It’s that time of year again: time to decorate for the Christmas season! Maybe you’ve never decorated the outside of your home before, or maybe you decorate every year and are in search of new ideas. Whatever your situation may be, Ocean View is here to help with this year’s top holiday lawn trends, with a sustainable twist.
Potted Florida-Friendly Holiday Plants
The worst part of Christmas, arguably, is that it ends. No one enjoys the inevitable January–sometimes February– day when it’s time to take the tree down and to the garbage can.
So don’t. Potted Christmas trees are a great way to enjoy the holiday season without creating too much seasonal waste. Native plant experts Wilcox Nursery and Landscape say that Christmas trees can take up to ten years to reach full maturity before they end up in our homes: “After you pack up your Christmas tree decorations and lights, you can plant the tree in the ground again or gift it to someone else to plant it in their yard.” Potting your tree is a great way to make an environmental impact this Christmas.
When choosing a Christmas tree to pot, it’s important to choose a species native to Florida’s environment. That way, the tree can not only survive, but thrive for years to come. When Christmas is said and done, you can plant your potted tree in the yard for the rest of the year. Trees normally grow between 40 and 60 feet high, so it’s important to choose a tree that will fit your landscape.
Wilcox Nursery and Landscape gives a list of the best species native to Florida:
- Southern Red Cedar
- Slash Pine
- Longleaf Pine
- Dahoon Holly
- Eagleston Holly
After you’ve chosen a tree, it would be ideal to purchase it a week or more before Christmas so that it has time to acclimate to lower light conditions. Begin by keeping the tree in a shady spot outdoors before moving it in. “And keep the tree inside for only 7-10 days before taking it outside after the holidays to give it time to readjust before planting it,” says Wilcox Nursery and Landscape.
Tech-Integrated Christmas Lights
One of the top holiday trends we’ve seen in recent years is the “tech-integrated” Christmas light show. According to Backyard Eden, smart lighting systems have been used to create intricate light shows depicting winter wonderlands, elaborate Whoville themes, and much more. One tap on your smartphone or remote control can switch colors, adjust brightness, and set timers.
These technology-centered shows also promote energy efficiency by using mainly LED lighting. Direct Energy says that LED lights “are more environmentally friendly because they use less energy and are not made from hazardous materials like lead and mercury.” LED lights use 80-90% less energy in contrast to incandescent lights, which have a much higher energy consumption due to the amount of electricity used.
At Ocean View, one of our top priorities is sustainable lawn maintenance. Contact us to discuss the ways you can decorate your lawn sustainably this Christmas season.