we’ve already had two periods of below freezing temperatures in many areas of Central Florida.  With several months of winter still ahead of us it is important to understand what plants in your landscape may be affected by freezing temps and the best way to protect them.  Some common tropical plants in our area that need protection in a freeze are hibiscus, bougainvillea, ixora, plumbago, mandevilla, arboricola, philodendron, ti plants, firebush and allamanda to name a few.  There are also a few common palms, such as foxtail palms, areca palms and roebellini palms that will need protection in a freeze.

How to protect your plants!

Most importantly, monitor the weather so that you have ample time to prepare for freezing conditions.  I would also suggest that if you have plants in your landscape that are susceptible to freeze damage, go ahead and make sure you have or purchase protective materials.  It is often too late if you wait until right before a freeze as materials quickly sell out.  Good materials to use would include cloth (such as sheets), burlap or freeze cloth (which you can purchase at local garden centers).  You want to avoid using plastic!!  Before the sun sets, cover the susceptible plants with your material.  Be sure that the material completely covers the plant and is secured to the ground.  You can use stakes or even some type of heavy object such as bricks or loose rock.  For palms, I like to use a strap, twine or rope of some sort to tie the fronds together.  This will make it easier to wrap the palm.  Then you want to wrap your material around the trunk, crown and fronds and secure with your strap.  When temperatures return to above freezing you want to remove your protection.

Post Freeze

Depending on the particular plant, temperature and duration of freeze, you may still incur some amount of damage to plants.  Damage will usually show within 2 to 3 days.  You want to avoid the temptation to prune freeze damage right away.  Doing so will leave the plant even more susceptible to damage in the event of another freeze.  Once we get into late February (the average last freeze date for central Florida is February 15th), we can than assess damage and prune accordingly.

Facebook Prize Giveaway

Congratulations to Our $500 Grand Prize Winner

Amanda Self-Scheff

(Grand Prize Drawing Friday December 30th, 2011)
Amanda has been a loyal JLC Outdoors customer since July 2011.

Amanda will be receiving a voucher good for $500.00 that may be used toward any landscape service. Thank you everyone who participated and please stay connected for future promotions, specials and good information. Happy New Year to everyone and we look forward to a great year in 2012!!!

*This certificate may be redeemed only in exchange for services rendered by JLC Outdoors Inc. It may not be redeemed for cash.

For our established customers, including landscaping customers and anyone who signs up for landscaping or maintenance services during this period, you too could win $25 in JLC Outdoors “Mad Money” just for Liking Us on Facebook and also be eligible for our:

Grand prize drawing for a $500 certificate.

For 16 weeks, starting September 9, 2011 through December 23, 2011, we will randomly select one name each week, from our customers who become Fans of JLC Outdoors on Facebook, to receive a JLC Outdoors” Mad Money” certificate in the amount of $25.00.  This certificate can be used toward any landscaping service that JLC Outdoors offers or as a credit towards your monthly maintenance service. Winners will be posted on Facebook each week starting Friday Sept 9, 2011. Cut off for each weekly drawing is close of business Thursday night (5pm) for that Friday’s drawing.  And all of our customer “Friends on Facebook ”, including our 16 weekly winners, will be eligible for our final BONUS DRAWING on Friday December 30, 2011 for our Grand Prize drawing for a JLC Outdoors “Mad Money” certificate for $500.00

That’s right! For the rest of 2011, if you are a landscaping or maintenance customer of JLC Outdoors, LIKE US ON FACEBOOK and you will be automatically entered in our weekly drawing for a chance to win. While you are there please feel free to write on our wall regarding your service or experience with JLC Outdoors.

From All of US at JLC Outdoors
Our Best Wishes for the Merriest of Holidays and a Very Happy New Year.

This being the last newsletter of 2011 JLC Outdoors would like to take this opportunity to wish all of our friends and customers the very best for the Holiday Season and a prosperous New Year for 2012. We thank you for making JLC Outdoors your choice for Landscaping Design, Install and Lawn Maintenance services and hope that we may continue to provide service for many years to come.

