Florida's Summer Landscape

Summer heat doesn’t have to kick you out of the landscape. Summer brings in high heats and heavy rains so, gardening during the summer takes care and patience. Always think about placement and plant variety. Consider how much sun or shade your yard receives and how well drained the site might be. Look for plants that can tolerate high winds and at least some level of salt near the coast.

You’ll save money, time, and effort if you know how large the plants you purchase will ultimately be. So make sure to consider the new plants’ mature size and place them in the landscape accordingly.

Simple steps for a beautiful summer landscape:

Cycads

Cycads are an ancient group of tropical and subtropical plants that have existed since the age of dinosaurs. There are more than 200 cycad species. Cycads are often mistaken for palms but are only distantly related. The popular native Florida zamia or “Coontie” is a low-maintenance landscape plant that thrives in sun or shade. In northern parts of Florida, King Sago, Bamboo Cycad, and Dioons are reliable choices.

Bamboo Cycad
Cardboard Plants
Coontie
Dioon
Sago Alternatives

Flower beds: Flowers that thrive in high heat like coleus and ornamental peppers will do well in the summer. Plant gladiolus until about mid-summer. Spider, Aztec, and butterfly lilies can be great throughout the summer.

Vegetables and Herbs: Vegetables can be grown year-round in Florida if you pay attention to the appropriate planting dates. In June and July, plant southern staples that grow well through the hottest part of the year. Some great options are okra, southern peas, and sweet potatoes.

It is too hot to plant tomatoes at this stage. Avoid sawing herbs from seeds due to the high heat during Florida's summer months. However, transplanting heat-tolerant herbs throughout summer is a good option.

Palms

Did you know that palm trees are not trees? Palms are monocots or grass-like plants. To give your palms time to establish themselves before any cold snaps, plant during the summer months. Don’t cover the trunk with soil and keep lawn fertilizers away from the root system. Check for yellowing on older growth fronds. While not trees, palms perform many of the same functions as trees, such as providing cover, removing air pollution, and storing and sequestering carbon.

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