Florida Friendly
Landscaping:
Right Plant, Right Place
Alicia Lamborn
UF/IFAS Baker County
Extension Service
[email protected]
904-259-3520
What is “Florida-Friendly”?
Florida-friendly plants
are considered to be
non-invasive, low
maintenance plants.
Having a Florida-friendly
yard can be achieved
simply by changing the
way you take care of
your yard.
A Florida-Friendly Yard
incorporates 9 major principles:
Right plant, right place
Water efficiently
Fertilize appropriately
Manage yard pests responsibly
Mulch/ Recycle
Provide for wildlife
Reduce stormwater runoff
Protect the waterfront
Right Plant, Right Place
Matching the plant to the site conditions
Reduce the need for water, fertilizer, pesticides and pruning
by using plants suited to the specific site conditions.
Right Plant, Right Place
Know Your Site
Know Your Zone
Know Your Plant Material
Know Your Site!
Site Analysis
Soil
Drainage
Light
Temperature
Structural Limitations
Other
Soil & Drainage
High & Dry – Use Drought-Tolerant Plants
 Require less water because they are adapted to regions with
frequent droughts or soils with low water-holding capacity.
 Thrive in elevated dry spots, windy areas, exposed areas, berms
and along un-shaded southern or western walls of buildings.
Low & Wet – Use Water-Loving Plants
 Tolerate Occasionally Wet Soils
Group plants in beds according to water requirements and
maintenance needs to conserve water.
Light/Sun Exposure
Made in the Shade
 Position trees & shrubs strategically to improve your home’s
heating & cooling.
 Tree shade can reduce air conditioning costs by 50 percent.
 Plant deciduous trees on
the south, southeast and
southwest exposures.
 Their bare canopy in
winter will allows the
sun’s rays to warm the
home in winter, thus
creating additional savings.
Temperature
 Consider exposure to extreme temperatures
and microclimates
N
S
Other Considerations
 Structural Limitations
 Look Up! If there is a wire, security light or building
nearby that could interfere with the tree as it grows, fins
a new planting site.
 Look Down! Tree roots can extend 2-3 times the width
of the canopy. Are there structures limiting root growth?
 Other Exposures
 Strong wind
 Salty well water (water softeners)
Know Your Zone
Select plants recommended for our…
Cold Hardiness Zone
AND
Heat Zone
Selecting
Plant
Material
 Based on lowest
average temps.
 What hardiness
zone are we?
 We are zone 8B
 Also consider
microclimates
Heat Zone Map
Zo
ne
Average Number of Days per year above
86°F
1
Below 1
2
1 to 7
3
8 to 14
4
15 to 30
5
31 to 45
6
46 to 60
7
61 to 90
8
91 to 120
9
121 to 150
10
151 to 180
11
180 to 210
12
Above 210
Know Your Plant Material!
The Keys To Landscape Success
Proper Planning & Plant Selection…
 Affects everything else you do in your landscape
 Saves you time, energy, money.
 Makes the landscape more enjoyable!
UF/IFAS Florida Friendly Landscaping Program
http://fyn.ifas.ufl.edu
Plant Database
http://floridayards.org/fyplants/index.php