Flora Terra Landscape Management Blog

Care and planting of fruit trees require knowledge and experience. Flora Terra’s ISA-certified arborists use their expertise to keep your trees healthy and fruitful. Our tree management service delivers effective treatments that promote growth and vibrancy throughout the plant’s lifecycle. We specialize in the care and planting of fruit trees, and other seasonal services like winter shrubbery and plant care.

• Experienced fruit tree selection: We’ll help you identify suitable fruit tree varieties and choose the right plant. Picking the right tree size and preventing root exposure during the planting process helps fruit trees establish strong foundations.
• Careful fruit tree site preparation: Location, soil depth and sun exposure are crucial to fruit tree health. A planting hole with insufficient depth leads to crown rot while decomposed materials in the soil and early fertilization can be toxic. Our experience in care and planting of fruit trees will eliminate these risks.
• Fruit tree planting expertise: Planting techniques influence tree growth and fruit yield. Our arborists ensure quality care and correct planting of fruit trees. We can judge exactly how much of the root ball needs to be cut or gently pulled away before planting. We take steps to avoid air pockets when filling the soil and prevent sunburn of young trees). It takes a trained arborist’s eye to determine the required soil line.
• Proper irrigation: Over or under watering will damage your expensive investments. Irrigation methods and schedules depend on type of soil and tree species. Mulch must also be kept at the right distance to avoid rot. Flora Terra’s skilled arborists take the guess work and frustration out of the care and planting of fruit trees.
• Precise heading: Tree height is crucial to pruning, thinning, pest management and harvesting. We can tell which branches need to be trimmed and which shouldn’t be touched because they will produce new shoots. This avoids damaging and weakening your fruit trees.

Thinking about Spring?  Thinking about planting a set of fruit trees to enhance your commercial, retail or HOA properties?  Give us a call.  We’re happy to help.

California’s unique Mediterranean climate has somewhat rainy winters and dry summers. As the dry summer months approach, water supply becomes limited. Most property owners find it difficult to maintain the gardens and trees which were thriving through the spring months.

One way of ensuring that you have a great looking landscape through the summer is to plan a Xeriscape, which is a low-water use landscape. Trees like birch and cypress and other plants which grow even in low water conditions are a good choice for your landscape. A professional landscape management company can advise you on what kind of plants to use for your landscape.

Practices like aeration and mulching help retain soil moisture and make water available to plants.

Low water use irrigation practices like drip irrigation and sprinkler systems with smart controllers are also a good alternative. This combined with appropriate watering schedules like early morning watering help reduce loss of water by evaporation.

An established landscape management company will not only install and maintain low water use irrigation systems for you, but also conduct regular checks and water audits to help you plan your water budget.

There are many water saving landscape strategies you can use on your California property. Water wisely and save money too!

Creating sustainable landscapes means matching plants to local weather conditions, soil type and drainage patterns, knowledge of potential pests, mulching and employing green practices.

What are the benefits of sustainable landscapes?

• Require less maintenance
• Long lasting
• Reduced water usage and no water run off or puddles
• Minimal use of fertilizers and pesticides
• Use of green waste
• Conservation of energy and resources

In order to take advantage of all of the benefits available from sustainable landscapes, it takes advance planning based on soil, sun, water patterns, and overall temperature conditions in your region.  The San Francisco Bay Area has numerous microclimates, each having their own influence on plant selection, spacing, soil types and maintenance schedules. 

The East and South Bay areas tends to be drier and hotter, while the Napa and Peninsula areas tend to receive more rain and winds from the oceans and hills.   San Francisco is significantly cooler with less sun exposure.  Plant selections will vary dramatically, as will watering demands.

Need help deciding what will work best for you?  Give us a call.

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