The History of the Landscape Industry in Florida

The Landscape Industry in Florida and the Southeastern states changed drastically in the last 50 years, making the Landscape Contractors an essential business for decades to come…

What Was It Like 50  Years Ago?

The Landscape Industry was very different 50 years ago.  Residential, Commercial, Industrial and Municipal structures had basic landscaping with turf, shrubs, and trees.  Many of the properties did not have irrigation or regular lawn & ornamental pest control and fertilization, hence the landscaping was rarely Disney-like in appearance.  The vast majority of homeowners maintained their own properties or hired a local lawn maintenance guy.

The budget for landscape design/installation was minimal.  A new commercial office building or shopping center was lucky if they budgeted $50,000-$100,000 for landscaping.  If you look at residential and commercial neighborhoods that were built in the 1950s, 60s, 70s or 80s, you will notice there is rarely any formal manicured landscaping and most started with no irrigation systems.  Only Class-A properties had formal landscape w/irrigation systems.

What Is It Like Today?

Today, Landscaping is a major consideration with much thought, design, and emphasis on beauty. Now, most people live in communities (HOAs) which have grand entrances, beautiful common areas and sometimes a clubhouse and park – ALL with beautiful landscaping.  If you look at the vast majority of HOA annual budgets, “Landscaping” is the #1 largest annual expense as it includes the entrance and all common areas and most of the time includes the maintenance of all homes within the community.  But this is what attracts buyers/new homeowners who now demand and appreciate beautiful landscape surroundings with water features, etc.

New commercial properties are spending a small fortune on landscaping, especially in upscale neighborhoods.  In fact, the town/city planning & zoning boards are now mandating landscape buffers along the main road and more trees/palms and hedges.  Especially for example, in Florida cities like Weston, Boca Raton, Jupiter, Orlando, Jacksonville – just to name a few.  When driving in these cities/towns, the landscaping is so much a focal point that you cannot see the shopping center or parking lot, but it looks beautiful.  But this comes at a cost much greater than the $100k they may have spent 30-40yrs ago.  Now it can cost up to $1M for landscape & irrigation for a new shopping center and multiple millions for a major social site with shopping, restaurants, and condos.  This is followed by years of landscape maintenance costs.

Even Industrial and Municipal grounds have changed.  These types of grounds were often barren with no irrigation and basic grass and cheap palms.  Now, town and city common areas and roadways are irrigated with grass and a much more thought with design and appearance with more expensive palms and groundcover.

The Landscaping Industry in America, especially in Florida and the Southeastern States where the tropical and subtropical climate allows for a greater variety of plants, trees and palms that grow nearly all year-round, has grown exponentially over the last 50 years.  Driven by developers and town/city planners, we all visually appreciate the beauty of landscaping and have grown accustomed to lush and full landscaping at our homes, communities, town centers, shopping, and entertainment centers.  We live in paradise! Embrace it!