by Brent Knoll | Sep 9, 2014 | Education
Tropical Garden Design-South Florida Style
South Florida sits 25° 46′ 26″ N / 80° 11′ 38″ W. That’s tropics baby. Hot and humid during the summer, breezy and temperate during the fall/winter. A tropical climate that’s perfect for sun bathing, swimming and ohhh yes, gardening. Miami is a mecca for growing exotic flowering trees, tropical fruit trees, fragrant shrubbery, orchids, vegetables and hummingbird and butterfly flora. If you like to garden like me, South Florida is a Tropical Garden Designers Paradise!
The sun is always shining in South Florida, which makes for accelerated growth. Landscapes mature quickly in the Sunshine State providing homeowners with instant satisfaction. No need to wait 40 years for a mature tree, we can grow it in half the time. That privacy hedge you long for can be had in just a couple years. Butterfly flora always blooming. Such an perfect climate for a Tropical Garden Design.
Here’s Landscape Designer Brent Knoll’s top 10 Tropical Garden Design ideas for South Florida.
1. Pergola- If you’ve got the space for it, then you need a pergola for an exotic flowering vine like a Jade flower or New Guinea trumpet vine. Majestic structure with a stunning flower!
Jade vine
2. Trumpet Tree- The trumpets are sounding! This is what I always tell my clients when I plant this exotic flowering bush from the tropics of South America. The foot long bell shaped flowers are sweetly scented, with a variety of colors ranging from purple to coral. An amazing plant for any Tropical Garden Design.
Sweetly scented trumpet flowers
3. Want to cover up an old fence with something stunning and easy to grow? New Guinea trumpet vine is one of my favorite flowering vines. Vine grows quickly, treating you with hundreds of tubular hot pink flowers that will make your jaw drop in wonder.
New Guinea trumpet vine
4. Privacy hedge- Bamboo is my favorite impact plant and makes a wonderful privacy hedge. Fast growing, non invasive clumping bamboo comes in a variety of sizes and colors. Plant some butterfly and hummingbird flora around your bamboo and you’ve got my favorite tropical garden design of them all, Tropical Butterfly Zen.
Bamboo hedge
5. Hummingbirds- You would think that we would have more hummingbirds in Tropical Florida than we do, but we’re only graced with their presence from November to the 1st of April. Don’t bother with the hummingbird feeders, you’ll attract ants and wasps. Instead plant turks cap, ruby red pentas, firespike and firebush. You’ll be gauranteed to have hummingbirds visit your Tropical Garden in no time.
Hummingbird nectaring on hibiscus
6. Koi pond- Tropical Zen Gardens wouldn’t be complete without a Koi pond. Imagine the Zen feel of colorful Koi swimming in a pond surrounded by papyrus, water lilies, and iris.
Koi
7. Tropical fruit trees- No tropical garden design would be complete without tropical fruit trees like mango, papaya, banana, avocado and mulberry. Rejuvenate your soil with organic material and plant away!
Jak fruit tastes like juicy fruit bubble gum
8. Butterfly gardens- As a landscape designer in Miami for over 20 years, I’ve become very fond of the numerous native butterflies we have in South Florida. I’ve also become a specialist in attracting these beautiful creatures to my gardens. By planting flowers like ruby red penta, lantanta, milkweed, corkystem and porterweed, your Tropical Garden design will become a Sanctuary overnight.
Monarch nectaring on a daisy
9. Tropical flowering trees- As a member of the tropical flowering tree society, I get to exchange horticulture information with tropical flowering tree collectors from around the world. As a designer, one of my favorite trees to plant for my clients is the Joy Perfume tree. Loaded with jasmine scented white blooms, this tree is a focal point of any Tropical Garden Design.
My favorite flowering tree, the Joy Perfume tree
10. Exotic flowers- No tropical garden design would be complete without exotic flowers like monkey brush, passion flower and the bat plant. The bat plant flower from Thailand is over 20″ long from the top of the hood to the base of it’s whiskers.
