February in Florida usually means sunshine, blooming plants, and maybe picking up something red for Valentine’s Day. Instead, we found ourselves covering plants and wondering why the weather decided to test our commitment to this area we love.
Cold weather has a way of slowing everything down — including business — and we’ve definitely felt that across our stores. But as we move past the cold snap, this is the perfect time to shift from panic mode to patience mode.
If there’s one theme this week, it’s this: show your landscape a little love.
First: Don’t Prune Yet
We know it’s tempting. Brown leaves, droopy stems, crispy edges — it looks like everything needs a hard cutback. But right now, restraint is the best thing you can do.
Cold-damaged foliage actually protects the living tissue underneath. Pruning too early can expose healthy parts of the plant to additional stress if we get another cool night. Many tropical and subtropical plants in Southwest Florida need time to show you what’s truly alive.
Wait until you see consistent new growth before pruning. Once new growth emerges, you’ll be able to clearly identify what’s dead and what’s still viable. That’s the safest time to clean things up and reshape.
Sometimes love looks like leaving it alone.
Focus on What You Can Do
While pruning is on pause, there are productive steps you can take. Continue watering appropriately. Even though it’s cooler, roots still need moisture — especially if we’ve had dry stretches. Just avoid overwatering. Good drainage is key.
Hold off on heavy fertilizing until you see active growth. Once plants begin pushing new leaves, that’s your signal to begin feeding and supporting recovery. Fertilizing too early encourages tender growth that can be damaged by lingering cool nights.
This is also a great time to refresh mulch, check irrigation systems, inspect palms (leave green fronds in place), and evaluate which plants handled the cold well and which may need replacing with more resilient options in the future.
Spring is around the corner. Your landscape may not look perfect right now, but it’spreparing.
A Great Time to Stop In
Cold weather always slows traffic a bit, but there’s a silver lining: this is one of the besttimes to visit our stores.
Mornings and evenings have been especially calm, which means our team can give you even more one-on-one attention. If you’ve been wanting help planning a bed refresh, selecting new plants, troubleshooting irrigation, or just talking through next steps, now is a great time to do it. We’re open seven days a week across all three locations, and we’ve staffed a genuinely friendly, knowledgeable, well-rounded team that loves helping customers solve problems and plan projects.
North Venice Update
We’re especially excited about the momentum at our new North Venice store.
The response has been fantastic. We’ve built a super nice, well-rounded team there, and we’re running ongoing and daily specials to celebrate the new location and keep the excitement going.
While North Venice doesn’t carry the full Ace Hardware assortment like our larger stores, it does offer a convenient hardware section stocked with our best sellers — the items you need most often. Alongside that, you’ll find a full lawn and garden department, irrigation supplies, birding, cleaning essentials, home décor, apparel, and a beautiful pottery selection. All of that is in addition to our thoroughly stocked plant nursery with a wide variety of Florida natives, trees, shrubs, flowering annuals and perennials, citrus, house plants, and succulents!
It’s designed to be convenient, inspiring, and easy to shop — whether you’re stopping in for one item or planning something bigger. The drive from Osprey to MRT was cut in half with our new location!
Spring Is Almost Here
Spring in Southwest Florida comes fast. One week it’s chilly, and the next everything is blooming.
Our stores are stocked and ready. New products are arriving daily — especially in our apparel departments — and we’re gearing up across lawn and garden for planting season. And yes, we’re giving away free popcorn every day.
So this Valentine’s Day, while you’re showing appreciation to the people in your life, don’t forget your landscape. It’s been through a little stress. Give it patience. Give it proper timing. Give it smart watering and thoughtful care.
Looking for a Valentine’s Gift That Lasts?
If you’re already thinking about Valentine’s Day, this is a great time to skip the grocery store flowers and give something that lasts longer than a week. A blooming orchid, a beautiful tropical plant, or even a potted flowering shrub makes a gift that keeps growing. Unlike cut flowers, a living plant continues to bloom, can be repotted, and in many cases can even be propagated to create new plants over time.
It’s a gift that doesn’t just sit on a counter — it becomes part of someone’s home or garden.
Our pottery and décor departments also have great options if you want to pair a plant with something meaningful. A beautiful planter, garden accent, or home décor piece adds a personal touch and makes the gift feel thoughtful and complete.
If you’re looking beyond plants, we’ve seen some fun favorites already this season. The Turtlebox Ranger speaker has been a popular pick. We’re also engraving YETI cups in- store, which makes for a personalized gift that’s practical and lasting. And our Capri Blue candle collection continues to be a go-to. It’s one of those gifts that feels elevated without being overcomplicated.
Whether you’re shopping for a spouse, a friend, or even just treating yourself, our teams can help you put something together that feels intentional and unique.
A little love goes a long way.
And if you’re not sure what your plants need right now, we’re here to help.
- From Justin Taylor and the Team at MRT