Florida-Friendly LandscapingAnd Its Nine Principles Adapted from article published in Florida-Friendly Landscaping Watering our lawns is impacting our water supply and the commercial fertilizers and pesticides we use are polluting our lakes, rivers, and bays. Florida Yards & Neighborhoods (FYN)—a Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) funded program—has devised a nine step initiative to help protect Florida’s environment. These nine principles of Florida-friendly landscaping promote the creation and the preservation of native yards:
1) Right Plant, Right Place: Plants selected to suit a specific site will require minimal amounts of water, fertilizers and pesticides.
2) Water Efficiently: Irrigate only when your lawn needs water. Efficient watering is the key to a healthy yard and conservation of limited resources. 3) Fertilize Appropriately: Less is often best. Over-use of fertilizers can be hazardous to your yard and the environment. 4) Mulch: Maintain two to three inches of mulch to help retain soil moisture, prevent erosion and suppress weeds.
5) Attract Wildlife: Plants in your yard that provide food, water and shelter can conserve Florida's diverse wildlife. 6) Manage Yard Pests Responsibly: Unwise use of pesticides can harm people, pets, beneficial organisms and the environment. 7) Recycle: Grass clippings, leaves and yard trimmings composted and recycled on site provide nutrients to the soil and reduce waste disposal. 8) Reduce Storm water 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. 9) 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.
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