Bat flower
Need help getting started?
Landscape Designer Brent Knoll of Knoll Landscape Design has been creating Tropical Garden Designs in Miami and South Florida for over 20 years. His knowledge of the soil, plant selection and maintenance, makes him a specialist in this field. Brent provides in person consultations as well as garden design and installation. Not sure what to do first? Call Brent at 3054965155 and speak to to him personally. It’s time to get the direction you need to beautify your landscape and get the Tropical Garden you’ve always dreamed of. Call Brent Knoll today!
by Brent Knoll | Sep 5, 2014 | Education
10Â Landscape Ideas for your South Florida front yard
1. Mediterranean Garden
Mediterranean Garden Design
Meandering brick paths accented with juniper, topiary balls, Italian cypress and Greek statues.
2. Tropical Paradise
Tropical Landscape Design
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Beautiful fuschia colored bougainvillea, foxtail palms and decorative pots atop keystone columns.
3. Gaurdian Cats
Tropical Garden
 Pialeah ferns line this brick walkway along with walking iris, imperialis bromeliads and black bamboo.
4. Exotic waterfall
Exotic
Exotic flowering plants like giant shrimp, congo roho and water ferns flank this gorgeous waterfall.
5. Eclectic and colorful
Look at those wild colors
Firey crotons, flaming bromeliads and cairn markers spark interest at this South Florida home.
6. Incredibly edible
Incredibly edible
 Tropical bamboo and butterfly flora surround these raised bed gardens.
6. French formal with sensual curves
French formal garden
Sculpted paisley hedges of Ilex and Gold Mound, mondo grass and Japanese blueberry.
7. Bamboo garden
Tropical bamboo
 Baby blue bamboo with pink Belinda’s dream roses, purple ruellia and red pentas
8. Tropical joy
Joy perfume tree and black bamboo
Joy perfume tree, black bamboo, podacarpus hedge and gold mound
9. Sanctuary garden
Sanctuary garden
Exotic black and blue bamboo with pinwheel jasmine, fragrant stemmadenia trees and gold mound
10. Hummingbird and butterfly haven
Beautiful butterfly garden
Orange chrysanthis, bean pole tipi, red and pink pentas
Need help organizing your landscape ideas?
We don’t always have the right ideas to beautify our properties and if we do, sometimes were not sure how to organize them. Landscape designer Brent Knoll of Knoll Landscape Design has been beautifying Miami for over 20 years. Our reviews on Houzz and Yelp reflect our commitment to good customer service and excellent quality of work. Call Brent at 3054965155 to schedule a professional one-on-one consultation and get the beautiful landscape design you’ve always wanted.Â
by Brent Knoll | Aug 29, 2014 | Education
Garden ideas for the fall
It’s that time of year again. The time of year us South Floridians cherish the most, the Fall/Winter. With temps consistently in the 90’s and humidity at 100%, I personally roasted this summer. The mosquitos alone will drive a person batty! But hope is just around the corner, and with that we return to the outdoors to enjoy nature.
The fall/winter weather in South Florida is some of the finest in the world. While the rest of the states are freezing and under drifts of snow, we’re enjoying day time temps in the mid 80’s. That’s pretty sweet! During this time, it’s no wonder South Florida is hot spot for snow birds and vacationers.
Vacationing in South Florida during the fall
Not sure what to do with this super fine weather? Why not spend it sprucing up that front yard or putting in that organic garden you’ve always wanted. Ya know, it’s the perfect time of the year to plant a fruit tree or two. Whatever your aspirations might be, you might need a few garden ideas to help with the transformation. Landscape Designer Brent Knoll of Knoll Landscape Design has a few garden ideas to share. With over 20 years experience beautifying South Florida, he’s seen it all.
Without further ado, here’s Brent’s Top Ten Garden Ideas for the fall.
