Florida Friendly Landscaping. Wendy Wilber UF/IFAS Alachua County Extension Service

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Jade Douglas
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1 Florida Friendly Landscaping Wendy Wilber UF/IFAS Alachua County Extension Service

2 Gainesville Clean Water Partnership -

3 97% of all water on earth is salt water. 2/3 of all fresh water is frozen in polar and glacial ice. Satellite 1% of all water on earth is available to drink. 3

4 Domestic Water Use American water use is high compared to other nations Twice European use Florida has the highest domestic water use in U.S. Partly due to irrigation of lawns and landscapes USGS,

5 Where does it come from? 95% of Florida s drinking water comes from groundwater Citrus Grove 5

6 Creeks and ponds and Ultimately the groundwater 6

7 What Can I Do? Design a Florida friendly landscape: Right plant, right place. Choose Florida native plants or low maintenance plants. Group plants according to their water needs. Use mulch. 7

appropriately * Reduce stormwater runoff * Manage yard

8 A Florida Yard incorporates the following 9 principles: Right plant, right place * Water efficiently * Fertilize appropriately * Reduce stormwater runoff * Manage yard pests Provide for wildlife Mulch/ Recycle Protect the waterfront 8

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11 What is a "Florida Yard"? A Florida Yard can take any form, unique or traditional. You can have a Florida Yard simply by changing the way you take care of your yard.

12 Right Plant, Right Place Reduce the need for water, fertilizer, pesticides and pruning by using plants suited to the specific site conditions.

13 Water Efficiently Design and maintain a yard that thrives predominantly on rainfall once plants are established.

14 Mulch, Mulch, Mulch Maintaining a 2-3 layer of mulch will help retain soil moisture, prevent erosion, and suppress weeds.

15 Recycle Yard & Household Waste In a Florida Yard, grass clippings, leaves and yard trimmings are recycled on site to provide added nutrients to the soil and to reduce waste disposal.

16 Fertilize Appropriately Less is often best. Over-utilization of fertilizers can be hazardous to your yard and the environment Low Maintenance schedule Use Slow Release Fertilizers

17 AVOID Combination products

18 Control Pests Responsibly Unwise use of pesticides can harm people, pets, beneficial organisms and the environment.

20 Reduction of Stormwater Runoff Water running off a yard can carry soil, debris, fertilizer and pesticides that may harm water quality.

22 Provide for Wildlife Plants in your yard that provide food, water and shelter can help conserve Florida s diverse wildlife.

24 The Key to Landscape Success Proper planning and plant selection: It affects everything else you do in your landscape Can save energy, effort, water, money, etc. Makes the landscape more enjoyable

31 Florida Friendly designs work with nature to create a healthy landscape The plants are well suited for your landscape There will be less maintenance needed, but it will be different

32 Once the plants are established They will need minimal water The Florida Friendly landscapes are designed to survive off of rainfall If there is a drought or plants look wilted, hand water to restore or keep the plants from being stress

33 Mulched beds Some weeding maybe needed to keep the weeds out of the mulched areas Mulch needs to be maintained at 3 inches deep You can use fallen leaves as mulch

34 Grass grows best in full sun Bahia grass needs to be mowed at a height of 3-4 inches Bahia grass needs minimal watering once it is established Bahia grass needs to be fertilized only 1 or 2 a year with a slow release fertilizer

35 Fertilize carefully If you have to fertilize use a slow release nitrogen product. Fertilize during the growing season Sweep any spilled fertilizer back to the grass of plant area

36 Prune only as needed Most of your shrubs won t need pruning for a few years Prune evergreen shrubs in the spring or during the growing season Prune azaleas before July 4 th and Prune roses on Valentines day

37 Trees

38 Live Oak Quercus virginiana Highrise, Cathedral oak 45+ feet more upright growth Tough tree Long lived

39 Bluff Oak Tall to 50 feet Deciduous Oak Great shade tree Leaves stay green up to leave fall Straight trunk no pruning needed

40 Sugar Maple Acer saccharum feet Deciduous Beautiful shape Yellow to red fall color

41 Winged Elm Ulmus alata Fast Growing Deciduous Native 70+ feet

42 Southern Magnolia Magnolia grandiflora Cultivars Little gem DD Blanchard Brackens brown beauty Hasse

43 Dogwood Cornus florida

Vitex or Vitex Agnus castus 15-20 feet tall Deciduous

44 Vitex or Vitex Agnus castus feet tall Deciduous Grow quickly Flowers purple flower is the summer Full sun

45 Yaupon Holly Evergreen holly Small leaves Very dense growth Very tough plant Wonderful red berries for birds

Flatwoods Plum Prunus umbellata 15 20 feet

46 Flatwoods Plum Prunus umbellata feet Deciduous Drought tolerant Flowers in spring Edible fruit

47 Shrubs

48 Simpson stopper Myrcianthes fragrans

49 Fire bush Hamelia patens

50 Florida Anise

51 Loropetalum

52 Wax Myrtle

53 Camellia

54 Oak leaf hydrangea Hydrangea quercifolia

55 Azalea encore white

56 Beauty berry Callicarpa americana

57 Dwarf densa Walters viburnum Viburnum obovatum

58 Lonicera sempervirens Coral honeysuckle vine

59 African Iris

60 Fakahatchee grass Tripsacum dactyloides

61 Alpinia zerumbet 'variegata'

62 Coontie Zamia pumila

63 Lantana

64 Dianella Tasmania Variegated blue flax lily Very adaptable Partial sun to shade Interesting flower Some freeze damage in cold spots

65 Crytomium falcatum Holly fern Sun: partial to full shade Soil: acid ph Height: 2 feet Coverage complete Native non Winter? Evergreen for some Interest tropical looking foliage

66 Liriope muscari Liriope Sun: full sun to shade Soil wide range Height 6-12 inches (24 for giant) Coverage: not total Non Native Winter?: evergreen Interest: some purple spike blooms

67 Bahia grass

68 For more information visit: Floridayards.org And Solutionsforyourlife.com

FACT SHEET: Florida-Friendly LandscapingTM Shrubs: Large and Flowering (2014)

UF/IFAS Extension FACT SHEET: Florida-Friendly LandscapingTM Shrubs: Large and Flowering (2014) LYNN BARBER, FLORIDA-FRIENDLY LANDSCAPINGTM AGENT Some large shrubs are also considered smaller trees. This