Winter Park landscapes tend toward the traditional. More formal examples call upon classic elements of the English colonial style like hedges, symmetrical evergreen accents, and, importantly, large lawns. More casual examples blend in bold pops of flower color in mulched beds, often mixing multiple colorful species to play foreground to a tidier set of background shrubs. This being Florida, plants like palms and ferns work their way into many designs, expressing a little tropical flair regardless of style.

Winter Park landscapes embrace outdoor living, frequently featuring outdoor kitchens and dining, flexible lounge spaces for entertaining friends, and even outdoor showers. Swimming pools (big and small) are popular and effective choices for keeping cool through the summer heat. Pergolas are immensely popular as well, offering a comfortable outdoor “room”, a ready-made visual focal point, and functional flexibility. Surprisingly, fire pits and hot tubs – also popular landscape elements – are also great amenities for the summer heat, offering a fun activity to get you outside during the cooler evening hours. Fire pits and hot tubs work double-duty, providing a heat source to keep you outside through the odd cold snap that hits the city.

No matter where you live, native plants are a great idea. Having evolved to thrive in the local climate, native plants typically require fewer inputs of water, fertilizer, and maintenance than species introduced from elsewhere. This translates to great plant performance with less expense and fuss for homeowners. At the same time, native plants offer unbeatable habitat value for local wildlife, and help designed landscapes feel connected to the broader regional landscape. Looking for a few natives to get you started? Beautyberry, pink muhly grass, the sabal palm, and the Southern magnolia are popular local staples. And for those looking for hedges, the Southern wax myrtle makes for a great native option.

Drought tolerance may seem more of a concern for Western U.S. landscapes, but recent years have seen drought hit Central Florida. Drought tolerant plants, especially drought tolerant natives, can survive dry spells, and save you money on irrigation to boot. Sabal palm, passion flower, and pink Muhly grass are a few of many drought tolerant natives available for Florida landscapes. Wind tolerance is another factor to consider. To avoid damage to your landscape, opt for plants like beautyberry, which can withstand hurricane winds. Heavy rains also can raise drainage challenges. Utilizing proper stormwater management techniques can capture water in desirable locations, recharging groundwater while minimizing the mess that unchecked stormwater can spread across a property. Given the abundant heat and sunshine, solar exposure should be accounted for – avoid blasting outdoor spaces with harsh late afternoon western light, unless shade trees or structures are being utilized.

Now! Any time of year is great to begin work on a landscape project. When possible, we suggest utilizing the winter to work through the design phase – this sets you up to get on contractors’ books early in the build season, so you can have your design installed and ready to enjoy in time for summer. If winter has passed, don’t worry, it’s never too late in the year to begin work on a landscape design project.