1. Get organized- one of the main reasons the majority of South Florida landscapes look bad is because there messy. Get a couple big garbage bags and gather up all those dead palm fronds. Any broken pots laying around? Throw em out! Spring cleaning in the fall I always say. You’ll be surprised how much better things look when the yard is cleaned up.
Time to clean up that yard
2. Butterfly gardens– South Florida weather is perfect for attracting butterflies and no better time to enjoy them than in the fall. Get those gardening gloves on, grab your shovel and plant some milkweed for the monarchs, corky stem passion vine for the zebras and a citrus tree for the giant swallowtail. Soon you’ll be chilling in your hammock, surrounded by your fluttering friends.
Monarch resting on kale leaf
3. Fruit trees- another great garden idea for the fall is to plant some fruit trees. Fruit trees like mango, avocado, lime and jak fruit thrive in our temperate climate, producing quickly and providing wonderful shade when the temps creep up. Fruit trees are beautiful and delicious!
Mango tree
4. Organic garden– for us gardeners, there’s no better time in the year to plant your herbs and veggies than in the fall. Crisp lettuce, tender broccoli and juicy tomatoes thrive in the cooler fall/winter weather. Garden ideas for organic gardening include bean pole tipi’s for your beans and cucumbers. Let those vines climb, which means less bending over.
Fresh organic vegetables from your garden
5. Hang a hammock- got a couple coco palms that are close together? Get yourself a hammock and tie it up. Mid day temps in the 70’s, butterflies fluttering about, a little Bob Marley music, a pina colada…You get the idea.
Time to relax
6. Bougainvillea for color- is there anything prettier than a bougainvillea bush in full bloom!? Breath taking aren’t they. With over 100 colors to choose from, these tropical bushes have graced Florida landscapes for years. Choose a nice sunny spot, dig a hole, add compost and plant your favorite color. Mine is fuscia!
Bougainvillea colors number in the 100’s
7. Fragrance- After a long day at work, there’s no better feeling than being welcomed home by fragrant flowers in your front yard. Fragrant flowers for the fall would include almond bush, roses, and gardenias. All easy to maintain and thrive in the cooler drier climate of our fall/winter months.
Fragrance is ideal for any garden
8. Hummingbirds- Another great idea for your fall garden is to attract hummingbirds. The hummingbirds migrate through South Florida from November to April and love to nectar on sweet flowers like firebush, firespike and ruby red penta.
Hummingbird nectaring on salvia
9. Bird bath- One of my favorite past times is to sit and watch birds taking turns at a bird bath. Position the bird bath near a small tree as the birds need to feel sheltered. Remember, the fall/winter months in South Florida are dry, so be sure to keep your bird bath clean and full of water.
Sparrow taking a bird bath
10. Entertain- enjoy the fruits of your labor and entertain your family and friends. The weather is so divine from December through March, take advantage of it. Sit around a campfire eating smores and telling stories or invite your friends to a garden brunch. You’ve worked hard to make your garden beautiful, enjoy it!!!
South Florida weather is perfect for entertaining
Need help with your Landscape Design?
Sometimes we have all the garden ideas in the world but just need a little help organizing them. Folks, Landscape Designer Brent Knoll from Knoll Landscape Design is here to help you get back on track. Brent has been beautifying South Florida for over 20 years and knows what works and what doesn’t in our tropical climate. Give him a call today at 3054965155 to schedule your one-on-one consultation and get your garden looking beautiful once again.
Landscape Designer Brent Knoll
by Brent Knoll | Aug 20, 2014 | Education, Landscape design
Top Landscape Designer ~ How should you choose your designer?
When looking to design your landscape, begin with the right designer.
Landscape design greatly increases both the beauty and the value of your home. Far from an extra, a gorgeous landscape is the FIRST impression visitors, potential buyers, and neighbors get about you and your home. It showcases your style and taste and shows your community the level at which you are concerned with keeping an aesthetically pleasing, nature friendly, and generally inviting neighborhood. Landscape design is also an investment, and with every good investment, it’s important to do your research to make sure that you invest soundly and properly. Your decision to design a fresh or new landscape begins with choosing your designer.
