7. RECYCLE

Keeping yard waste out of landfills is a constructive way to reduce overflow in overburdened regional sites. While creating a fence out of cut branches might be a little challenging to some, there are other simple ways in which to reuse materials from your yard.

Pine needles: Purchasing a “mulching-blade grinder” attachment for a lawn mower will enable you to easily transform pine needles into excellent mulch.

Grass clippings: Allowing grass clippings to remain on the lawn instead of bagging them, is both efficient and beneficial since the material decomposes in place, returning nutrients into the soil.

Organic waste: Break up small twigs and leaves from bushes, hedges and non-invasive weeds into small pieces and scatter them onto shrub and tree beds as mulch. These materials will quickly decompose and blend into the beds helping to enrich the soil.

Tree limbs: An appropriate shredder is necessary for this; however, shredding tree limbs and branches can provide all your mulching needs.

Right Plant, Right Place Important to the success of a Florida-friendly yard is planting the right plant, in the right place. For example, group plants that require more sunlight together.


Water Efficiency Planting Florida-friendly plants helps to conserving precious water resources. There are some other innovative ways in which we can help to conserve and reuse the water that falls in our yard!


Fertilize Appropriately Pollution from fertilizers and pesticides in storm water run off from yards, contributes to excessive levels of nitrogen and phosphates in our waterways, often resulting in harmful algal blooms.


Mulch Mulch is natural organic material that is laid down in your yard to help retain moisture in the soil and prevent weeds from growing. It’s decomposition helps to greatly enrich topsoil.


Attracting Wildlife Many of Florida’s birds and butterflies are intricately connected to the native flora. Including Florida native plants in your yard will most definitely attract them to come and visit!


Managing Pesticides Responsibly While there are some plants that are difficult to manage without pesticides and herbicides, most Florida native plants do not need applications of either.


Recycle Much of what is in our yard can be recycled and put to good use! Here is an innovative way in which to use up branches from a nuisance exotic tree.



Storm Water Runoff Tropical summer rains produce torrents of water that flow through urban neighborhoods absorbing chemicals from yards and driveways along the way. This toxic runoff pollutes all waterways, and needs to be reduced.


Protect the Waterfront Many homes in Florida are situated on a lake, canal, wetland or the ocean. Certain kinds of vegetation can help to minimize the effects of storm water runoff while providing important habitat for birds and small aquatic animals.


Benefits of a Florida-friendly Yard There are numerous benefits to planting Florida-friendly plants in your yard, from saving money to minimizing the amount of time spent on maintenance; not to mention the beauty of the birds and butterflies that come to visit!