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