Top-rated landscapers in Fort Lauderdale, FL

Fort Lauderdale sets its own tree permits, swale rules and fertilizer ordinance, while Broward County and the South Florida Water Management District set the watering days. Waterfront lots add seawall rules. For zones, statewide grasses and licensing, see the Florida guide.

Tree permits in Fort Lauderdale

The city's tree permit FAQ requires a permit before removing or relocating any tree 3 inches or more in diameter at breast height (DBH), any palm with 8 feet or more of clear trunk, and any specimen, desirable or City Commission protected tree.

• Exempt: species on the state's prohibited plant list or the Florida Invasive Species Council's Category I list, plus Norfolk Island pine. A dead tree or palm on developed property needs no permit, but it must come out completely, stump and roots included.
• Fees: on a single-family lot, $159 covers two trees or palms, plus $53 for each additional one. Work done without a permit costs four times as much.
• Specimen trees: listed species in good condition (60 percent or better) at 18 inches DBH or more for large species, 13 for medium and 8 for small. Removing one requires a payment into the Tree Canopy Trust Fund.
• Replacement: based on species, condition and trunk size; palms are replaced one for one, and the cash option is at least $250 per inch. Replacement trees go in within two months of the removal.

Applications go through LauderBuild, and the application process lets a single-family owner qualify the permit, with notarized signatures, a tree survey and inventory, and an ISA certified arborist report for specimen-sized trees. The city may deny removing a large, desirable tree over roots or debris if root barriers, root pruning or canopy reduction could save it, and stumps must be ground below grade before the final inspection. The Landscaping Division answers at 954-828-6520.

Under section 163.045 of the Florida Statutes, a residential tree that an ISA certified arborist or Florida licensed landscape architect documents as an unacceptable risk needs no local permit or replanting.

Pruning

The city says no permit is needed to prune, but the work must meet ANSI A-300 standards and city code, and commercial tree companies need a current Broward County tree trimmer license. It calls topping (hatracking) harmful and leaves pruning near power lines to FPL. Its storm-ready trees page advises checking trees each spring and choosing native, salt-tolerant species.

Swale trees and right-of-way landscaping

Planting any tree or palm in the public right-of-way requires a city permit. The right-of-way landscaping checklist sets the rules:

• Utilities: trees at least 5 feet from underground lines, 10 feet for large trees with intrusive roots.
• Sight lines: nothing between 2.5 and 8 feet above pavement within 10 feet of a driveway or 25 feet of an intersection.
• Maintenance: the owner signs a recorded affidavit to maintain the plantings at their own cost. If they become a nuisance or affect drainage, the city can make you restore the swale with sod.

Through the city's Adopt-a-Tree program, the city plants an 8 to 12 foot tree in the swale next to your home, and you water it until established and maintain it. Report tree emergencies or tree abuse at 954-828-8000.

Fertilizer: the city's ordinance

Inside city limits, Fort Lauderdale enforces its own fertilizer ordinance. No fertilizing:

• Rainy season: June 1 through September 30.
• Storms: during a flood, tropical storm or hurricane watch or warning for any part of the city.
• Heavy rain: when 2 inches or more in 24 hours is forecast.

City staff can issue an immediate stop-work order, and applicators must show the product's guaranteed analysis label on request. The city's best practices recommend a phosphorus-free product such as 15-0-15, no more than 1 pound per 1,000 square feet, at most twice a year in spring and fall, and never hosing fertilizer into storm drains.

Watering in Fort Lauderdale

Broward County says the district's year-round restrictions apply in every Broward city, with generally no watering on Monday, Tuesday or Friday. Under the district's two-day schedule:

• Odd-numbered addresses: Wednesday and/or Saturday.
• Even-numbered or no address: Thursday and/or Sunday.
• Hours: never between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., from any source, private wells included.
• Exempt: reclaimed water and hand watering with a self-cancelling nozzle, with separate exceptions for new landscaping and micro-irrigation.

Broward's NatureScape Irrigation Service offers a rebate for upgrading to weather-based systems in participating areas. Apply before you upgrade.

Seawalls and king tides

The city calls itself highly vulnerable to king tides. New seawalls must reach a top elevation of at least 5 feet, and the city cites owners whose seawalls contribute to roadway tidal flooding.

Yard waste

The city collects yard waste weekly, including limbs up to 12 feet long and 12 inches thick. Bulk pickup won't take stumps, dirt, sod or pavers, and debris must come from your own property.

Local help: Broward County Extension

The UF/IFAS Broward County Extension office is at 3245 College Ave. in Davie. Its Master Gardener help desk, (954) 756-8533 or [email protected], identifies plants and insects, and the office hands out free kits for the UF/IFAS soil test ($34.95). See also how to test your lawn soil.

What it costs

Quotes vary with lot size, access and the work. These national ranges from our cost guides are a starting point:

• Tree removal: about $385 to $1,070 for most trees, and more for very large or hard-to-reach ones. See tree removal costs.
• Tree trimming: about $430 to $640 per tree on average. See tree trimming costs.
• Lawn care: monthly plans about $100 to $500, mowing about $44 to $71 per visit. See lawn care costs.
• Landscaping: about $4.50 to $17 per square foot. See how much landscaping costs.

Hiring a pro in Fort Lauderdale

• Get two or three written quotes with the scope, materials and timeline spelled out.
• For tree removal, ask who files the permit, who covers mitigation, and whether stump grinding and hauling are included.
• For trimming, ask for the Broward County tree trimmer license and an ISA certified arborist, and rule out topping.
• For swale plantings, confirm the right-of-way permit comes first.
• For fertilizing, expect no nitrogen or phosphorus from June 1 to September 30 or before a storm.
• For irrigation, have the controller set to your address's days and outside 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.