Have you ever thought of a contract grow?
Published January 13, 2012Are you in need of a large quantity of top quality Florida grown trees and/or palms?
Have you ever thought of doing a contract grow?
If so we here at Calusa Creek Tree Farm and your source. We specialize in 15 gal to 300 gal container grown trees and field grown palms. We are currently gearing up for spring production of Podocarpus Maki, Viburnum Awabuki, Viburnum Odoratissimum, Wax Myrtle an others.
We also offer the same concept in our 4 acres 40’ tall shade house for Interior trees sold directly to the Interiorscapers of the world.
Calusa Creek Tree Farm is here to help solve your plant needs in anyway possible. Please contact us directly for top quality grown here in south Florida and shipped the world wide. We are your source for Florida grown palms and container trees.
As the Industry Changes to Smaller Containers & More Cold Hardy So Does Calusa Creek Tree Farm
Published July 29, 2011As the green industry changes so does Calusa Creek in hope of staying on top of and in front of our clients & their needs. We have noticed the turn to more cold hardy palms and smaller sized fast growing shrubs and container grown trees. With all of this we here at Calusa Creek have done just what you can imagine. We have increased our production 3 folds in all varieties of cold hardy palms, container grown trees and instant hedge sized shrubs.
We have expanded our pallet into15 gal hedge shrubs to include Wax Myrtle, Podocarpus Maki, Viburnum Odo, Viburnum Awabuki, Bottlebrush. Oleander red & white as well as Ligustrum. In doing so we hope to be able to serve our customers with smaller shrub needs the same way we have always done with those who are looking for that instant gratification of a top quality 25 or 45 gal shrub.
Calusa Creek Tree Farm has also continued growing our high quality palms that to include the highly sought after Cold Hardy Palms of European Fan Palms, Chinese Fan Palms, Washingotnia, Florida Sabals and Queen Palms.
Healthy Living with Interior Trees
Published June 29, 2011Healthy Living; Interior Tree Study Shows Positive Results!
“Healthy lifestyles” is now one of today’s top consumer trends and an easy way to make your office or home “healthy” is with live Interior trees or palms. Project Carbon, a recent research project at the University of Georgia has published their results, and the bottom line is that interior trees and plants contribute to a healthier lifestyle.
This Project Carbon was funded by the National Foliage Foundation, and sponsored by Green Plants for Green Buildings, and the Florida Nursery, Growers and Landscape Association to identify the amounts of carbon removed from the air by Interior Trees, both under simulated conditions and in actual interior-scape environments. A little over a year later, research proves there is an advantage to having Interior plants in homes and offices.
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Research Highlights:
• In addition to absorbing the carbon, indoor plants improve indoor air quality by removing pollutants.
• While all interior trees and plants take carbon out of the air, larger, woody trees absorb and keep in their bodies more carbon than small herbaceous plants over time.
The experts here at Calusa Creek Tree Farm have the knowledge and experience to help you select the perfect species for your interior space.
Native Trees for South Florida
Published May 25, 2011With the summer approaching us here in South Florida, we all know that in turns means the threat of drought will be fast upon us. You may ask “what does the drought have to do with Florida Native Trees?”. These trees are fit for this type of occurrence once they have passed their establishment period.
At Calusa Creek Tree Farm, we grow a large variety of Florida Native Trees in containers. Our inventory includes everything from the Green and Silver Buttonwood, Live Oaks, Laurel Oaks, Mahogany, Viburnum, Wax Myrtle and many more. Because our specialty is containerized trees, we can provide from 7 gal on up to 300 gal containers.
We also have a large variety of the Florida friendly palms. While some of our palm varieties are also Cold Hardy they are all happy her in South Florida and are a great accent to the Florida Native Tree. Florida Native trees are often thought of as being somewhat plain and ordinary – but when paired up correctly can make a beautiful landscape that is both easy to maintain as well as conserve water.
Please call 772 219-3377 today with any questions you may have, our friendly nursery staff is waiting to help.
Cold Hardy Palms
Published February 17, 2011As the winter continues to be harsh this year, as they were last year, more and more customers are leaning toward Cold Hardy Palms as their solution to keep that tropical look year round.
However, most folks aren’t considering the field grown palm Queen Palm as a Cold Hardy Palm. While it’s planting zone is 9B-11 it is a Cold Hardy Palm to 20 degrees (lower depending on the age and growth of the cold hardy palm tree), the Queen palm can grow up to 50 feet tall.
Even if you are in a region where your planting zone is lower than this range you can always consider the Queen Palm as an annual plant. The market for these gorgeous regal palms has become so weak that the wholesale palm price has also dropped.
We here at Calusa Creek Tree Farm offer these Cold Hardy Palms as both a Wholesale Field Grown Palm and a Containerized Palm. Along with these Florida grown Palm Trees we also specialize in Containerized Trees.
For more information, call Meredith, Sales Manager, at 772 219-3377.
Suggest Florida Live Oaks and Tabebuia for Seasonal Impact
Published November 3, 2010Keep your snowbird visitors happy by suggesting Live Oaks and Tabebuia thus providing lush greenery and flowering during their stay this winter.
Let’s face it; everybody in this wonderful industry of ours, at some point in time or another, has heard a similar statement from one or more of their seasonal clients.
“If I wanted to see a bare tree, I would have stayed up North!” says the client seriously.
To this enduring statement, I have developed a somewhat standard answer.
“Live Oak and Tabebuia may be just what you’re looking for.” I say confidently.
Their usual answer is “Oh yes, Live Oaks.” Most also follow with the question “What is a Tabebuia?”
At this point in the conversation I have an excellent opportunity to lay it all out on the proverbial line. I warmly dive straight down to in-depth descriptions of how some of the seasons showiest flowering species, namely the Tabebuia trees, perform as they begin to display their winter colors.
“More commonly known as Trumpet Trees, some Tabebuia cultivars prefer to be pollinated during these colder months, hence the profuse blooming. The less frequent rainfall and cooler weather trigger these charming attributes into action. Some if not all leaves drop as the entire tree bursts into bloom, seemingly all at once…..” I can go on and on.
If you too are wondering which of these may be well suited for your customer’s landscape, try suggesting individual varieties that posses the properties and colors that work best for them. You may want to try the Carib, Chrysotricha and Impetiginosa cultivars, just to name a few
Live Oaks on the other hand need little introduction. Once the clients are reminded of the beautiful canopy that provides summer shade, wildlife attraction and strength, they practically sell themselves.
Just imagine a dark green perimeter planting of Live Oak accented by the radiant beauty of several flowering Tabebuia, strategically placed among the clearings. To this end, your cold and dreary eyed winter customer will applaud and give you a standing ovation.
TXNLA Expo
Published August 9, 2010Calusa 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’.
Storm Survival, Landscape Maintenance and Palm Tree Preservation
Published July 28, 2010Hurricane 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?
Should I Plant a Magnolia?
Published June 24, 2010The 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.
Planting Cold Hardy Palms
Published February 22, 2010 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.