Brent Knoll happy with his garden tour
Landscape Designer ~ What should I look for?
Experience
The first thing you need to look for in a top landscape designer is experience in the area in which you live. Every region and climate has particulars which will come into play in your design. Your designer must understand the soil quality, prevailing environmental conditions, plant materials that work for your zone and location, and many other factors in order to make recommendations which are realistic and which will truly give you the results you’re looking for.
Artistic Talent
We all know that categorizing art as “good” or “bad” can be a relative thing. Different people enjoy different types of artistic expression. But let’s be honest. Two people may carry out the same artistic task, and one may do it in a way which is voted more pleasing by general concensus. We tend to classify those broadly approved of artists as “talented” or “good” at what they do. When it comes to choosing a top landscape designer, look for their portfolio on their website or ask to see images of their work. Their pictures will showcase their ability to carry out a truly aesthetically pleasing design. Find a designer whose work resonates with your own artistic taste, and you will find a match that you should be able to work well with.
Broad Range of Design Styles
Many landscape designers specialize in one or two types of designs, and while the argument may be made that they are specialists in those areas, they may not offer the artistic flexibility required to give you the particular style you are looking for. Versatility regarding style is essential because each design client is unique, ecclectic, or purist in their own way and needs to be able to be fully heard and understood as they express their aspirations for their garden space. Find a top landscape designer who seems “style flexible” enough for you to comfortably offer all your ideas, knowing they will all be considered workable for the designer. If you can, view their website and peruse their list of styles offered to get a feel for their adaptability.
Reviews and References
Finding a top landscape designer who is professional and easy to work with will be greatly reflected in the reviews available and references offered by the designer. Research web sources such as Yelp, Houzz, and Angie’s List to read reviews which will give you first hand insight from past clients regarding the reliability and competence of your potential designer. Sources like Houzz also offer colleague reviews so you can see what other professionals think of your designer as well. Contact your potential landscape designer and ask for references and samples of their work as well to get a well-rounded feel for what they offer.
My happy clients, the Fors
A Designer Who Offers Installation and Other Follow Up
Knowing how to use AutoCAD or a design program to create a paper design and truly knowing from hands-on experience how the design will work out in the real world are very separate things. A design and an installation can be at complete odds in moving from paper to planting. Meeting a landscape designer who strongly encourages you to use his/her company for the installation process means that you have met a designer who is confident in the full extent of their design abilities. This designer is one who will go to great lengths to create your design as a personal artistic expression, often going so far as to hand-pick every plant which goes into their design. This designer will also offer follow up visits to track the progress and upkeep of their designs, often suggesting tried-and-true fertilization programs and other amenities. Again, view your landscape designer’s website, check out client reviews and references to see to what extent your potential designer will walk with you through the landscape design process.
landscape plans
Community Involvement
We all know community involvement is important. How present we are with our friends, families, neighbors, and communities is a measure of our investment in these areas. All relationships require constant care, and a good landscape designer is also a good member of their neighborhood. Has your designer been known to organize community events, educate by offering workshops or lectures, or participate in community service? Don’t be afraid to ask about this important personal aspect of public outreach.
Brent Knoll and Sarah Reimer with the kids
Communication
Last, but certainly not least is communication. The landscape design and installation process are just that, a process which takes time, thought, and calculated orderly moves to execute. Your landscape design process may take anywhere from 2-4 weeks to several months, and during this time, rest assured adjustments will be made, opinions about plant materials and placement may be reevaluated etc, and you will need a landscape designer who will be available to communicate with you on a multimedia level. A top landscape designer will be available to you via phone calls, consultations, texts, videos, emails, and possibly through social media. They will make every venue of communication accesible for you so that you can feel comfortable with the entire design process. Feel free once more to locate their business reviews and ask their references about their ability to communicate during the design process.