It has been a year of change for JLC Outdoors. Even with the economy being what it is we have seen a good percentage of growth in our maintenance division over the year of 2010. Our Landscaping Division has also shown remarkable growth. We have seen some changes in the scope of work. A large percentage of our landscaping designs and installs have come from within our existing customer base and are re-designs and on a smaller scale than in previous years. We have experienced a marked increase in the installation of larger, more mature palms, trees and other plants. These make an immediate and highly visible change on any property.

We are always glad to help our clients work within their particular budgets and it is amazing to see the change a few well selected and properly placed plants can make in the appearance of any property. Jason has been posting before and after pictures of several of these projects each week on our Facebook page, if you would like to take a look. Also we will soon have a NEW Before and After Section available on our website.

We have seen a marked increase in our Commercial Division, both in landscape design, install and maintenance contracts, thanks in part to our much stronger presence on the internet. At the beginning of 2011 we re-designed our web site with the goal of promoting JLC Outdoors to the general public and to build our customer base by being more accessible on line. It was also our intent to promote and secure more contract work within our customer base by making our existing maintenance clients more aware of JLC Outdoors’ Landscaping and Install services. As many of you are aware we have also joined the social networks by making our presence on Facebook. It is our hope that by making ourselves more accessible to our friends and customers we can build a sense of community, maintain lasting relationships and improve communication with all our clients. You are always welcome to contact us and let us know how we are doing.

Our personnel have remained pretty much the same as it has through past years. In an effort to ensure that our customer service level remains high and to take some of the load off of Jason, we hired a new Field Operations Manager. Brian Casey joined JLC Outdoors in May 2011. Brian has more than 11 years of experience in landscape design, installation, maintenance, and irrigation as well as customer relations. If you have not met Brian as yet, I am sure that you will in the near future. He will be visiting and evaluating properties in the New Year to come.

Again, we hope you and your families have had a great 2011 and wish all of you the very best for 2012. Happy Holidays!

Jim/ Dec.2011

Fall and winter landscapes don’t have to be lackluster. By selecting plants that offer both cold tolerance and winter time good looks your property can stand out in the neighborhood and also give you lots of personal enjoyment over the cooler weather months.

Some popular annuals that can be planted now that will give you color through the winter months include; Alyssum, Pansy, Petunia, Snapdragon and Viola. These plants like cold weather and now is a great time to add some color to your landscape!

Clear Crystals White Alyssum

Dreams Midnight Petunia (Also in red, neon rose, burgundy, pink and mix.)

Bella yellow Snapdragon (Available in pink, red, and white)

Viola Penny Lane Mix (single colors available)

Scarlet Panola Pansy (Available in rose and scarlet.)

This is a small and inexpensive change or addition that can be made to give your landscape a whole new and refreshing look. Call for details! 407-595-5818 or fill out our REQUEST A BID form. We are always glad to meet and consult with you and estimates are always free at JLC Outdoors. Let us add some color to your landscape!

Friday September 23 was the official beginning of fall for the year 2011 and how fantastic to actually get some cooler temperatures to go along with the change of seasons.

*Earth’s Orbit and the Seasons – Image Credits NASA

However the four seasons are determined by changing sunlight (not heat)—which is determined by how our planet orbits the Sun and the tilt of its axis. Fall begins at the autumn equinox. Day and night are about 12 hours long and the Sun is at the midpoint in the sky. The North Pole moves away from the Sun. The Autumnal Equinox for the year 2011 was September 23, at 5:05 A.M. EDT.

There are other, more subtle but familiar hints that fall is approaching. Pro and college football games every week-end. Major league baseball in division play offs. And all over our neighborhoods Moms and Dads are shuttling our children and grand- children to football, soccer and baseball practices and games. Many of these same Moms and Dads either coach or assume other volunteer roles in making these activities possible.

