Florida Friendly Landscaping
Creating a Florida-friendly yard is easier than you think! All it takes is a willingness to learn and a desire to create a beautiful yard.
Take the first step by visiting the Florida Friendly Plant Database, provided by FloridaYards.org. It is an excellent resource for learning about Florida-friendly plants, including Florida native plants that require little irrigation or fertilizer, are low maintenance and attract wildlife.
Implement the Nine Principles of Florida-friendly Landscaping:
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Right Plant, Right Place: Plants selected to suit a specific site will require minimal amounts of water, fertilizers and pesticides.
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Water Efficiently: Irrigate only when your lawn needs water. Efficient watering is the key to a healthy yard and conservation of limited resources.
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Fertilize Appropriately: Less is often best. Over-use of fertilizers can be hazardous to your yard and the environment.
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Mulch: Maintain two to three inches of mulch to help retain soil moisture, prevent erosion and suppress weeds.
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Attract Wildlife: Plants in your yard that provide food, water and shelter can conserve Florida's diverse wildlife.
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Manage Yard Pests Responsibly: Unwise use of pesticides can harm people, pets, beneficial organisms and the environment.
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Recycle: Grass clippings, leaves and yard trimmings composted and recycled on site provide nutrients to the soil and reduce waste disposal.
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Reduce Stormwater Runoff: Water running off your yard can carry pollutants, such as fertilizer, pesticides, soil and debris that can harm water quality. Reduction of this runoff will help prevent pollution.
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Protect the Waterfront: Waterfront property, whether on a river, stream, pond, bay or beach, is very fragile and should be carefully protected to maintain freshwater and marine ecosystems.
Information provided by FloridaYards.org.
For more information on Florida Friendly Landscaping, visit FloridaYards.org.