What mistakes should you avoid when seeking a landscape designer?
Now that we have discussed some key pointers in finding the top landscape designer for you, let’s go over some don’ts that can be serious road blocks to having a smooth and painless landscape design process.
DON’T use an inexperienced designer.
An inexperienced or beginner designer may seem appealing on several levels. Maybe they’re offering you a “good deal” or you want to help the beginner out, but a smart beginner will apprentice under a master designer first in order to give quality service to their clients. You’ll be better off finding someone with some experience, and the more experience, the better.
DON’T use a “Landscape Service” over a Landscape Designer.
Landscape service companies are best known for offering landscape maintenance like lawn care and fertilization, but they may try to offer you design and installation as well. While some of these companies may have a good designer working for them, many of them don’t and you may be the recipient of a generic and unsatifying “design” and an underpar installation. Generally, the employees of these companies are not soil experts, plant experts, or designers and therefore may know little when it comes to giving you a landscape which is worth your time and money. Leave the maintenence to these companies, and the design to the seasoned landscape designers.
DON’T use a designer who doesn’t get your style.
Again, landscape design is art. Choose an artist who resonates with your personal style and taste. Schedule a consultation with your potential designer, and tell them your ideas. See how they resonate and collaborate with you on the project. Do they understand your personal flair? Do they seem to have experience with what you are looking for? Can they readily make plant and material recommendations that seem to perfectly fit your ideas? For a pain free way to get some of this info on your designer, look again at their website portfolio and design styles offered to see if you may be a good match to work with each other.
DON’T use a designer who has no web presence or references.
The web is the modern easy access way we find much of what we’re looking for. And web presence is more than just having a great website. It’s about social media, interacting with your audience, and participation on review-based websites like Yelp, Houzz, and Angie’s List, making your info and your references readily available to potential clients. Not providing these things to clients may mean shady business, lack of innovation, or laziness. While this isn’t always true (many old businesses which are very established in their communities haven’t caught up to the available technology), it’s certainly an angle to consider.
DON’T look for fast-food service.
Let’s face it. We live in a fast-paced world. We’ve learned to want what we want and want it now, and while that’s good for creating efficiency, it can hamper quality. Expect your designer to give you a window of at least 2-4 weeks to complete your design. Remember, a busy designer is a GOOD designer! DO expect them to stay in great communication with you throughout your process, but realize that a great design takes time. From the consultation, to picture-taking, constructing your design, researching plant material, compiling price lists and proposals, giving presentations, okaying material with you, making plan adjustments, scheduling installation, etc, there is a lot going on! Be prepared to set aside the time needed to allow the landscape design process to flow naturally. The beauty which will surround you will give you years and years of enjoyment as a reward for your patience.
It’s time to find your landscape designer!
Knoll Landscape Design is a versatile and sustainability-focused company which has been serving the Miami, South Florida area for over 20 years. Landscape Designer Brent Knoll knows the soil, the plants, and the climate of South Florida with the deep awareness that comes from continued hands-on experience and personal attention to every aspect of his client’s designs. He knows what works in our rocky, sandy soil, and can guide you into a design that will look fantastic AND thrive. Brent has the aesthetic eye of an artist and knows a broad range of landscape design styles. He offers installation and all the follow up you need to make sure your project flourishes. He is a excellent communicator, a fan of social media, and is excited to share his reviews and references with his clients. In his spare time, he has created several community gardens, hosted many workshops and lectures, and participated my many enjoyable community service projects. If you are in the Miami-South Florida area, and are looking for a designer for your project, give Brent Knoll a call at 305.496.5155.
Brent giving a garden tour
by Brent Knoll | Jul 24, 2014 | Education
It’s easy to grow herbs in South Florida
Growing Herbs is Easy!
