Florida faces many challenges in protecting our valuable and often fragile natural environment. These challenges include the loss of natural habitats and the growing stress on both the quality and quantity of our water resources. It can sometimes feel overwhelming as if individual actions cannot make a meaningful difference. However, the good news is that we can have a positive environmental impact—right in our own yards!
The Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ program, developed by the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS), provides easy-to-follow guidelines that empower individuals to contribute to environmental conservation through sustainable gardening and landscaping practices. As you plan your New Year’s Resolutions, here are some ideas for the Florida-Friendly gardener to consider:
1. CONSERVE & PROTECT OUR WATER
Resolution: I resolve this year to conserve water and irrigate responsibly.
• Monitor your automatic sprinkler system, install a functioning rain-shut off device (required by law), and ensure your timeclock is functioning properly.
• Regularly inspect sprinkler heads and repair broken heads or pipes to avoid wasting water.
• Learn about proper irrigation techniques to ensure your landscape gets the right amount of water without runoff or overuse. Efficient water use reduces stress on Florida’s waterways and helps protect this critical natural resource. And remember, overwatering is harmful to plants and can cause pest and disease issues that could otherwise be avoided.
2. MANAGE PESTS RESPONSIBLY
Resolution: I resolve to adopt Integrated Pest Management (IPM) techniques in my yard.
• Educate yourself on how improper practices—such as overwatering and over-fertilizing—can encourage pests and diseases.
• Use the toolbox approach to pest management. Can the pest be removed by hand or is there a beneficial insect that could be used for control? Use targeted treatments only when necessary and always follow the label instructions for safe and effective application.
• When in doubt, contact your local UF/IFAS Extension Plant Clinic! The staff can assist you with proper pest identification as well as tools for control and management. By managing pests wisely, you will create a safer, healthier landscape for both people and wildlife.
3. RECYCLE YARD WASTE
Resolution: I resolve to recycle natural yard waste to benefit my landscape and the environment.
• Leave grass clippings on the lawn where they decompose and naturally return nutrients to the soil.
• Reuse fallen leaves and pine straw as organic mulch in garden beds.
• Start a compost pile to recycle plant-based kitchen and yard waste—it’s easy, and your plants will thrive from the nutrient-rich compost. Recycling yard waste reduces landfill contributions and enhances your soil’s health for free! What’s not to love about that?
4. REDUCE POLLUTION AND PREVENT RUNOFF
Resolution: I resolve to protect our waterways by managing yard waste and fertilizers responsibly.
• Never blow grass clippings or leaves into streets, storm drains, or waterways where they can cause pollution.
• Follow UF/IFAS recommendations for appropriate fertilizer use, including application timing and rates.
• Consider planting a buffer zone of Florida-Friendly plants between your lawn and the street to filter pollutants before they leave your property. Taking these steps prevents nutrients and chemicals from entering Florida’s lakes, rivers, and coastal waters, protecting aquatic ecosystems. Remember, your yard is connected to our water and is the first line of defense against preventing pollutants from entering our waterways.
5. INCREASE BIODIVERSITY FOR AN ATTRACTIVE LANDSCAPE
Resolution: I resolve to diversify my landscape with native and Florida-Friendly plants to support wildlife.
• Consider replacing underutilized and/or underperforming areas of turfgrass with plant beds.
• Add native or Florida-Friendly trees, shrubs, ornamental grasses, and perennials to attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators.
• Focus on creating plant groupings that provide habitat, shade, and seasonal interest for both wildlife and people. By adding biodiversity, you can create a thriving, lowmaintenance landscape that enhances your home’s beauty and supports Florida’s ecosystems.
6. PROTECT THE WATERFRONT
Resolution: I resolve to protect the water quality of lakes, ponds, or other bodies of water near my property.
• Create a buffer zone of native or Florida-Friendly plants along shorelines to prevent pollutants from entering the water. This “low maintenance zone” should be at least ten feet from the water’s edge and your landscape.
• Avoid mowing directly to the water’s edge, which can destabilize the soil and encourage erosion.
• Use slow-release fertilizers and keep them away from shorelines. These actions are critical in maintaining clean water and protecting aquatic life in Florida’s freshwater and coastal environments. Even if you don’t live on the water, you do live in a watershed. A watershed is an area that drains to the nearest body of water. We are all connected to Florida’s water! Start this year off right by making your landscape part of the solution—for a greener, more sustainable Florida!
EVERY ACTION COUNTS
These resolutions represent simple, manageable ways to protect Florida’s natural resources while creating a beautiful, sustainable landscape. By implementing just a few of these Florida-Friendly Landscaping practices, you can make a significant difference. As the saying goes, every little bit helps!
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 through Friday, 9 am to 4 pm to answer your gardening and landscaping questions. If you are not in Polk County, Contact your local UF/IFAS Extension Master Gardener Volunteer Plant Clinic.
To learn more about gardening and landscaping in central Florida, listen to the Your Central Florida Yard podcast. You can find the podcast wherever you listen or find out more on our Substack: substack.com/@yourcentralfloridayard.
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Anne Yasalonis is the Residential Horticulture Extension Agent for UF/IFAS Extension Polk County. Please contact her at anneanne@ufl.edu.
