Calusa Creek Florida Tree Farm

Calusa Creek Representatives to Attend the TXNLA Expo for the Ninth Consecutive Year!

The 2010 Texan Nursery & Landscape Association Expo is fast approaching, and Calusa Creek Tree Farm will is proud to announce that Operations Manager Glen Hegedus, and Sales Manager Meredith McIntosh will be attending the three day event from August 20-22, 2010.

In addition to having an opportunity to say hello to longtime friends and colleagues, Glen & Meredith are eager to meet with the many experts that will be addressing the EXPO from all faucets of the landscape industry. Of particular interest will be the forums and discussions which address water conservation as it relates to modern day landscaping planning. This is the  most important issue facing the industry today.

Maintaining a reliable supply of fresh water has become a critical issue to nearly every community, especially in the south. Glen Hegedus believes “Nurserymen and landscapers alike will play an increasing role in controlling whether or not a community will be able to live within the means of the local water reserves”.

Meredith recently noted “It is estimated that up to 25% of a community’s water supply is consumed by landscaping and garden watering”. As the Sales Manager at Calusa Creek, she believes “we need to pool our collective talents and do the best possible job of educating the public decision makers on the latest water-conserving techniques as it relates to the landscape design and landscape maintenance”.

If you are going to be in the San Antonio area during August 20-22, both Glen & Meredith encourage you to stop by booth #2744 and say ‘hello’.

Hurricane Season is Upon Us- Don’t Forget that Your Customers Need Special Services that Can Showcase You as the Expert While Boosting Bottom Line Profits at the Same Time

Typically, homeowners and property managers have enormous responsibilities on their minds as the threat of large storms and hurricanes enter our little window of the world called South Florida. People and property become their first concern, as it should be, but all too often they neglect one of the largest elements of value that their property possesses, that is namely the landscape.

Most property appraisers will tell you that 20% to 35% of a homes value is derived from landscape. That is a significant number considering that after a strong storm, one that takes down a once beautiful, grandfather Oak, the family shade tree that generations may have enjoyed, is now laying in their front yard covering half the road frontage or for that matter thru the roof into the living room, bedroom, carport. You name it, countless things can happen when hundreds of pounds of hardwood come crashing down.

This is where you, the licensed professional, shines. You know that thinning a large shade tree by opening the canopy and heading off adventurous branches makes for a sturdier tree. You know that proper spraying, fertilizing, irrigation and trimming can significantly raise the survival rate of large centerpiece palm trees as well as outlaying material. Can you see any services here that may increase your profit potential? You can justify the cost of these services with a bit of modest homework into the current property values of the area your client is in.

Take for an example a home or property with a current value of $500,000. At a low end of the percentages, $100,000 worth of landscaping is worth the time, money and effort to protect.

Yes, homeowners insurance usually covers storm damage and we did see a lot of containerized trees sell shortly after Francis, Wilma and Jean wreaked havoc across the state. Most Florida nurseries saw increased sales of palm trees, shade trees, flowering trees and even interior trees after these storms blew through, mostly funded by insurance settlements. Please tell me if I am wrong, but don’t you think that providing your customers with added value and services on a monthly basis is better in the long run than trying to replace hard to find material and specimen quality palm trees?

The Magnolia tree can be a very attractive addition to nearly any landscape. In most instances, Magnolia trees serve as majestic live ornaments in our green areas and contribute to the overall beautification of our personal environment. They become large trees that are easy to grow and cultivate. How do you grow a deciduous flowering tree? Well, it’s as easy as one-two-three.

First, dig a hole twice the size of the entire root system. Place the new tree into the hole being careful not to place it deeper than the trees existing soil. Back-fill and compact the loose dirt around the tree until it is firmly in position. Secondly, purge any air pockets that may have formed around the roots by plunging and retracting the tip of a watering hose, with the water running, deep into the surrounding soil. Water heavily the first few weeks until the roots have had an opportunity to expand beyond their original confines. Thirdly, bracing may be needed if planting a large tree in wind prone areas.

In the south, the best choices include cultivars such as “Little Gem”, “DD Blanchard” and “Bracken’s Brown Beauty”. Varieties such as these are easily found in most southern wholesale tree farms because they perform well in warm, humid climates, providing both uniform ornamental foliage and large flowering characteristics. Most professional landscapers prefer container trees for transplanting due to less overall shock because the roots are not cut as in field grown trees.

