Designing and maintaining a luxury landscape for waterfront Fort Lauderdale houses presents its unique challenges. In this blog, we will explore some of the difficulties of Fort Lauderdale landscape design for waterfront houses and how to overcome them.
Challenge #1: Saltwater Exposure The primary challenge of landscape design in Fort Lauderdale houses is the saltwater exposure. The constant exposure to saltwater can damage plants and landscape features, including patios, decks, and fences. This damage can occur through rusting, corrosion, and fading.
Therefore, using plants that are salt-tolerant, such as sea grape, coco plum, and saltbush is vital. These plants can withstand the harsh conditions of saltwater exposure and continue to thrive. For hardscaping, the landscaper should use materials that can resist rusting and corrosion, such as stainless steel, aluminum, and composite decking.
Challenge #2: High Humidity and Heat Fort Lauderdale's hot and humid climate can pose a challenge to landscape design. Plants that thrive in other parts of the country may not survive in this area due to the high humidity and heat. The intense heat can cause the soil to dry out quickly, leading to plant wilting and death.
Choose plants that are heat and humidity-tolerant, such as bougainvillea, hibiscus, and bird of paradise. These plants can tolerate the high temperatures and retain moisture in the soil. One should also ensure that the plants receive adequate water and mulching to help conserve moisture in the soil.
Challenge #3: Storms and Hurricanes Fort Lauderdale is prone to storms and hurricanes, especially during the summer months. These natural disasters can cause significant damage to the landscape, including trees, plants, and hardscaping. Strong winds and heavy rains can uproot trees and destroy outdoor living spaces.
Fortunately, there are several hurricane resistant plants to choose from for Fort Lauderdale Landscape Design, such as royal palm, gumbo limbo, and sea grape. These plants have deep roots and can withstand strong winds and heavy rain. One should also use hurricane-resistant hardscaping materials, such as concrete and steel, to withstand the force of storms.
Recommended plants for Landscape Design in Fort Lauderdale
Bougainvillea: Bougainvillea is a popular choice for landscape design in Fort Lauderdale due to its vibrant colors and low maintenance. This plant is native to South America and can tolerate the hot and humid climate of Fort Lauderdale. Bougainvillea is available in a wide range of colors, including pink, red, orange, and purple. It can be grown as a climbing vine or trained to grow as a shrub. Bougainvillea is salt-tolerant and can withstand drought conditions. It requires full sun and well-draining soil. Pruning is recommended to control its growth and promote flowering.
Sea Grape: Sea Grape is a salt-tolerant plant that is native to Florida and the Caribbean. It is a popular choice for coastal landscapes due to its large, glossy leaves and attractive fruit clusters. Sea Grape can grow up to 30 feet tall and is tolerant of wind and salt spray. It requires full sun to partial shade and well-draining soil. Pruning is recommended to control its size and shape. The fruit of Sea Grape is edible and can be used to make jelly and wine.
Gumbo Limbo: Gumbo Limbo is a tropical tree that is native to South Florida and the Caribbean. It is also known as the "tourist tree" due to its red and peeling bark, which resembles a sunburned tourist. Gumbo Limbo is salt-tolerant and can tolerate drought conditions. It can grow up to 50 feet tall and has a spreading canopy that provides shade. Gumbo Limbo requires full sun to partial shade and well-draining soil. Pruning is recommended to control its size and shape. The wood of Gumbo Limbo is used for carving and woodworking.