Florida Nurseries See Green

People replacing hurricane-damaged landscaping, combined with the continued frenetic pace of new-home construction, have been a boon for the nursery business.

At Sun Harbor Nursery, just south of Indian Harbour Beach, co-owner Dave Grover said his business has increased by at least 35 percent this year, primarily from customers replacing trees and plants lost in the September hurricanes.

That phenomenon helps businesses like Grover's that already are benefiting from a Brevard County housing market that saw a record 6,180 permits for single-family homes approved in 2004. At almost every new home built, there's a need for new trees and new plants.

And, on top of that, the nursery industry already is strong nationwide. Grower cash receipts from nursery and greenhouse sales – on sales of plants to retail and distribution businesses – have grown steadily during the past two decades and are increasing at a rate of about $500 million a year, according to the American Nursery & Landscape Association. Of the estimated $45 billion a year in U.S. horticulture sales, floral and nursery crops contributed a third, or $15 billion.

Now is the time many local residents are shopping for their trees and plants – because it's spring, and because homeowners finally have finished repairing structural damage from hurricanes Frances and Jeanne.

"People have spent so much time getting the roof fixed, getting the drywall replaced and working on their homes, they haven't been ready to get around to the landscaping," Grover said. "Lately, though, helping people relandscape has been nonstop. People are looking for larger plants to replace the big ones that got torn up. And, like their roofs, a lot of landscapes are 20 years old or more."

Homeowners are just getting around to buying replacement plants, and one of the main concerns for customers is picking a species with hardy varieties that has the potential to withstand more wind.

"Nobody wants to go through the replanting again this coming year," Grover said. "So people are looking for plants that held up well last year"

Kevin Riley, owner of Rockledge Gardens in Rockledge, said many people also are looking for shade trees to put in the yards. Many of the bigger, more mature trees run from several hundred dollars to a few thousand dollars.

Sue Colatosti and her friend Sue Skinner have been searching for fruit trees for Colatosti's father, who suffered plant devastation during the hurricanes.

"We're looking for mature plants," Colatosti said. "We want him to have fruit trees that are actually bearing fruit. He's older and I want him to have a piece of fruit while he still can."

NEW PLANTS. The steady stream of new-home construction has kept Riley's cash register ringing.

"I would say my business has been growing steadily," he said. "There is so much new home construction going on that that is what has been supporting me and will continue to do so. A lot of people move into a new home, and they decide they don't like the landscaping, so they make their landscaping more to their taste."

Mary Jo Farr of Melbourne was in that group of consumers.

"Well, the house isn't exactly brand-new," she said. "It's 3 years old, but I really want to put some new plants in. Today, we're looking for a 'bottle palm.' It has an attractive base."
Farr said that, coming from Lake Forest, Ill., she and her family were used to different kinds of species.

"The grass in Illinois isn't as prickly," said Farr's daughter, Colleen.

PALMS & PINES. While many people are looking to replace hurricane-damaged palms, there are other trees on the list of must-haves, Riley said.

"There are a lot of people whose fences have blown down, and now they see things they don't really want to see, so they're looking for plants to act as screens," he said. "The top sellers for that purpose are the oleanders and several varieties of nonblooming hedges. And, of course, people want palms."

But customers' tastes run a wide range.

"We may be a little different, but we want to replace our pine trees," said Marty Bissinger of Canaveral Groves. "We lost eight pines. I'm from Florida, and I love my pines. We're also looking for palms and some flowers to put around our store."

Bissinger had to replace plants at her home and also at her business, Happy Horse Feed & Western Wear. "We also wanted some flowers to make things look nice again."

BLOOMING SPIRITS. Plants can do a lot to perk up spirits that have been blown out by hurricanes, business owners and customers say.

Riley said this is the time of the year that people are looking to add color to the garden and to be creative.

Varieties of plants sold at the local nurseries range from herbs for cooking to decorative plants to help spruce up the interiors of homes that have been through hurricanes.

"I always look for herbs at this time of the year for my cooking," said Ella Austin of Palm Bay. "I use no salt, but, instead, use a variety of herbs in my food. And beside, some of them are just pretty to look at."

Kevin Brennick of Melbourne also was looking for a way to spice up his garden.
"I love the herbs and flowers at this time of the year," he said. "It does a lot for your outlook."

Indialantic resident and nurse-anesthetist Linda Hopkins also was going for color on her shopping trip.

"Spring is the time to add color to your life," she said.

INVESTING IN GREEN. Ben Bolusky, executive vice president of Orlando-based Florida Nursery, Growers & Landscape Association, said the nursery business reflects the area trends.

"People have assessed which trees and shrubs need to be replaced, and they're replacing gardens and landscapes," he said. "It's also an opportunity to do some new things with one's landscape. The other thing is Florida's economy is very strong, as evidenced by the continued development and the home-building spurt."

As long as there are businesses, the nursery industry will thrive in Florida, trade association executive Bolusky said.

Bolusky said landscaping enhances the value of any property.

"People have come to recognize that landscaping adds value to one's property," Bolusky said. "The hurricanes have been a catalyst for people making significant investment in landscape, gardens and homes."

"We like to think that, if you look at the two largest industries in Florida – tourism and agriculture – the nursery is agriculture's bridge to tourism," Bolusky said. "Where would Florida be as a world-class tourist destination without plants that the nursery business provides, giving communities the quality of life people want? Think of the landscaping at resorts, the theme parks and the hotels. It's a small-business industry with big-business impact."

This article originally appeared on FloridaToday.com and was reprinted with permission from the author. Donna Balancia can be reached at dbalancia@flatoday.net.