Article Courtesy of Florida Today

By Sally Scalera

Published April 13, 2017

In 2009, the Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Legislation (Senate Bill 2080) was passed. This legislation helps to protect a homeowner’s right, for those living in an HOA, to adopt FFL practices. Over the years, some legal issues and HOA disputes have occurred and that is why the Legally Speaking: FFL in the Planned Community workshop has been scheduled for April 26.
 

The Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Program was created by the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension Service and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to protect Florida’s natural resources. The various goals of the FFL program are to protect water quality by reducing pollution, conserving water, preventing soil erosion and creating wildlife habitats. FFL contains information geared toward the following four audiences: Florida Yards and Neighborhoods Builder & Developer Program, Community Associations and Property Managers, Green Industries - Best Management Practices (GI-BMP), and the Florida Yards and Neighborhoods Homeowner Program. The nine Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ principles are as follows: Right Plant, Right Place; Water Efficiently; Fertilize Appropriately; Mulch; Attract Wildlife; Manage Yard Pests Responsibly; Recycle Yard Waste; Reduce Stormwater Runnoff and Protect the Waterfront. When these principles are applied, they have a beneficial impact on the environment. Take for instance the first principle, right plant, right place. This practice should be used for every plant that you add to your yard and is just as important for a native plant as it is for a non-native plant. Every plant has tolerances for soil pH, light conditions, soil moisture and hardiness zone. Don’t forget to consider the mature height and spread of the plants you are considering to determine if they will fit, when full grown, in the location you are considering.

    
Though Florida typically receives an ample amount of rain each year, it doesn’t always come when you need it or in the amount that is needed. This can result in plants that suffer from a lack of water, so it is important to provide supplemental water in the correct amount and coverage that does not waste this valuable, non-renewable resource.

Considering the condition of the Indian River Lagoon, it is imperative that we fertilize correctly. Correct fertilization includes only fertilizing if needed, choosing a fertilizer analysis based on the results of a soil test and, immediately after fertilizing, lightly water in the fertilizer, with approximately one-fourth inch of water, to keep the quick release nitrogen from being carried past the roots, into the ground water and then to the nearest body of water.

Mulching around your plants protects the soil, conserves water and suppresses weeds. Managing yard pests responsibly includes the correct identification of the insect, to make sure that an insect pest is present and not a beneficial insect that provides free pest control.

Recycling yard trash is a logical step to take because our sandy soil needs all the organic matter it can get. Why haul it out to the curb when you could compost it or use it as mulch? Reducing stormwater runoff is crucial because it is a primary way for pollutants to be carried through a watershed. Every time stormwater rushes off your property, it can carry nutrient pollutants, soil, and other contaminants straight to the nearest drain and then to either the lagoon or the St. Johns River.

For those living on waterfront property, protecting the shoreline is important for both the water and your yard. Living shorelines can capture nutrients, keeping them out of the water, and protect the shoreline from eroding.