How to Recognize a Florida-Friendly Yard!

Article By:
Deb Hooper
Florida Yards & Neighborhoods

You may not immediately recognize a Florida-friendly yard. A Florida-friendly yard can take any form, depending upon the owner’s aesthetic preferences and resources. The Florida Yards & Neighborhoods (FYN) program of the University of Florida/IFAS Citrus County Extension helps citizens, through education, to create Florida-friendly yards and recognizes those who have done so.

Any yard, whether manicured or natural, can be Florida-friendly by using responsible maintenance practices that reduce the use of fertilizer, pesticides and water while maintaining an attractive landscape that’s a haven for birds, butterflies and other wildlife.

Citrus County currently has 26 yards that are recognized as Florida-friendly. These yards are located throughout the county. To help citizens recognize these yards, the University of Florida has created a sign for the property owner to display that lets people know that their yard is Florida-friendly. These homeowners are taking steps to protect our water and other natural resources by following the nine principles of the FYN program.

Here are some requirements and practices that homeowners follow to be recognized as Florida-friendly.

1. Right Plant, Right Place- It is required that the landscape does not contain plants identified by legal code as prohibited invasive exotics. The list of invasive plants can be found online at http://plants.ifas.ufl.edu/assessment/conclusions.html
2. Water Efficiently- If you have an in-ground irrigation system, you must have a functioning automatic rain shut off device and be sure that your system is calibrated to apply ½ to ¾ of an inch of water per application and use a rain gauge to track rainfall.
3. Fertilize Appropriately- If you fertilize, you must use the lowest of the fertilizer ranges recommended by the UF Turfgrass and Landscape Science Programs.
4. Manage Yard Pests Responsibly- Treat only affected plants and turf with pesticide applications (spot treat)
5. Mulch- A 2-3 inch layer of mulch is maintained over tree roots, shrubs and plant beds and it is pulled away from the base of trees to allow the trunk to breath. Use yard waste (pine needles, oak leaves etc.) or other by-product mulches such as pine bark, melaleuca, utility or landfill mulch.
6. Attract Wildlife- Provide a fresh water source for wildlife, leave brush piles and snags (dead trees). Leave or plant vines, shrubs and trees for wildlife habitat
7. Recycle- If a lawn is present, grass clippings are left on the lawn or used on site. Maintain a compost pile with yard clippings, leaves and kitchen scraps.
8. Reduce Storm Water Runoff- Be sure roof runoff drains onto landscaped areas. Collect rain water and use to water plants, etc. Create pervious walkways and driveways such as bricks, pavers or mulch.
9. Protect the Waterfront- Remove invasive exotics and replace with native vegetation. Following the permitting process, put clean native limestone rock in front of sea walls to increase habitat and reduce wave action.

Three recognition levels can be achieved – Bronze Magnolia, Silver Palmetto or Golden Oak – based on the extent that FYN principles are used. The program requires a visit every year to be sure that the homeowner is up-to-date on the latest research. If a home is sold, the recognition must be compromised and the new homeowner may reapply.

We have a number of materials available to help you create or enhance your Florida-friendly yard. Stop by the Extension Office at 3650 W. Sovereign Path, Suite 1 in Lecanto to get your copy of "A Guide to Florida-Friendly Landscaping", "The Florida-friendly Plant List", and other materials.

You can also view and order free publications from www.WaterMatters.org. And don’t forget to check out the searchable Florida-friendly plant database, including color photographs, at www.FloridaYards.org.

The Citrus County FYN program offers evening and daytime classes throughout the year to help you transform your yard into a Florida-friendly yard.

FYN program staff is also available to help you through consultations via email, telephone and office visits. FYN Coordinators can be reached at 352-527-5700.

You can find more information about the yard recognition program from the state FYN website at fyn.ifas.ufl.edu/homeowners/recognitions.htm.

The Florida Yards & Neighborhoods Program of the Citrus County Extension Service is a public education and outreach program of the University of Florida, funded jointly by the Citrus County Board of County Commissioners and the Coastal Rivers and Withlacoochee River Basin Boards of the Southwest Florida Water Management District.

All programs and related activities sponsored for, or assisted by, the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences are open to all persons with non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions, or affiliations.

For persons with disabilities requiring special accommodations, please contact our office at least five working days prior to the program so that proper consideration may be given to the request. For hearing impaired, please contact the Florida Relay Center at 1-800-955-8770 (voice) or 1-800 –955-8771 (TDD).