University of Florida/IFAS

Environmental Horticulture Department

Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Program

Kathy Malone

Florida Housing Coalition

September 21, 2010

FFL Program

• Created in mid-90s

• Help protect soil and water quality

• Stormwater runoff and non-point source pollution

This runoff can carry pollutants into water bodies without going through a treatment process.

Pollutants can also leach through the soil into groundwater (water supply).

Our impact

• Management practices in landscapes and gardens have a direct impact on water quality

• Positive and negative

What is a Florida-Friendly Landscape?

• Can take any form, unique or traditional.

• Management is the key.

Traditional Florida-Friendly

TRADITIONAL vs FLORIDA FRIENDLY

Traditional Florida-Friendly

TRADITIONAL

Traditional Traditional

FLORIDA FRIENDLY

Florida-Friendly Florida-Friendly

Florida-Friendly Landscaping ™:9 Principles

• Right Plant, Right Place

• Water Efficiently

• Fertilize Appropriately

9 Principles cont.

• Mulch

• Attract Wildlife

• Manage Yard Pests

Responsibly

9 Principles cont.

• Recycle Yard Waste

• Reduce Stormwater Runoff

• Protect the Waterfront

Recent Legislation

• Effective July 1, 2009

• Deletes references to “Xeriscape”

• HOAs and government ordinances may not prohibit FFL

• Does not invalidate HOA architectural and landscape committees

• Does prohibit any watering mandates that are in violation of Water Management District restrictions

Success Stories

Hancock Place

Hancock Place

• LID

• Innovative stormwater pond

• Introductory FYN class

• By-laws

Hancock Place

Tamarind Village

Tamarind Village

• 6.4 million gallons of water

• 24,000 pounds of fertilizer

• 966 pounds of pesticides

Savings

Tamarind Village

• Defined swales

• Permeable surfaces

• Rain gardens

Ocean Gallery

Ocean Gallery

• Capped irrigation heads

• Soil moisture sensors

Ocean Gallery

Ocean Gallery

Ocean Hammock

Ocean Hammock

On Top of the World

On Top of the World

On Top of the World

On Top of the World

Common Themes

• Reduce stormwater runoff

• Improve water quality on site

• Reduce maintenance costs

• Create landscapes that fit with the natural environment

Multi-family housing

• Florida-Friendly Model

Covenants, Conditions

and Restrictions

Multi-family housing cont.

• Landscape maintenance contracts

– Ensure provisions follow Florida-Friendly Landscape design, installation and maintenance practices

Multi-family housing cont.

• Hire certified professionals

for installation and maintenance

Multi-family housing cont.

• Property manager

– Handles landscape

contracting

– Literate in landscape

maintenance?

– Coming soon: CEU

training on Florida-Friendly

Landscape design

• Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Statewide Pattern Book

– four zones

Landscape design

• Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Statewide Pattern Book

– Sample landscape designs

Landscape design• Florida-Friendly

Landscaping™ Statewide Pattern Book

– Suggested plants for each situation

Community ButterflyScaping

• 9 Florida-Friendly principles

Butterfly Bouquets

Dry retention

Natural areas Undeveloped areas

Roadsides

Rain gardens Pond buffers

Butterfly

gardens

Pond mats

Common

grounds

Sketch: Gail Hansen

Community ButterflyScapes

Themed community

The Monarch

Community

“Fit for Royalty”

Community ButterflyScaping:Benefits

• Marketing

• Reduced maintenance cost (possible!)

• Takes advantage of existing vegetation

• Vegetation around pond…no mow

• Connection to outdoors

Single-family housing

• FFL pattern book

• New: Establish landscaping with temporary irrigation and reuse

• Rain barrel

• Retrofit: Adopting a Florida-Friendly Landscape:

Steps for Converting a TypicalDevelopment Landscape to a Florida-Friendly Landscape

Questions?

• Kathy Malone

• kmalon@ufl.edu

• 352-273-4508