This is different for every city, but as a rule of thumb, a permit is not required to remove a tree if it has a trunk diameter of less than 18 inches (measured at a height of 4.5 ft). There are very often instances where a permit is required so it is always best to check with your city’s landscape inspector before removing ANY tree.

For example, a permit is required to remove a ‘street tree’, a ‘historical tree’ or a previously preserved tree. As always, you will need to replace any tree that is removed so that your property ALWAYS has the minimum number of trees required for your property.

The minimum number of trees required on your property is based on the square footage of the lot and how the property is zoned. For most landscape requirements, you can typically obtain a copy of Code of Ordinances on the website of the city of which your property is located.

Palms generally do not provide significant canopy. Therefore, the short answer is no. However, in many cases a landscape inspector may allow you to group palms into a set of 3. Each set of palms meeting the requirements of 1 tree replacement. The palms must also meet certain size requirements, with the minimum clear trunk height starting at a specified height. In most cased palms planted in groupings must be planted with staggered heights.

• Aventura, FL
• Biscayne Park, FL
• Boca Raton, FL
• Broward, FL
• Cooper City, FL
• Coconut Creek, FL
• Coconut Grove, FL
• Coral Springs, FL
• Coral Gables, FL
• Dania Beach, FL
• Davie, FL
• El Portal, FL
• Fort Lauderdale, FL
• Galt Ocean Mile, FL
• Golden Beach, FL
• Hallandale Beach, FL
• Hialeah, FL
• Lauderhill, FL
• Lauderdale-by-the-sea, FL
• Lighthouse Point, FL
• Little Haiti, FL
• Hollywood, FL
• Kendall, FL
• Margate, FL
• Melrose Park, FL
• Midtown, FL
• Miami, FL
• Miami Beach, FL
• North Beach, FL
• North Miami, FL
• North Miami Beach, FL
• Miami Shores, FL
• Oakland Park, FL
• Parkland, FL
• Pembroke Pines, FL
• Plantation, FL
• Pompano Beach, FL
• South Beach, FL
• South Miami, FL
• Sunrise, FL
• Southwest Ranches, FL
• Surfside, FL
• Sunny Isles, FL
• Tamarac, FL
• Weston, FL
• Wilton Manors, FL
• Wynwood, FL

The typical lawn maintenance contract includes mowing the lawn, trimming of the hedges and shrubs, edging and trimming of all turf, sidewalk, parking lots, fences. Flowerbeds and all other surfaced areas bordered by grass should be edged after every mow. All clippings should be blown off sidewalks, curbs, streets and driveways after each mow.

Additionally, many maintenance contracts will also include:

• Fertilization
• Pest Control
• Weed Control
• Minor Irrigation Inspection

If these add-on services are not included most commercial lawn companies will offer these services al la cart.

The optimal to the lawn or landscape during the Spring, Summer or Fall. It is best to avoid plant and grass fertilization during Winter. Reason being, in the Winter the grass is dormant and does not absorb the nitrogen from the fertilizer. The cold weather leads to cool season fungus’ and ‘brown patch fungus’; adding fertilizer to the mix will cause these fungi to spread.

Plants don’t utilize much fertilizer during the cold weather months and any tender new growth shoots that are brought on by the feeding of fertilizer can be damaged by cold.

It is recommended that trees be trimmed throughout the year versus having them all trimmed at one time. Seed pods on palm trees are opening up all year round. Seeds fall and attract ducks and unwanted pests that will eat them. Seed pods fall in the hedges which become buried and start to grow little new palms trees throughout the flower beds. Seeds can fall in the walkways and be a tripping or slipping hazard. Open seed pods attract bees.

Trimming small amounts every month is less stressful and damaging to the trees. The trees aesthetically look much better because they always look trimmed as opposed to waiting 1 year before trimming again.