Florida Friendly Landscaping for Developers and Builders

This is the final issue of a series of articles written by Ed Ayen about the new program called Florida Yards & Neighborhoods.

There is a great deal of building going on in the area; everything from commercial to individual houses to developments to condominiums. Almost 100% of the building sites are systematically cleared and reshaped to fit the needs of the building. Very few noninvasive native trees and shrubs are retained. Retaining or restoring natural areas provides habitat for wildlife and minimizes maintenance requirements.

“Right plant, right place’ is the key to Florida friendly landscaping. Plants that are appropriate for the site and are installed properly are better adapted, healthier and require less water and maintenance. Mulch the tree and shrub areas to retain moisture and control weeds. Use alternative mulch, such as pine straw or bark, Melaleuca, eucalyptus or recycled material, instead of cypress. This protects valuable wetland habitats where cypress trees grow. Limit maintenance and water cost by using grass only where needed. Turf should be less than 50% of your landscape area and use drought tolerant grasses such as Bahiagrass.

Stormwater runoff, rainwater that rushes off yards and streets carrying nutrients, soil, pesticides and petroleum residue, is a major source of water pollution. When rain water is retained and used by plants onsite, it minimizes the need for irrigation and reduces runoff. Are there swales, retention ponds, berms and other landscape features that retain runoff on the property? Is rooftop runoff directed to mulched or planted areas? Another way to retain rooftop runoff is to install cisterns or rain barrels.

Properly designed and installed irrigation systems use water more efficiently. A sprinkler system costs the typical resident from $4 to $10 every time it operates; or $32 to $80 per month during dry periods. Still, some studies indicate up to 30 % of outdoor irrigation is wasted. Use drip, low volume or micro-irrigation on separate zones in shrub areas and water turf as needed by installing a soil moisture sensor or rain shut off devise.

If the home borders a waterfront there should be no turf or high-maintenance plantings adjacent to water. Use appropriate low-maintenance ground covers and plants between the lawn and shoreline to create a fertilizer/pesticide buffer zone. Use native aquatic vegetation in the shoreline area.

For more information on “ Florida friendly” landscaping for developments and builders click here or contact your county extension office. The Florida Yards and Neighborhoods program is being implemented through your local county extension service in Highlands, Okeechobee and Glades County and is partially funded from Clean Water Act Section 319 funding from the U. S. EPA through the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.

More information is available on the Okeechobee web page, http://okeechobee.ifas.ufl.edu. If you need additional information on Florida Friendly Yards, please email us at okeechobee@ifas.ufl.edu or call us at 863-763-6469. Local residents can stop by our office at 458 Hwy 98 North in Okeechobee, and visit our Okeechobee County Master Gardeners from 1 to 5 PM on Tuesday afternoons.

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Trade names, where used, are given for the purpose of providing specific information. They do not constitute an endorsement or guarantee of products named, nor does it imply criticism of products not named. The Florida Cooperative Extension Service - Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer authorized to provide research, educational information, and other services to individuals and institutions that function without regard to race, color, sex, age, handicap, or national origin. Florida Cooperative Extension Service / IFAS / University of Florida. Larry A. Arrington, Dean Last update: 10/06/2006 . This page is maintained by Dan Culbert