Florida Yards & Neighborhoods 
Creating a Florida Friendly Yard
By Ed Ayen, Florida Yards & Neighborhoods
What is a “Florida Friendly Yard”?
A Florida Friendly Yard is an approach that recognizes the home landscape as part of a larger natural system. This does not necessarily mean creating a “wild-looking” yard, but it does mean creating a landscape that is more of an environmental asset than a liability. If designed, installed and maintained properly, it will be attractive, environmentally sustainable and protect natural resources.
Plan First, Plant Last
In a Florida Friendly Yard, appropriate landscaping protects the environment by stabilizing the soil, preventing erosion, filtering pollutants and reducing harmful runoff. Other considerations include aesthetics, improving the resale value of a home, noise reduction, climate control and wildlife habitat.
Determine how you will use your property. Do you need a play area for children or a party area? How about a vegetable garden? Maybe you just want to enjoy looking at a pleasing yard without time consuming or costly maintenance.
Analyze your existing yard and note any special conditions. Take into account sunny and shady areas; areas that flood or are extremely dry. Take a soil sample to the local extension office to check pH. Do you have trees or shrubs that are problematic? They may need to be removed.
Prepare a plan for your Florida Friendly Yard. Take into account thing such as septic tank, underground utilities or overhead power lines and existing sprinkler system. Sketch in the activity areas and specific areas for birds and butterflies. If you live on the water consider putting in a buffer zone of 10 to 25 feet for pollution control.
Next add to your sketch where you want trees, shrubs, groundcovers and flowering plants. Remember to keep plants away from buildings to allow for growth and ease of building maintenance. Group plants for more efficient irrigation.
Research your irrigation needs to determine which sort of system, if any, will be installed. If native drought resistant trees and plants are used your irrigation needs may be considerably reduced along with fertilize and pesticide usages.
Buy quality plants and install them properly leaving enough space for each plant to grow to maturity.
Once your Florida Friendly Yard is established remember to maintain it by watering efficiently, fertilizing appropriately and controlling yard pests responsibly.
This is the second in a series of articles I will be writing on the new area program called Florida Yards & Neighborhoods. The 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.
Ed Ayen is available to address interested groups such as homeowners associations, voluntary organizations and clubs. For further information he can be reached by calling the Highlands County Extension Service office. Phone: (863)402-6540 or email. Location is 4509 George Blvd., Sebring, FL 33875-5837