state of the artState Of The Art

Landscape design in Sarasota can be very rewarding in the aspect that we have so many beautiful plants to choose from.  One of my favorite landacape plants in Sarasota to work with is Bougainvillea.  Bougainvillea brings so much in veriety, such as color, size, drought tolerant and insect resistant, very easy to care for does not require alot of  trimming.  The reason so many professional landscapers in Sarasota use this plant is because of its vibrant colors, it can be used in almost any landscape situation, from formal to tropical, it also makes a wondrful trellis climber for entrance ways, or front of buildinga that need that color to signify the entrance. Here are some tips on how to care for bougainvillea, Watering,  the amont  of water needed is directly related to climate, soil type, and weather conditions.  Bougainvillea require very little water which is a huge plus in light of our states water problems and the 7 year drought we have been dealing with.  Bougainvillea do best with infrequent soakings, letting the soil dry out completly between waerings, when the plant starts to wilt that isa good indicator that its time to water.  As for light rquirements, Bougainvillea thrive on Sarasota’s hot summer months they need about five hours of direct sunlight a day however you can get them to do well with a little less or more, they are prone to freeze damage, cover if freeze is in the forecast.  Pruning is important to promote strong branches and promote flowering.  Bogainvillea will get out of control if left unattended, try to prune at least quarterly.  For fertilizing your Bougainvillea, every thirty days or after pruning using a slow release 6-8-10 with minors will keep them flowering year around.  For more information on Sarasota landscaping with color visit us at www.stateoftheartlandscaping.com.