Marco Island • Collier County
Plant & Shrub Installation in Marco Island, FL
Salt is the first filter for anything planted on Marco. UF/IFAS recommends that plants within about an eighth of a mile of salt water be at least moderately salt tolerant, and on an island ringed by Gulf beach and threaded with canals, that covers most yards. Coastal natives such as sea grape, coontie, cocoplum and beach sunflower already handle it. Fertilizer timing is the second filter. Marco Island's ordinance, adopted in 2016, prohibits fertilizer during the rainy season, June 1 through September 30, and anyone applying it must file a free city permit one business day ahead; landscape and fertilizer businesses must also register with the city. So a summer planting goes in with amended soil and careful watering, and feeding waits for fall. The city's Beautification Advisory Committee, working with Naples Botanical Garden, publishes a recommended-tree list that rates species for wind and surge tolerance, a useful cross-check before choosing.
or call (239) 301-9455
Where it comes up in Marco Island
Hideaway Beach
Tigertail Beach area
Old Marco
Caxambas
Plants and materials that suit it in Marco Island
Questions
Can I fertilize new plantings in summer on Marco Island?
No. The city prohibits fertilizer application from June 1 through September 30. Outside that window, the person applying must submit a free fertilizer permit to the city one business day ahead. Hodges plans summer installs around amended soil and watering instead of a starter feed.
Where can I find trees the city recommends for Marco?
The city's Beautification Advisory Committee publishes a recommended trees list developed with Naples Botanical Garden, rating each species for size, native status, wind and surge tolerance. The committee also has a hurricane-resistant list based on UF/IFAS field studies.
Which shrubs survive salt spray on a beachfront lot?
Sea grape, cocoplum, coontie and beach sunflower are coastal natives built for it. UF/IFAS notes that native plants growing on coastal land tend to be highly salt tolerant, and a front row of them shelters less tolerant plants behind.