Spring and fall are the best times to plant this deciduous tree among southern regions. These trees prefer an acidic, well drained soil. A three-inch organic mulch should be embedded toward the center, tapering out from the trunk in summer and taking it away completely by fall. While growing a Magnolia tree, don’t forget to fertilize it with water soluble fertilizer especially during the spring and fall season.

The magnolia should be situated in as much sun as possible and is best placed under direct sunlight for optimal flowering. Keep the tree roots moist at all times to avoid dehydration but also avoid constant saturation. One good thing about growing this tree is that even if it is over-watered, it will not be damaged, just don’t let is sit in standing water for prolonged periods of time.

Pruning your Magnolia stimulates new growth and flowering also. Cut excessive stems and leaves out of the way to allow the tree to breath. This allows fresh air and sunlight to penetrate deep into the canopy. Rake fallen leaves away from the trunk to avoid most insect and fungus problems.

Following these simple steps will not only allow you to grow enjoy your own beautiful tree but will also turn many heads when a small breeze blows the gentle, sweet fragrance of your Magnolia their way.

We are commonly asked which palms tolerate cold weather, and what exactly a cold hardy palm is. This answer can be different within just a few miles of certain locations. If you live in coastal Florida or South Florida, cold weather is usually not much of an issue. The recent waves of cold fronts passing through Florida have of course been much worse than what is normal for our climate. We have had the coldest weather in over 100 years in South Florida.

Most palm nurserymen you will talk to want to know exactly how cold you get, not what growing zone you are in when you are asking for cold hardy palms. We understand that temperature zones are often discussed, but more vital to us is the actual number (low temperature) anticipated. This is because, within any zone, there are variations and microclimates. We want to know what happens in your garden. When asking for cold hardy palms what may be cold hardy for some may not be for others. The best way to determine how cold your garden gets is to purchase a maximum-minimum or high low thermometer.

Some of the palms that have taken the recent rash of cold weather extremely hard are Coconut Palms, Royal Palms, Adonidia or Christmas Palms, and Foxtail Palms to name just a few. Some of the more cold hardy palms that can be used when replacing these trees are Queen Palms, Washingtonia Palms, Sabal Palms and some of the palms in the Phoenix family. There are of course many others. Look online or ask you local Landscape professional for a complete list of cold hardy palms that are available in your area.

We at Calusa Creek Tree Farm have a very long list of cold hardy palms that are available. What we do not have in stock we can outsource from some of our associated growers through out the state.

Please take a moment to review our website. Call us with any questions you may have. And remember when searching for cold hardy palms please call your friends here at Calusa Creek Tree Farm for the most professional horticultural advice available.

Linking To http://CalusaCreek.com

Would you like to link to our website, or engage in a reciprocal link with http://CalusaCreek.com.com? We are always looking for link partners that are relevant, visible, and beneficial to our customers. We review each website, and we reserve the right to refuse or reject any website considered inappropriate, for any reason.

How To Link To Us

- Your website title.
- A brief (1-2 sentences) description of your website.
- The URL to which you seek a link.
- The exact URL on your site where a link to CalusaCreek.com appears.

Once we can confirm the existence of the link you have placed for us and the relevance and visibility of your page/site, we will reciprocate your link. We do not engage in triangular or three-way link exchanges. Links will only be placed going to domains containing a page with a link to http://CalusaCrreek.com.

Sample Link #1:

Florida Tree Farm
Calusa Creek is the premiere wholesale supplier of Florida grown trees and palms. Worldwide exporting services available.

<a href=”http://CalusaCreek.com”>Florida Tree Farm</a><br>Calusa Creek is the premiere wholesale supplier of Florida grown trees and palms. Worldwide exporting services available.

Sample Link #2:

Calusa Creek Tree Farm
Wholesale supplier of the finest interior shade trees, containerized trees, specimen trees, palm trees, and indoor palms available.

<a href=”http://CalusaCreek.com”>Calusa Creek Tree Farm</a><br>Wholesale supplier of the finest interior shade trees, containerized trees, specimen trees, palm trees, and indoor palms available.