My youngest grandson Jack started playing football for the Apopka Raptors at the beginning of September. He is 5 and this is his first year for AAU tag team football. Jackson has played T-ball baseball for two seasons already but decided he wanted to try football instead this fall. He will probably come back to baseball for spring league.

Grayson, his older brother, had his first fall league baseball game of the season on Saturday September 24th. Gray is 9 and this is his fourth year in Apopka Little League. The game was attended by moms, dads, grandmothers, grandfathers, cousins friends and neighbors, which is normal for Apopka Little League Baseball. A good time was had by all.

Gray’s Blue Bombers lost their first game but it wasn’t due to a lack of good coaching. His Dad, Jason, fills that job as he has every year since Gray started playing. This is Jason’s fourth year of coaching Gray and he also coached Jackson last year in T-ball. Jason played baseball from T-ball through high school and was an excellent player so he is a good coach.

JLC Outdoors sponsored the Apopka Rays for several years and it is always great to see kids who have played in previous years as they grow. We have plaques on our office wall with a team picture for each year sponsored so it is easy to track their growth.

And, a sure sign that it is not quite as hot as it has been, I managed to get in 18 holes of golf on three previous occasions in September and I certainly could not pass up the opportunity this week-end with lows in the 60’s and 80 degree afternoons. So Jason and I ventured out for 18 holes and took his two boys with us. Grayson was the official score keeper and did a great job of raking the sand traps after I got out of them. Jackson did an excellent job of pulling the flag when we were on the putting green and filled many more divots than we made. It was a beautiful day and one to be cherished and remembered.

I am sure we are still going to see some hot days ahead but hope we can all enjoy our outdoor living spaces more as the cooler weather moves in. A great article in one of our trade magazines used the phrase “Come Alive Outside”. It referred to bringing a lot of action pictures to mind, like running, sitting, laughing, jumping, watching, playing, walking, talking, listening, and simply enjoying the benefits of being outside.

I like that. All of these are actions, a few of which some of us can no longer do as well, but we all can certainly sit, laugh, watch, talk, listen, and I hope simply enjoy the benefits of being outside.

If we can be of assistance in making you OUTDOOR LIVING SPACES more enjoyable please call us at 407-595-5818 or fill out our REQUEST A BID or the CONTACT US FORM on our website

Jim Adams
October 2011

I never knew the full value of trees. Under them I breakfast, dine, write, read, and receive my company.”  –Thomas Jefferson

One of the first articles I wrote for our newsletters was titled ‘FLORIDA’S MAJESTIC OAKS: A SOURCE OF BEAUTY, RELAXATION AND NATURAL COOLING’. It was written after running across the above quote attributed to Thomas Jefferson.

It was springtime and with everything being in bloom the old allergies were acting up and I was growling about the high pollen count. The gist of the article is that even with my allergies and suffering I still have a deep appreciation for our majestic oaks, as well as the azaleas and other shrubs and plants that adorn our Florida landscapes. Mr. Jefferson’s statement brought back memories of my early childhood in Orlando and the importance of trees and shrubs in our local environment.

At that time, the mid 1950’s, very few homes were air conditioned. Shaded building sites were highly sought after and the builders positioned the homes on these sites to take advantage of the established, mature trees. Most of the homes were specifically designed with extended eaves to provide shade for the exterior walls of the house and many were built with wrap around screened porches.

Double doors or large windows opened onto these porches so as to receive cross ventilation day and night. Many homes had a large exhaust fan located in a central hallway which pulled the air through the doors and windows into the attic, which was ventilated. This had the two fold action of cooling the rooms in the house and also pushing the hot air out of the attic. This contributed to the overall cooling effect.

