PGI Landscape maintenance/replanting- What do I need to do/know? (Punta Gorda: 2013, house)

[Seafood Junky]

Our place is great but landscaping was nonexistent. Mainly on both sides of the house.

One side is narrow between the homes (more shade), other side is better but narrows toward the back (ours is a 'keystone' lot)

Most shrubs on both sides are dead or dying. Our lawn guy says pullem, they are 12+ years old.
Beds are white stone 'mulch' (vs wood mulch).

Irrigation system works good, all zones.

I have email into the city regarding what rules I need to follow.

Any any suggestions or guidance appreciated.

Thanks,

Mike

[wpc691]

Originally Posted by Seafood Junky

Our place is great but landscaping was nonexistent. Mainly on both sides of the house.

One side is narrow between the homes (more shade), other side is better but narrows toward the back (ours is a 'keystone' lot)

Most shrubs on both sides are dead or dying. Our lawn guy says pullem, they are 12+ years old.
Beds are white stone 'mulch' (vs wood mulch).

Irrigation system works good, all zones.

I have email into the city regarding what rules I need to follow.

Any any suggestions or guidance appreciated.

Thanks,

Mike

No walkway more than 3ft from the house (revision is under consideration); 6 ft from the seawall must be sod, although this appears to be routinely violated; sprinklers required in the rear, except in Section 18; hardscape in the back cannot be contoured to create hydrostatic pressure on the seawall; not exactly sure what the rules are for your ditch in front, but they're designed to assure your ditch is always full of water in the summer. We messed around with ours for a year and a half, then I slotted the side of the collection box one night - problem solved. The city has a document with all this in it that I assume you can buy, or maybe get online.

[TamRE]

One of the most common mistakes I see and have made myself is planting the wrong size plant. Be sure to look to see how large (tall and wide) the plant will grow and be sure that it will fit the space when it is mature. Also, determine if you want to keep trimming the plants or do you want plants that require minimal maintenance. I did an entire row of hibiscus in front of my home across the front porch. They look beautiful when they are flowering, but very quickly got lanky and I had to cover them when we had threat of frost. I am now pulling all of them and am planting something smaller that does not require a lot of maintenance. That is another concern, if you don't want to lose plants to frost, then get cold hardy ones even though we live in Florida. I buy most of my plants at Home Depot. Keep the receipt. If they die within the first year, you take them back and get your money back or they give you a gift card for the dollar amount. We have landscaping stones and not wood mulch as wood mulch attracts wood destroying bugs such as carpenter ants and termites. Any pest control company will recommend stones in the landscaping, especially up against the house. As far as sun versus shade plants, just look at the tags, they will tell you the size, the temperature requirements, and sun or shade amounts.

[SeaRay35]

Stone is a great suggestion over mulch!

[Seafood Junky]

Here's what I got from Lisa Hannon, PG City Zoning Coordinator:

Thank you for your email regarding landscape maintenance at your property in Punta Gorda. Attached, please find the Homeowner’s Landscape Guide. This is also available online at: http://www.ci.punta-gorda.fl.us/dept...072013_002.pdf

No permit is required for regular landscape maintenance, however, if trees are to be removed, a no-charge tree removal permit is required. That application has been attached for your convenience. If you wish to do any type of alternative landscaping, staff recommends contacting our office prior to purchasing any plants or materials to determine acceptability. Staff would be happy to meet with you upon your return to review any plans for landscaping.

[MikMal]

The Homeowners' Landscape Guide is useful to anyone looking to landscape their yard, whether they live in PGI or not. It has pictures of a lot of the trees/plants/groundcovers that do well in this area along with their characteristics.