Florida Friendly Landscaping Wendy Wilber UF/IFAS Alachua County Extension Service wilbewl@ufl.edu
Gainesville Clean Water Partnership -
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
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, 1998 4
Where does it come from? 95% of Florida s drinking water comes from groundwater Citrus Grove 5
Creeks and ponds and Ultimately the groundwater 6
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. www.floridayards.org 7
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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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.
Right Plant, Right Place Reduce the need for water, fertilizer, pesticides and pruning by using plants suited to the specific site conditions.
Water Efficiently Design and maintain a yard that thrives predominantly on rainfall once plants are established.
Mulch, Mulch, Mulch Maintaining a 2-3 layer of mulch will help retain soil moisture, prevent erosion, and suppress weeds.
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.
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
AVOID Combination products
Control Pests Responsibly Unwise use of pesticides can harm people, pets, beneficial organisms and the environment.
Reduction of Stormwater Runoff Water running off a yard can carry soil, debris, fertilizer and pesticides that may harm water quality.
Provide for Wildlife Plants in your yard that provide food, water and shelter can help conserve Florida s diverse wildlife.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Trees
Live Oak Quercus virginiana Highrise, Cathedral oak 45+ feet more upright growth Tough tree Long lived
Bluff Oak Tall to 50 feet Deciduous Oak Great shade tree Leaves stay green up to leave fall Straight trunk no pruning needed
Sugar Maple Acer saccharum 30-40 feet Deciduous Beautiful shape Yellow to red fall color
Winged Elm Ulmus alata Fast Growing Deciduous Native 70+ feet
Southern Magnolia Magnolia grandiflora Cultivars Little gem DD Blanchard Brackens brown beauty Hasse
Dogwood Cornus florida
Vitex or Vitex Agnus castus 15-20 feet tall Deciduous Grow quickly Flowers purple flower is the summer Full sun
Yaupon Holly Evergreen holly Small leaves Very dense growth Very tough plant Wonderful red berries for birds
Flatwoods Plum Prunus umbellata 15 20 feet Deciduous Drought tolerant Flowers in spring Edible fruit
Shrubs
Simpson stopper Myrcianthes fragrans
Fire bush Hamelia patens
Florida Anise
Loropetalum
Wax Myrtle
Camellia
Oak leaf hydrangea Hydrangea quercifolia
Azalea encore white
Beauty berry Callicarpa americana
Dwarf densa Walters viburnum Viburnum obovatum
Lonicera sempervirens Coral honeysuckle vine
African Iris
Fakahatchee grass Tripsacum dactyloides
Alpinia zerumbet 'variegata'
Coontie Zamia pumila
Lantana
Dianella Tasmania Variegated blue flax lily Very adaptable Partial sun to shade Interesting flower Some freeze damage in cold spots
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
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
Bahia grass
For more information visit: Floridayards.org And Solutionsforyourlife.com