Landscaping for most homes was designed specifically for making life more tolerable in Florida’s heat. Hedges were planted with direction of air flow, perhaps from a nearby lake or open area, always in mind. Often a high trellis with a climbing ivy or sweet smelling Confederate Jasmine was found 2 to 3 feet from the edge of the porch on the sunny side of the house. Its purpose was two-fold. It blocked the sun during the day and also provided a sweet aroma for evening socializing. And with the set back of the trellis, it still allowed evening breezes to flow through the area with a natural cooling effect. And all this was at the pleasure of Mother Nature.

Over the summer months I did several articles on landscaping for shading effects and with energy efficiency in mind.  Landscaping for energy efficiency and natural cooling effects is nothing new. Thomas Jefferson certainly had an appreciation for the benefits trees provided for his daily endeavors and socialization.  Earlier generations did it out of necessity. With today’s rapid escalation of energy costs, if not a necessity, it is certainly the smart thing to do.

Do I want to go back to those earlier days? No thank you. I think air conditioning is a mighty fine invention. But with the proper choice of trees and other plants, and some forethought regarding placement and future growth, we can still reap the benefits of landscaping for energy efficiency and natural cooling.

With over 28 years combined experience in our Planning and Design Department, at JLC Outdoors we have what it takes to consult with you on a plan for shading your home. Fill out the CONTACT US FORM on our website or give us a call at 407-595-5818. We will be glad to meet and work with you to make your outdoors cooler and more enjoyable.

Jim Adams
September 2011

In laboratory research, visual exposure to settings with trees has produced significant recovery from stress within five minutes, as indicated by changes in blood pressure and muscle tension.” —Dr. Roger S. Ulrich Texas A&M University

LandscapeDesign is…

… the arrangement of plant and structural elements to satisfy the aesthetic desires of the inner soul in its quest for peace and calmness.

J. Adams/8/01/11

Click on the pictures above to see before & after.

For the next month or so we should be getting late afternoon and early evening showers to help establish newly laid sod. At JLC Outdoors we take extra steps to make sure your new sod has the best possible conditions for successful establishment and healthy growth.

On our initial visit our first step is to evaluate and discuss with you what type of sod best fits your lifestyle and your properties growing conditions. At this time we also do an initial run through on your irrigation system to ensure it is working properly and will advise you as to any repairs or adjustments that need to be made.

Previous to starting the installation process we may visit your property again to spray a systemic, broad spectrum herbicide to kill any invasive weeds or grasses. After a few days to give the spray time to do it’s job, our crew will return to cut out the old sod from the area where your new lawn is to be placed. Prior to doing the cut out, we do  another run through on your irrigation system to make any agreed upon repairs or adjustments, and also at this time we flag all your sprinkler heads so as not to damage them during cut out or cover them up when installing your new lawn.

Once the irrigation is taken care of, the area is cut out and the old sod is loaded for hauling away. We will hand rake the area for proper grading and, in the case of partial installs, make sure the new lawn matches the established lawn at the same level. (see image)

After your new lawn is installed we will make sure your irrigation timer is set on a watering schedule that will ensure the new lawn receives sufficient water to help it get established and will make a final inspection of the area. And, we will leave you a copy of our brochure, PROPER CARE OF NEWLY INSTALLED SOD, to help make your new lawn replacement a success.

JLC OUTDOORS GIVES FREE ESTIMATES AND WILL BE GLAD TO VISIT YOUR PROPERTY AND CONSULT WITH YOU ON YOUR SOD NEEDS. GIVE US A CALL AT 407-595-5818

Do you need sod replacement?

If so, now is a great time to replace.  Here are just a few great reasons:

1. Temperatures now are warm enough to encourage quick establishment of your new turf while not so hot to cause extreme heat stress.  This means less water!  Less water used is more money in your pocket!
2. Moderate temperatures also mean less evaporation.  With less evaporation, more
3. Water gets to the root system of the new sod.  This will allow your new sod to develop a deep root system which will give you grass that is more drought tolerant in the summer months.
4. Replacing your sod now, gives the sod the time to establish well before the height of pest season.  A healthy, established lawn will have much more resistance to chinch bugs, sod webworms, fungus and other common summer pests.