Here is a list of resources for your information and convenience. While we believe the sites listed below are honest and trustworthy, we are not responsible for the content, nor actions of the respective sites:

Wholesale Trees and Containerized Trees

At Calusa Creek Tree Farm, we are committed to producing the highest quality containerized trees and wholesale trees at our farm. We are located just west of Stuart, Florida on nearly 4,000 acres along the banks of the St. Lucie River. Beautiful pines, oaks, palms and other Native Florida plants have flourished on our land for hundreds of years. The area is blessed with a climate perfect for growing containerized trees both deciduous and tropical wholesale trees. The property has abundant water and is washed with sunshine during its nine month growing season.

We have some 20,000 Palm trees, representing many varieties native and tropical. These trees are field grown trees and containerized trees grown to better suit your demands concerning availability. Ideal growing conditions are further enhanced when our wholesale trees are custom trimmed, fertilized and drip-irrigated.

In addition to these palms, we are growing over 100,000 containerized trees and specimen accents. Seventy-five varieties are available in sizes ranging from 25-500 gallons. We have actually improved on Mother Nature with these trees. They represent the best Interiorscape and exterior landscape trees available as measured by shape, density, uniformity and survivability. Some steps that we take to guarantee our wholesale trees at this high quality are listed below:

1. All of our wholesale trees are planted in a growing medium which is custom mixed to provide the ideal nutrient blend for our containerized trees. Fertilizers are also custom blended.
2. All containerized trees are serviced by its own irrigation emitter(s) connected to an underground systems that delivers a programmed daily ration of filtered water.
3. All of our single-trunk wholesale trees is supported by proper braces and ties to ensure a straight, vertical trunk.
4. All of our containerized trees are rotated periodically to counter the effects of prevailing winds and the sun’s azimuth and ensure proper verticality and symmetry.
5. All specimens are regularly pruned to assure health, strength and symmetry.
6. Due to the amount of land Calusa Creek Tree Farm has at its disposal, our containerized trees are grown on the widest possible spacing, assuring you of a truly beautiful tree.

The real secret to the survivability of our wholesale trees and rapid growth of containerized trees is the nature of the container itself. Each container on the truck, on the way to your job site, has every bit of its root mass intact….moist, fresh and ready to do business when it goes in the hole. A field tree, no matter how carefully grown, or how carefully dug, will leave the field with much of the business-end of its root system still in the hole. Containerized trees through their fullness and rapid growth will provide the “Wow! Now!’ that your clients and you will love when you use wholesale trees purchased at Calusa Creek Tree Farm.

Planned Production of Material at Calusa Creek Tree Farm

Calusa Creek Tree Farm is planning its production schedule for 2010 and 2011 now. We are adding an additional 20,000 trees to our current inventory of native trees, salt tolerant trees, and tropical palm trees to be ready when the demand returns.

Some of the materials we are preparing in our production line here at Calusa Creek Tree Farm for those of you not familiar with it include 25gal and 45gal Live Oaks, Yellow Tabs, Purple Tabs, Mahogany Trees, Green Buttonwoods, Crape Myrtles and Podocarpus to name just a few. Please see our complete product line on our website. www.CalusaCreek.com

We anticipate a high demand for this product, native trees, salt tolerant trees, and tropical palm trees. Through our research we believe there are very few major nurseries maintaining their inventory and preparing for an economic turnaround in late 2010 early 2011. Calusa Creek Tree Farm as always will stay ahead of the trends and the competition and have material ready for you when you need it. Remember our motto? The quality you need in the quantities you need exactly when you need it!

Please review the information. Should any one wish to reserve or pre-purchase any of our high quality inventory of native trees, salt tolerant trees, and tropical palm trees for your future jobs please contact us. For a small deposit we will hold and grow these trees for you so you can be assured of having quality native trees, salt tolerant trees, and tropical palm trees available to you when needed. Should your job requirements change your deposits can be applied towards any product in our inventory. If you are one of our larger customers or plan to be we can possibly hold and grow these trees for your future projects with no deposit.

Regardless of your size, needs and demands it will be our pleasure to work with you any way we can. Contact any one on our sales staff for further information. Thank you for considering Calusa Creek Tree Farm.

Simply put, we are one of the premiere nurseries and wholesale tree farms in Florida. We work hard every day to earn the right to be your one-stop-shopping destination when it comes to:

- Interior Trees
- Indoor Palms
- Shade Trees
- Specimen Trees
- Containerized Trees

Calusa Creek Tree Farm takes pride in every product we supply to our wholesale customers. The trees we sell are often used as focal points in the most prestigious hotel lobbies, shopping centers, and office buildings throughout the US and abroad. We believe we can offer a greater variety of first quality wholesale trees than any other nursery. We go to extraordinary lengths to produce first rate specimen trees and palm trees which you would be proud to showcase in your landscape projects.

