Enhancing Mature Landscapes

Many homeowners have mature, established landscapes that require updates and changes. Mature landscapes present unique opportunities and challenges for homeowners as maintenance needs shift. Plants can outgrow their space, homeowners make alterations to property and landscapes, and plant health can decline over time.

Ask yourself the following questions to determine if your landscape needs an update:

1. Do you have a hedge that you are constantly pruning? It may be time to remove it and select a shrub that will not grow as large.

2. Do you have plants that are severely affected by drought conditions? If you have plants that really struggle during periods of drought, consider finding a more drought-tolerant alternative.

3. Do you have plants that just don’t look good? It may be that they are in the wrong place or that they are past their prime. It’s okay to replace struggling plants if you aren’t happy with their appearance!

Landscaping updates and maintenance can be easy if you have a plan. Follow these tips to before making modifications to your landscape.

1. RETAIN VS. REMOVE: CREATE A PLAN

How do you determine what plants to keep and which ones to remove? Plants that are high maintenance, planted in the wrong place, susceptible to pests, or not to your liking might be a reason to remove. Before removing plants, create a plan. Analyze your landscape and figure out what goes and what stays. Working with a plan will help you when you are ready to make changes to your landscape. Remember to retain and protect native plant material and remove plants listed as invasive on the UF/IFAS Assessment of Non-Native Plants in Florida’s Natural Areas: assessment.ifas.ufl.edu.

2. TIME TO REPLANT: RIGHT PLANT, RIGHT PLACE

When you finally decide to make that first trip to the nursery (with your plan in hand), you should have some idea of what you are going to purchase. Having a plan will help you pick out that shrub, perennial, or tree that will work with the site conditions in your yard. Ensuring that you find the right plant for the right place in your yard is critical to a low-maintenance and sustainable landscape. Is the plant going to be in a sunny or shady location? Is the soil sandy or does it retain water? Are there structural limitations you must take into consideration (such as power lines or roof overhangs)? Your plan should address all of these obstacles before your trip to the nursery, making shopping and selection a lot easier.

It is also important to know the plant’s maintenance requirements prior to purchase. Drought tolerance, low maintenance, and minimal fertilizer and pesticide needs are some things you may want to take into consideration. Just how much time and money do you want to spend on that plant? Utilize UF/ IFAS Extension landscaping and gardening resources to help in selection:

Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Plant Guide: ffl.ifas.ufl.edu/resources/apps/plant-guide

Gardening Solutions: gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu

3. ESTABLISHED TREES AND SHRUBS

Working with a mature, established landscape is great because the framework is already there. If you are a new homeowner and aren’t sure where to start, live with your landscape for a few months and then you will realize the changes you want to make.

Managing Tree Canopies Properly: Mature trees provide essential benefits, including cooling shade and erosion control. However, they require periodic evaluation for structural integrity and proper pruning is critical. Certified arborists can assess tree health and recommend necessary interventions.

Lawn and Groundcover Adaptations: As landscapes mature, changes in sun exposure due to tree growth can affect lawn health. Shaded areas may experience thinning grass, necessitating a transition to shade-tolerant groundcovers and plants.

Water Conservation Strategies: Mature landscapes require less irrigation than newly established plantings, but efficient water management remains critical. Adjust irrigation schedules based on seasonal rainfall and plant needs, transition planting beds to microirrigation, and cap or cut use to zones that no longer need regular irrigation.

Landscaping a mature, established landscape requires a balance between preservation and adaptation. By following UF/IFAS Extension recommendations, homeowners can maintain healthy, sustainable, and visually appealing outdoor spaces. Regular assessments, proper pruning, and water conservation ensure that mature landscapes continue to thrive for years to come.

For more information, contact UF/IFAS Extension Polk County at (863) 519-1041 or visit us online at sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/polk. The Plant Clinic is open Monday-Friday, 9:00 am-4:00 pm to answer your gardening and landscaping questions. Visit us in person, give us a call, or email us at polkmg@ifas.ufl.edu.

Stay up to date with our monthly gardening and landscaping newsletter substack.com/@ yourcentralfloridayard and the podcast, “Your Central Florida Yard” (on Apple and Spotify).

The Florida Master Gardener Program is a volunteerdriven program that benefits UF/IFAS Extension and the citizens of Florida. The program extends the vision of the University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, all the while protecting and sustaining natural resources and environmental systems, enhancing the development of human resources, and improving the quality of human life through the development of knowledge in agricultural, human and natural resources and making that knowledge accessible.

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