Tips and Tricks

Water is a dwindling resource. I once met a lawn care guy that was convinced this couldn’t be so since the planet is a closed loop that water can’t escape. That’s sort of true however, three important reasons conservation is necessary are: 1. Florida’s population continues to grow while the amount of water available remains, at best, constant, 2. We have been in a drought for the past three years, and 3. many of our most vulnerable ecosystems (swamps, wetlands, marshes, etc) rely on sufficient water levels to provide habitat and services like water purification and storm surge buffering.

When I meet with clients, they often have ideas in mind for what the landscape should look like. If this is the case, a designer may not be necessary. However, there are certain tricks that may help complete the project with fewer problems. Here’s a check list of things to consider if you want to lay out a native or Florida Friendly design for the yard yourself.

A critical first step in designing a native landscape is understanding what the right plant for the right place is. This concept is central to ecosystem function as the particular characteristics of “place” often determine what plants will be successful. Shady or sunny, sandy or loamy, near a stream or high and dry. We want to help create functioning ecosystems and defining the system and its parts comes before laying out a palette of beautiful and unique natives.