JLC Outdoors gives free estimates and will be glad to visit your property and consult with you on your sod needs.  Give us a call at (407)595-5818 or submit a bid request through our website.

As I sit writing this, with a pollen count of 10.6 for oak for the 20^th consecutive day, sneezing, with a clogged nose, itching eyes nose and throat, coughing, post nasal drip and watering eyes, waiting for the majestic April showers, all I can say is:

I’m sorry. I still love the oaks and the flowering shrubs and plants.

When I first arrived in Orlando  in the mid 1950′s Orlando was quite a different place. I relate this often, as I grow older, to my grown children and my grandchildren..  The response is “Yes, I can imagine.”  But no, no offense, you really cannot imagine. You have to have been there. Orlando truly was “The City Beautiful”.

On Sunday afternoons, it was a common practice for my father to pile all of us into the family car (gas was $.23 per gallon). We would drive around to become more familiar with the area. Two of the things that impressed me most about Orlando, even as a child, were the beautiful majestic oaks and the flowering azaleas.  Especially in the downtown Orlando and Winter Park areas.

“I never knew the full value of trees. Under them I breakfast, dine, write, read, and receive my company.”

–Thomas Jefferson

I am quite sure old Tom was referring to after the cleansing spring rains. Or maybe back then people were not cursed with allergies as badly.

I could write several pages on the benefits of trees but I will save that for Arbor Day. But here are a  couple that I know you will soon be appreciative of:

• “The net cooling effect of a young, healthy tree is equivalent to ten room size air conditioners operating 20 hours a day.”   U.S.Department of Agriculture
• “Landscaping can reduce air conditioning by up to 50 percent, by shading the windows and walls of a home.”  American Public Power Association

JLC Outdoors will be glad to consult with you about your existing trees , and we also offer a wide variety of trees that we will be glad to install for you. From palms to evergreen, shade, flowering, fruit or shrubs, make JLC Outdoors  your source for plant and tree install. Just give us a call at 407-595-5818

–Jim Adams

Our customers like that when they call JLC Outdoors, they speak to a real person. No menus. No options to choose from.  No computer generated  voices.  Just our courteous personnel. We will answer any questions that we can, or, will take your information and make sure your call is addressed as soon as possible.  If all our lines are busy, or if after hours, you can rest assured that your message will be  listened to  and you will receive a call back. And with our state of the art communications system, Jason, and all of our crew leaders, are always within reach.

Our main office line, 407-595-5818 , is staffed from 8am to 5 pm Monday through Friday. For any service needs, just give us a call.

Crapemyrtle Picture Courtesy Amy Kassam

With the sudden, early onset of warm weather, we are receiving calls regarding the trimming of Crapemyrtles. It is the policy of JLC Outdoors, as a rule, to not trim Crapemyrtles and it is not included in our regular service. Properly placed, crapemyrtle is a low maintenance plant needing little or no pruning. We do however, realize that there are always exceptions and because of improper cultivars selected at the nursery, improper placement in the landscape, or in order to facilitate foot traffic flow, trimming is sometimes necessary. If you need help or advice regarding your Crapemyrtles, do not hesitate to give us a call at 407-595-5818 and we will be glad to take a look.

For more information, read this interesting article on Crapemyrtle trimming from University of Florida Agricultural Extension Services.

One of the most enjoyable things about living in our area is our fantastic Florida weather. When it is good, it’s very good, and when it is bad, it is horrid. Sorry! I couldn’t resist… Right now I don’t see how it could be any better. Daytimes in the mid 70′s to low 80′s with slow evening cool downs into the mid 50′s or 60′s. Hopefully the extreme cold is over for this year.

As demonstrated in the Old Farmer’s Almanac article we are fast approaching the Spring Equinox on March 20th, and our days are getting longer, giving us more daylight to enjoy outdoor activities and leisure. It is also a good time to take a look at our yards and assess what needs attention.

