Calusa Creek Florida Wholesale Tree Farm

Transplanting Palms During the Dry Season

paul — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 21:40:41 +0000

While we here at Calusa Creek Tree Farm are known primarily for our hardwoods and container grown trees, we do have a large selection of field grown palms.

Part of the field grown palm selection here at Calusa Creek Tree Farm is the Queen palm, Sylvester, Roebellini palm (pygmy date palm), Canary Island Date, Washingtonia, Chinese Fan Palms as well as numerous hybrid palms.

Here in south Florida we are still in our dry months leading up to the hurricane season and during this time frame we have to take extra care when digging and transplanting these large palms. We have found it best to do the digging over a period of at least 7 days if not longer for optimum survivability. We can go in with a wetting agent and lots of water then follow up with digging the trees but leaving them in place in the field. Then coming back by with more water for a couple days prior to the final pull of the tree. If all of these steps are done cautiously there should be a great success rate of Florida grown palms.

Planting Through the Winter Months…

paul — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 15:11:40 +0000

Don’t let the thought of “winter” stop you from planting containerized Florida grown trees and shrubs. With these tree, shrubs and palms coming from containers they will hit the ground running. Especially, with the abnormally warm winter that we are having this year in south Florida. Our containerized trees here at Calusa Creek Tree Farm have not even shown the first signs of winter and they are quite confused and starting to bud out with new leaves and flowers as if it were spring already.

Field grown palms are just the same, they will never know the difference with proper watering they will transplant perfectly for you at this time of year. We here are Calusa Creek have been able to continue our aggressive propagation and planting schedule straight through the winter this year. This, will in turn create larger summer crops of quality container grown material as well as field grown palms at this Florida tree farm.

The shade house is stocked full of Interior grown specimen trees and palms ready for the spring revamping of all your interior design projects.

Have you ever thought of a contract grow?

paul — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 14:58:14 +0000

Are 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

paul — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 18:37:12 +0000

As 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

paul — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 19:04:32 +0000

Healthy 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

paul — Wed, 25 May 2011 14:50:06 +0000

With 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

paul — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 17:16:12 +0000

As 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

paul — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 19:21:49 +0000

Keep 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

paul — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 17:12:04 +0000

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’.

Storm Survival, Landscape Maintenance and Palm Tree Preservation

paul — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 19:59:16 +0000

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?