Outdoor lighting offers energy-efficient, versatile, and safe lighting option enhances the beauty, safety, and functionality of your outdoor spaces. Whether you're illuminating a backyard oasis, highlighting your home’s architecture, or creating a welcoming ambiance for evening gatherings, outdoor lighting is an ideal choice to create the perfect ambience for your home.

Fertilizing your plants at the right time is key to ensuring they thrive in our unique subtropical climate. With the warm temperatures, high humidity, and distinct wet and dry seasons, Ocala presents specific opportunities and challenges for gardeners. Below, we’ll explore the best times to fertilize various types of plants in Ocala, taking into account the region’s climate, soil conditions, and plant needs.

In Ocala, Florida, we have a warm, humid climate and specifically USDA Hardiness Zone 9a which is a haven for pollinators like bees and butterflies and sometimes hummingbirds. These creatures are vital for pollinating crops, wildflowers, and garden plants, supporting biodiversity and food production but they also bring a charming factor to your garden and peaceful to watch. This blog explores the key pollinators in Ocala, their importance, and how you can create a pollinator-friendly environment in your backyard.

Ocala, Florida, known as the "Horse Capital of the World," is home to sprawling horse farms that blend functionality with natural beauty. Landscaping these properties requires careful planning to balance the needs of horses, farm operations, and aesthetic appeal. This blog explores key considerations and practical tips for creating a safe, sustainable, and visually stunning landscape for horse farms in Ocala’s unique climate and terrain.

Hardscaping transforms outdoor areas into functional, beautiful spaces that complement your landscaping. From concrete curbing to pavers, etched garden walls, and seating walls, hardscapes add contrast to your yard giving it structure, style, and durability to patios and landscapes. Here’s a look at these elements and how they elevate outdoor living.

Ocala, Florida, located in USDA Hardiness Zone 9a, enjoys a warm, humid subtropical climate with mild winters and hot summers. This zone, characterized by minimum temperatures of 20–25°F, is ideal for a variety of vibrant, colorful plants that can add beauty to gardens year-round. Below is a guide to some stunning plants that thrive in Ocala’s climate, offering pops of color and resilience to local conditions.

Ocala, Florida, located in USDA Hardiness Zone 9a, has a warm, humid subtropical climate with hot summers, mild winters, and occasional frosts. Choosing the right hedges for this region requires selecting plants that thrive in high heat, humidity, and well-drained soils while offering aesthetic appeal, privacy, or functionality. Below is a guide to some of the best hedge plants for Ocala, including their characteristics, benefits, and care tips.

Personalizing your outdoor space in Ocala allows you to create a haven that reflects your style while embracing the area’s natural beauty and lifestyle. Here are a few creative ideas to transform your outdoor space into a personalized oasis that thrives.

If want landscaping that offers multiple seasons of vibrant color with minimal upkeep in central Florida, Encore Azaleas are a winning choice.  This week’s blog will explain why they thrive here, how to incorporate them into your garden and why they’re a consistent in our signature look when transforming your outdoor space with Bella Design Landscapes.

In today’s fast-paced, outsourced world, many companies cut corners by subcontracting their work to third parties-especially concrete curbing. While some companies do it for efficiency and others to simple not invest in learning how to do it, it can create a disconnect in quality, accountability, and customer service. That’s why working with a family business—especially one that doesn’t subcontract—is a breath of fresh air.

If you're planning to install or replace sod in Florida, you’ve come to the right spot. With Florida's unique climate — hot, humid summers, occasional droughts, and salty coastal air — choosing the right sod type is essential. Not all grasses are created equal, especially in the Sunshine State.

In this blog, we’ll break down the best sod types for Florida, their pros and cons, and tips for selecting the right one for your property.

When most people imagine the perfect front yard, they picture a lush, green lawn.  And sometimes, it’s hard to surrender that idea.  But in Florida—a region known for its hot, humid summers and periodic droughts—a traditional grass lawn might not be the best choice. More homeowners are turning to rock yards as a stylish, sustainable alternative that fits both the climate and lifestyle. If you're considering a yard makeover, here are some compelling reasons to ditch the grass and go with rock landscaping.

If you’re looking to take your landscape from ordinary to polished, concrete curbing is one of the smartest—and most attractive—additions you can make. Especially in Ocala, Florida, where lush lawns and garden beds flourish year-round, concrete edging offers durability, beauty, and easy maintenance to keep your yard looking its best. So, what is it?

If you're looking to enhance your Ocala landscape with a palm that combines elegance, resilience, and relatively low maintenance (let’s face it, palm trees have some maintenance), the Sylvester Palm (Phoenix sylvestris) is an excellent choice. This palm has become a favorite in Florida gardens, offering a tropical aesthetic with practical benefits and we have connections for some beautiful ones!

Hiring a landscaping company is more than just picking the first one you find online. Whether you're redesigning your backyard oasis or installing a small landscaping wall, the right landscaping business will make all the difference in your experience. So how do you choose the right one?

When it comes to elevating your outdoor space, few additions make as dramatic and serene an impact as a water feature. Whether it's a bubbling fountain, a tranquil pond, or a cascading waterfall, integrating water into your landscape design can transform your yard into a personal oasis. Beyond aesthetics, water features offer a host of practical and emotional benefits. At Bella Design Landscapes, we specialize in water features!

Landscaping your yard or outdoor space is an exciting project that can increase the beauty, usability, and value of your property. Whether you're refreshing a tired garden or creating a new outdoor oasis from scratch, thoughtful planning is essential.

When it comes to landscaping, one common dilemma homeowners face is whether to use rocks or mulch around plants, garden beds, and pathways. Both materials have their pros and cons, and the best choice often depends on your specific goals, budget, and maintenance preferences. Let’s break down the key differences.

Inspiration on how to refresh your landscaping with specific tips for our USDA Zone in Marion county, 9A.

Why Irrigation Maintenance Matters: Keeping Your Landscape Thriving

At Bella Design Landscapes, we specialize in landscape design BUT we believe in watering your plants to thrive not just survive and that's why we wanted to take a moment to share about the importance of regular irrigation maintenance.  Just like your car or phone, irrigation requires regular maintenance and updates.  With time, heads can get clogged, hit by lawnmowers and it's critical you hire a professional company to come out and check your irrigation annually, especially if you have a well!  While this isn't a service we offer, we do want your yard to look amazing and can recommend companies that do offer this service if you need some referrals. 

When it comes to maintaining a lush, healthy landscape, irrigation systems play a vital role. Installing an irrigation system is just the beginning—regular maintenance is what keeps it running smoothly and sustainably.