Plant Selection & Landscape Design - Southwest Florida Water ...

SCENARIO B: ALONG WALLS
Two design options (With trees, Without trees)
CHALLENGES:
• Blank wall is not visually pleasing
• Bare walls act as a heat sink during the
summer
GOAL:
To break the monotony of blank walls through
the use of properly sized foundation plantings.
Small trees can be used to provide cooling
benefits as well.
Plant Characteristics to Look For:
• Low- or medium-height shrubs
• Soft/fine texture
• Loose foliage
• Flexible branches
House
Design Solutions:
• Place root ball at least 3’ from wall to
allow for air flow and maintenance access
• Choose plants with a tidy growth habit
and be aware of their mature size to
reduce trimming needs
Turf
• Choose plants that are color-compatible
with the wall
• Consider planting small trees to provide
shade and cooling benefits
Fence
• Use slightly taller plants between windows
to break the monotony of a uniform hedge
• Use shrubs with soft/fine texture and flexible
branches for easy pruning and to
reduce injury when accessing the wall for
maintenance
Existing Landscape
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FLORIDA-FRIENDLY LANDSCAPING TM GUIDE TO PLANT SELECTION AND LANDSCAPE DESIGN • 2010