Tropical Landscaping & Screening
Rockaway’s landscaping team enhanced the Nordman’s Jacksonville Beach backyard landscape with additional tropical plantings and screening. The area along the fence behind the pool, hot tub, and patios was perfect for the growth of one of the most extensive stands of lady palms, Rhapis excelsa, we’ve seen. The area along the fence behind the pool, hot tub, and patios was perfect for the growth of one of the most extensive stands of lady palms, Rhapis excelsa, we’ve seen. However, the space next to the lady palms had sparse vegetation with several slow-growing ponytail palms, which led to a proposed landscape design plan by David Holloway that would create a colorful focal point behind the pool and, in time, comparable screening to the lady palms.
Before planting in the large back bed Rockaway Foreman Brett Estes and crew flush-cut a stump. They transplanted the ponytail palms into other beds in the backyard. Then within the cleaned-up new bed along the back fence, a large stand of paurotis or Everglades palm was planted as a centerpiece. Five white birds of paradise and two Chinese fan palms were also situated in the bed to fill in the space with additional height and tropical flair. Around the base of the taller foliage plants, Brett’s team installed 12 Arboricola ‘Trinette’, and 15 Matchstick bromeliads. Following these plantings, the soil surface was dressed with cypress mulch.
Additional screening was also provided on the opposite side of the backyard to obstruct the over-the-fence street view of the top of a shed in the back corner of the property. This was accomplished by planting an Eagleston Holly with a pyramidal growth habit that can reach 20-25’ in height and 15-20’ in width. The holly was staked to prevent shifting during establishment by high winds. ‘Soft Caress’ Mahonia were planted around the base of the holly, and the soil was dressed with cypress mulch.
Extensive upgrades to the irrigation system were also provided throughout the landscape to provide for the health of the new and existing plantings and the homeowners’ peace of mind.
Landscape Designer David Holloway Walk Through of the Project