Our dedicated management team oversees every aspect of planting and caring for the 100,000+ containerized trees and field grown trees we have for sale. Our tree farm and wholesale nursery is vast and varied, we are confident we will be able to meet your need for Florida grown trees whether you are looking for indoor palms, shade trees, containerized trees, or wholesale trees of any variety. We look forward to showing you around our wholesale tree farm and nursery, we promise you will not be disappointed!

WHY NOT KEEP PLANTING?

XERISCAPE, NATIVE PLANTS, THE ECONOMY AND THE

FUTURE OF LANDSCAPING IN FLORIDA

We are sure you have all read or seen on TV the report on the more affluent neighborhoods along the coasts and inland and their large water use. Before we condemn these individuals we urge you to read the following. With a little insight and foresight we can have our cake and eat it to.
We should briefly address the topics of the current perceived water shortage, water use, new landscaping, xeriscape, landscape maintenance, and the current economy. This is along list and we will just touch briefly on each one.

While this water shortage continues and SFWM along with other agencies continue to put more and more restrictions on our water use it has become increasingly difficult to maintain or add to existing landscape (such as planting of seasonal flowers) or to start and or complete new projects or major replants as so many home owners like to do this time of year.

Developments all up and down the coast from Orlando to Palm Beach and all the way to Miami and beyond spend hundreds of millions of dollars every year constantly beautifying their homes and communities. This not only continues to make Florida a wonderful place to live it pumps much needed dollars into our states economy. Something else we all so desperately need right now.

Well there is no reason to stop planting (especially native plants) and there are many ways to accomplish this by those who are willing to be creative, innovative, and look for viable alternatives to adversity, all qualities that got most of the people in these more affluent neighborhoods and developments to the position in life that they now enjoy.

Herein find some examples of ways to continue to add beauty and creativity to your homes and communities through landscaping. There are many more than I can cover in this brief letter. The word to remember is Xeriscape. Briefly Xeriscape is the means to continue to plant and landscape in a manner that is environmentally friendly.

This can be achieved through new and exciting designs that incorporate things like drip irrigation or sub-irrigation where applicable.  You can also use plant species and grasses (and there are quite a few) that require much less water than some of the ones that are currently being used. A lot of these will be plant species that are native plants to Florida but there is still exciting and exotic flora and fauna from around the world that will fit the criteria of Xeriscape. Grouping plants or native plants of similar needs together in your landscape designs is another way. The use of slow release fertilizers will also cut your water use. While these fertilizers cost more they last longer thus your costs do not change. The plant or grass does not get this big rush of food that they get from less expensive fertilizers and then require above normal amounts of water to sustain its growth. Native plants usually do not require as much fertilizers as non native plants either as they are accustomed to Florida’s existing soils.

We could go on and write a book here but we know you all get the idea. Ask you local Landscape Architect, Landscape Contractor, or Landscape Maintenance Professional about the countless ways to continue to beautify your homes and the Sunshine State. Chances are he or she is already versed in these practices. Should they not know, find ones that do or educate yourself and you train them. There are thousands of sites on the internet and hundreds of books at the book store devoted to this topic.

It looks as though the water restrictions are here to stay for awhile whether they are needed or not. But that is no reason for any of us to stop our creativity when it comes to all the remarkable things that can be done with landscaping and native plants. Done properly and with thought we can commend (not condemn) those that keep the creative juices flowing, the economy moving forward, and Florida beautiful.

Should anyone need any advice please feel free to contact the staff here at Calusa Creek Tree Farm. Our phone number is 772 219 3377. Or check out our website at www.calusacreek.com for additional information about contacting us.  It would be our pleasure to put you in contact with a professional Landscape Architect or Landscape Contractor in your area should you need one. You can also call your local county agricultural extension agents for advice or direction

If you are a Landscape Contractor, Developer, or Landscape Architect please feel free to contact us here at Calusa Creek Tree Farm for a detailed list and prices of our tropical, native plant list and current availability. We have over 500 acres of beautiful, large, tropical and native plant species for you to choose from.