Unfortunately, with the few extreme cold spells we experienced this past winter, some damage may have occurred to your turf or landscape plants. If we can be of assistance in re-sodding or replacing plants or refurbishing your landscape, please give us a call so we can get you on schedule as soon as possible. JLC Outdoors can help, from the smallest details to complete clean-ups and plant installs.

Also, do not forget irrigation adjustments. Hopefully most systems were reset to decrease watering days and times for the winter months. As daylight increases and daytime temperatures rise turf and landscape plant /shrubs watering requirements also increase. If you give us a call we will be glad to schedule an irrigation system evaluation for your property.

This is also a good time to make sure mulch is sufficient in all your plant beds. Mulch, when correctly applied, has the following beneficial effects:

Benfits of Mulch

• Prevents loss of water from the soil by evaporation
• Suppresses weeds when the mulch material is applied thick enough to prevent weed germination or to smother existing small weeds
• Acts as an insulator that keeps the soil cool under intense heat and warm under intense cold
• Prevents crusting of soil surface, thus improving the absorption and movement of water into the soil while at the same time reducing erosion
• Prevents soil splash, which helps to control erosion and keeps soil-borne disease from splashing up onto a plant. Also keeps the foundation on your house cleaner and dryer.
• Some mulches may add a small amount of nutrients to the soil
• Adds to the beauty of the landscape by providing a cover of uniform color and interesting texture to the surface

Fun Facts about Spring

The four seasons are determined by changing sunlight (not heat!)—which is determined by how our planet orbits the Sun and the tilt of its axis.

• At the start of spring—the spring equinox—day and night are approximately 12 hours long and the Sun is at the midpoint of the sky. Our north pole tilts towards the Sun.
• At the summer solstice, the longest day of the year, the Sun is at its most northern point in the sky. After this date, the days start getting shorter.
• Fall begins at the autumn equinox. Day and night are about 12 hours long and the Sun is at the midpoint in the sky. The north pole moves away from the Sun.
• The start of winter begins with the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year, when the Sun is at its most southern point in the sky. From then on, the days start getting longer.

Earth's Orbit and the Seasons - Image Credits NASA

Thank you for using JLC Outdoors for all your landscaping needs and we wish you and your families a Happy Holiday!

This will make our third winter in a row where we have seen extended periods of sub freezing temperatures throughout much of our area.  Although we have typically been able to grow colorful tropical plants in our area, the past three winters have proven to be significantly colder than usual.  With that in mind, there are many great plants that grow well  in our area and can withstand freezing temperatures.  Unless you are willing to take measures to protect your sensitive plants during freezes and/or replace these plants annually, I think it’s a great idea to consider using plants that will survive these conditions.

Cold Hardy Shrubs for Central Florida

Here are a few of my favorite shrubs for Central Florida that will withstand freezing temperatures:

Loropetalum ‘plum’ is one of my favorite shrubs.  The leaves are a dark purple/burgundy color and it blooms intermittently throughout the year with pink flowers.  It looks particularly nice as a foreground planting to a dark green shrub such as viburnum ‘suspensum’.  Another variety of loropetalum, ‘ruby’, has been planted for many years in our area.  Over the past several years, ‘ruby’ has been reported by many to have gone into decline.  There are several suspected reasons including mites and nutrient deficiencies.  However, there are no reported issues with plum.  There are a few other varieties that also do well such as ‘purple’ and ‘burgundy’.

"Loropetalum Plum"

Knockout roses are another great choice for Central Florida.  Unlike traditional roses, knockout roses are much less susceptible to fungal issues and require far less care.  They bloom nearly 9 months out of the year and develop a really nice burgundy leaf color the other 3 months.  Chili thrips have shown some tendency to affect knockout roses over the past few years, however, consistent pruning (which increases flowering) and good fertilization practice will typically keep your knockout roses looking fantastic.  If necessary, Conserve (a pesticide) can help control chili thrips in the event of a large infestation.