Wanting to grow herbs in Miami, South Florida? We’ll it’s easy, super easy. Unlike most of America, Miami has a year long growing season, meaning we can grow herbs all year long! Wow, imagine a garden full of Italian Basil, Mint, Parsley, Dill and Rosemary. These are just a few of the herbs that grow in South Florida. At the bottom of this artical is an impressive list of seasonal herbs that are easy and fun to grow. Want to know more about how to grow herbs? Landscape Designer Brent Knoll of Knoll Landscape Design has offered some of his proven organic gardening tips. Brent is always talking soil, so let’s start there.
What is the best soil to grow herbs in?
If you’ve ever tried to grow herbs in our South Florida soil, you’ve probably found that it’s pretty rocky. South Florida, especially Miami is one big Coral Rock and or construction fill. Digging in Coral isn’t fun, trust me, I know. I’ve been designing and installing gardens for over 20 years in the Sunshine State and my best friend for digging is a pick and a jack hammer. Crazy but true. Besides being extremely difficult to dig in, Coral Rock is low in organic matter and very alkaline. Construction fill consists of crushed lime rock and whatever is left from the development of the site, like chunks of concrete, bottles, plastic, tires…u get the picture, pretty toxic stuff. Herbs tend to grow best in a more acidic environment with a ph of around 6 to 7. So you have a couple options, you can either amend your soil with organic matter or build up. Raised Bed Gardens are our most popular method for growing herbs. Inothese Raised Bed Gardens, the soil is built up and contained in frames made of 2″ pine, cedar or cypress, or cut lime stone rock. What’s the best soil to grow herbs in? Brent’s Super Soil of course or compost. We make our own organic soil and use it for all of our organic garden installations. The ph is a perfect 6.5, it’s full life giving minerals and rich in microbial life. If you’re soil isn’t right, your plants will grow weakly or not at all. Gardening always starts with the soil!
South Florida coral rock
How much sun is needed to grow herbs?
How much water is needed to grow herbs?
When it comes to watering your herbs, the general rule of thumb is to keep the soil moist. Make sure you’re organic garden, container gardens or raised bed garden has good drainage. Herbs don’t like to live in soggy soil. Remember to water your herbs first thing in the morning, spot watering in the afternoon if needed. Lay down hay or compost to help preserve moisture and keep the soil cool.
Watering the garden is my favorite job
How much fertilizer and maintenance is required to grow herbs?
Not much! As far as fertilizer needed to grow herbs, I fertilize my raised bed garden installations once per month with a organic fertilizer that I purchase from a local nursery or from compost that we make at our nursery. Both work very well and are loaded with micronutrients! Remember to take care of your soil and it will take care of you! Do herbs need much maintenance? Not really, most herbs are bug free. The oils in the leaves and fragrance tends to keep bugs at bay. I love to mix herbs in with vegetables and fruits as companion plants.
Harvesting your herbs
How and when to harvest your herbs? Know the growth habit of your herbs. Allow your herb plants to become established before harvesting. Watch some tutorials on youtube. We have our own youtube channel loaded with information on organic gardening. Here’s the link for that Knoll Landscape Design’s Youtube
Harvesting fresh basil
What herbs grow best in Miami?
Most!! With our temperate tropical climate it’s so easy to grow herbs in Miami, it really is. Note that every herb has a season, for instance Italian Basil loves the summer sun, cilantro likes winter months, mint and rosemary grow round. Here’s an impressive herb list our friends at Easy Edible Landscapes has put together. Here’s the list you’ve been waiting for: What herbs grow in South Florida, Miami
Want to grow herbs but need help?
We create a variety of landscapes at Knoll Landscape Design and some are quite delicious. Edible Forests, Edible Landscaping and Raised Bed Gardens are a great way to grow herbs seasonally or all year long. Call Brent Knoll at 3054965155 to schedule an in person consultation to discuss the possibilities for growing your own food. Thanks for stopping by 🙂
