After Hurricane Ian everyone’s landscapes and gardens look like a mess. The good news is there are a number of things you can do on your own to help your yard look normal again, and for all of the big cleanup, such as removing large tree debris, you can call us at Peer Landscaping of Fort Myers to help out. In the meantime though, here’s some steps you can take on your own.

1. Find and care for your orchids, bromeliads and air plants or epiphytes that were blown out of trees or planters. Luckily, this genus of plant is very forgiving if they are cared for quickly. Remove any parts of the plant that are dead or have turned black from disease. Be sure to clean your pruning tools between each plant so as not to spread fungus or disease. Reattach these plants to shady locations.
2. If you had a lot of leaves blown off your trees and shrubs, be sure to rake and remove those soggy leaf clumps that are near to your plants or in the gullies between your lawn and the city abatement at the street level. Warmer weather means these wet leaves can harbor slugs, which are detrimental to your plants. In fact, keep an eye on slug and snail populations which tend to flourish in the aftermath of a storm.
3. Prune perennial plants back to undamaged stems. Don’t sweat your annuals though as they probably won’t survive. Once the ground is dry, and you’ve cleared away debris you can replant annuals, fertilize them, and water them well.
4. If you had any flooding be sure to wash away any nastiness from the flood that may have been left on the leaves. Silt and mud may have salt in it, and in general, the leaves of your plants need to be able to breath.
5. You may want to test your soil as rain and flooding can leach away nutrients, particularly in the sandy soil we have in Southwest Florida. Test for acidity and alkalinity, and then make corrections by putting down some compost or fertilizer. We are in a time period when fertilizing is allowed in our area.
6. If you had a vegetable garden and there are veggies to harvest, do so, but be sure to wash it very well and mist it with hydrogen peroxide to kill harmful pathogens that may have been carried in the flood waters.
7. Finish your cleanup by replacing soil, compost, and mulch in your flower beds and around plantings, establish a fertilization program, and water regularly.

At Peer Landscaping we know every landscape is unique – it’s a combination of art and architecture. No two customers have the same goals for their outdoor space. Therefore no two landscapes should ever be the same. We design custom outdoor spaces that reflect the personality and individuality of our client. When you hire Peer Landscaping to design your landscape, we’ll work with your HOA or property manager so that we don’t violate any codes while working on your outdoor space. Our commitment to complete customer satisfaction is helping make us a leader in the SWFL landscape design industry, so get in touch with us today to schedule a landscape consultation. The outdoor areas of your property are just as important as the indoor spaces. After all, your outdoor living space is the first thing people see when they drive by.