"Red Knockout Rose"

Camellias are a great plant for Central Florida and provide color in the winter when few other plants are blooming.  There are hundreds of varieties of camellias providing all kinds of colors in single and double blooms.  Camellias will need to be planted in partially shaded areas.  They require very little pruning.  Camellias are susceptible to tea scale and will need to be checked periodically for activity.  When present, you will notice white scale on the undersides of the leaves.  This can be controlled with an oil spray.  Plant some camellias this winter.  You still have a couple of months to enjoy their incredible blooms.

"Miss Biloxi Camellia"

Cold Hardy Palms for Central Florida!

If you have foxtail palms, fishtail palms, roebellini palms, areca palms, royal palms, cardboard palms as well as several other cold sensitive palms in our area, the past few winters have not been kind to you!  I had 3 beautiful foxtail palms around my pool that I planted in 2004.  They were beautiful palms!  Three winters past they got burned by a freeze.  By the following August they had finally returned to form.  Last winter, we had 10 consecutive days of below freezing temps, nearly 19 degrees several mornings, and my palms took another hit.  One completely died, another has never recovered (has 2 fronds) and the other came back nicely by this past September.  This was after wrapping them up completely with layers of burlap.  Last week, I spent hours wrapping up the one good palm and the one that is still hanging on.  I have finally come to the conclusion that I am not willing to work that hard to have these types of palms.  As beautiful as they are, they are not well suited for the winters we have experienced the past several years.  The good news is there are several very nice palms that will survive these conditions.  Here are a few:

"Sylvester Date Palm"

"Cabbage Palm"

"Washingtonia Palm"

"European Fan Palm"

After a long, hot summer, I am always excited when we get that first chill in the air.  The last couple of days have certainly delivered!  With the cooler weather, comes the perfect opportunity to address any problem areas you may have in your landscape or to just add a fresh touch!!

Sod!

This past summer was a very difficult summer for turf.  Many of you have experienced some type of turf damage, whether it was drought, chinch bugs, sod webworms, fungus or weed infestations such as crabgrass, torpedograss, bermudagrass, etc.  If you have, now is an opportune time to repair these areas.  We have great rates on sod replacement.  Please read our  sod letter for answers to all of your questions about JLC Outdoors sod replacement!

Cool Season Annuals!

Now is also a great time to add color to the landscape! Petunias, pansies and snapdragons are just a few of the many cool season annuals available! Call for details!

Pansies!!

Petunias!!

Snapdragons!!

Mulch!

Not only does mulch look nice it also provides many benefits to the landscape!  It conserves moisture for plants, it helps to control weeds and helps to moderate soil temperatures in extreme weather!  JLC Outdoors has mulch in stock and can supply and install at extremely low prices!  For those of you who like to do it yourself, we can deliver mulch to you!   Check our specials page for current pricing!!

Irrigation!

Beginning November 1st, watering restrictions require that residential properties cut back to one day a week watering!  Even numbered addresses may water on Sunday and odd numbered addresses may water on Saturdays.  You may not water between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.  With reduced watering, it is imperative that your irrigation system is providing adequate coverage for all of your turf and landscape areas.  You should be applying between 3/4″  and 1″ water per application.  JLC Outdoors can do a system evaluation for you if you need.  Please call for details and to set up an evaluation.

More to come soon!  Please check back often!

Welcome to our new website!  It has been a long time coming, but we are very excited to unveil our new JLC Outdoors website!  We hope you will visit often as we plan to update frequently with new blogs, seasonal information, photos, specials and much more!  Please feel free to leave comments and/or questions in the provided areas.  Also, we have a Facebook Page and would ask that you and all your friends become fans of JLC Outdoors!  By doing so, you will receive the latest updates, photos and lawn and landscape specials!  Thank you again for using JLC Outdoors and we look forward to continuing to provide the very best in lawn and landscape services!!