What Is Weed Fabric?

Weed fabric (aka landscape fabric or weed barrier) is typically a woven or non-woven synthetic material laid down before covering with gravel, bark, mulch, or pine straw. It's designed to block weed growth while still allowing water and air to penetrate the soil.

✅ Advantages of Using Weed Fabric

1. Weed Suppression (Short-Term) The primary reason people use weed fabric is to prevent weed growth. It can significantly reduce weeds, especially in the first 1–2 years after installation. However, it only blocks weed growth from existing weeds in the soil below. Weeds that sprout from seed after installation will still be able to grow. We see this all the time with new mulch installations. The weed fabric stops old weeds from coming through, but seeds that were unintentionally mixed in with the new mulch will sprout on top of the fabric.

2. Soil Erosion Control In sloped…

What is Cold Stratification?

Cold stratification is a process used to mimic the natural winter conditions that some seeds need to break dormancy and germinate. Certain plants, especially native species, require exposure to cold temperatures for a period of time before they will sprout. Cold stratification helps to simulate these environmental conditions, making it an essential step for ensuring seed viability.

Why is Cold Stratification Important?

Many seeds, especially those of trees, wildflowers, and perennials, have evolved to survive harsh winters by going through a dormant period. In the wild, this dormancy is broken when the seed experiences cold, moist conditions that trigger internal changes necessary for germination.

In the world of ecology, plant species are often categorized based on their behavior and impact on the environment. Two common terms that can be confusing are "invasive" and "aggressive" plant species. While they may seem similar, they refer to different types of plant behaviors. Understanding the difference is important for gardeners, environmentalists, and anyone concerned with plant ecology. It is especially important in deciding what plants to add to to the local landscape. Here's a detailed breakdown of the two:

Invasive Plant Species

An invasive plant species is one that is non-native to a specific ecosystem and, when introduced, causes harm to the environment, economy, or human health. Invasive species typically spread rapidly and aggressively, outcompeting local or native plant species. Another consideration is the ability of a non-native species to be able to hybridize a native species.

Invasive plant species to Florida can be found on the Florida Invasive…

Let's face it. Floridians are no experts when it comes to handling cold temps. We are even less prepared on how to protect our landscapes from cold temps. It just doesn't happen very often. With the exception of some north Florida counties maybe. So let's talk about it.

It has been a much colder winter than we had last year. And we are getting a lot of questions on social media about how to tell if plants are being stressed from cold temperatures or by something else. So lets talk about it and down at the bottom, you will find a video I made showing you examples. I also spend a few minutes talking about the basics of microclimates and how they protect my plants from cold weather.

How Cold Affects Plants

Plants are sensitive to temperature fluctuations. Cold weather can impact plants in several ways:

• Cellular Damage: Water within…