North Fort Myers • Lee County
Plant & Shrub Installation in North Fort Myers, FL
Replanting after a storm is a big part of the work here. Local 10 reported homes destroyed in North Fort Myers when Ian came through, and riverfront canal streets took on Caloosahatchee water again during Helene and Milton. Saltwater surge can burn or kill plants that are not salt tolerant, so beds near the river do best with species UF/IFAS rates for salt exposure, such as sea grape, silver buttonwood, and cocoplum. Farther from the water, soil becomes the main question. Florida surface soils are mostly sand, and fill can push pH higher, so a free pH check at the Lee County Extension office in Fort Myers is worth doing before choosing acid-loving shrubs. Timing helps too. Planting at the start of the rainy season lets summer storms do much of the watering, rather than relying on the county's one-day-a-week schedule in spring. Hodges plants each shrub at its container depth and soaks it in.
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Where it comes up in North Fort Myers
Tropic Isles
Suncoast Estates
Sabal Springs
Plants and materials that suit it in North Fort Myers
Questions
My plants died after the storm surge. What should I replant with?
Near the river, pick species with good salt tolerance, such as sea grape, silver buttonwood, cocoplum, and saw palmetto. Rinse beds with fresh water if surge comes through again. Plants listed by UF/IFAS as salt-sensitive are better kept to the higher, inland side of the house.
Is spring a bad time to plant in North Fort Myers?
It is harder. Lee County limits unincorporated areas to one watering day a week from February through May, so new plants may need hand watering where allowed. Planting closer to the June rains takes pressure off, though the summer fertilizer ban applies then.
Do I need a soil test before planting?
It helps, especially if you want gardenias or other acid-loving plants. Sandy soil mixed with fill can lean alkaline. UF/IFAS advises choosing plants suited to the soil's natural pH, since high-pH soils cannot be permanently changed.