The Ground Source Blog

Posted by Joe Mouad on Jul 12, 2021 10:05:30 AM

8 Best Low Maintenance Plants for Your Orlando or Apopka, Florida Home

Unless you want to fill your yard with plastic plants (hmmm, there’s an idea) you’ll have some maintenance.

But some plants are happy with bare-bones care. Just make sure they don’t die of thirst, and they’ll happily show off pretty leaves and bright blooms while you spend your time relaxing instead of toiling in your yard.

Posted by Joe Mouad on Apr 9, 2021 10:31:23 AM

Planting Trees & Shrubs for Privacy: Pro Landscaping Tips for Orlando, FL

Nothing against your neighbors, but some days you just want a little privacy.

Maybe you want to weed the garden in your pajamas. Or practice your new yoga moves without an audience. Or play air guitar without the kids next door laughing at you.

You’re too tired to build a fence. But the right plants can offer just the privacy you need.

Posted by Joe Mouad on Feb 10, 2021 9:37:32 AM

6 Landscape Design Tips for Bird Lovers in Orlando, FL

Have you seen any great birds in your backyard lately?

A warbler, maybe? Blue grosbeak? Blue-gray gnatcatcher? Boat-tailed grackle? Brown thrasher?

No? No offense, but maybe you need to be more friendly.

Or at least, you need a more bird-friendly garden design.

Posted by Joe Mouad on Jan 5, 2021 8:03:43 AM

5 Landscape Design Tips for a Screened Pool or Lanai Area

Maybe you’ve noticed your pool or lanai area needs some pizzazz.

It’s understandable. These leisure areas are so popular here in Florida can be tough to spruce up.

Pools are often covered with large screens that are great for keeping bugs out but pose pool landscape design challenges.

Posted by Joe Mouad on Aug 5, 2020 1:45:50 PM

7 Landscape Design Tips for Perfect Plantings at Your Orlando, FL Home

So, you’re ready to do some landscaping! We can sense your excitement way over here.

Got your plan in place? Considered the one-third rule? Varied your colors and textures? Planned for staggered bloom times? 

If all you’ve done is bought three azalea shrubs, you’re reading this just in time. 

Let these seven Florida landscaping ideas get you off to a great start.

Posted by Joe Mouad on May 18, 2020 10:43:22 AM

5 Pool Landscaping Plants Perfect for Orlando, FL

“I love that big prickly pine tree by your pool.“

That’s a sentence you’ll never hear. 

Not every plant is perfect for planting around a pool.

No spines, dripping sap, or falling burrs, please. 

Ground Source landscape designer, Eric Frisch, shares a few of his favorite pool landscaping plantsand a couple of other pool landscaping tips.

Posted by Joe Mouad on Apr 30, 2020 3:24:44 PM

7 of the Best Palm Trees for Your Central FL Landscaping

This is Central Florida, land of palm trees.

Pick a palm for your yard or property, and it’ll thrive, right?

Actually, no. Just because this is Florida doesn't mean every variety of palm loves it here.

Some varieties, like Royal, Traveler's, or Coconut palms will likely die here in Central Florida if we get a bad frost or freeze.

If these three are your favorites, Traveler's palm, which looks like a banana tree, is the most likely of the three to survive in Central Florida, if not exposed to cold winds. 

But there are better choices.