SOUTH WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT

Florida-Friendly Landscaping: How to Save Water through Water-Smart Planting

The South Florida Water Did you know that half of all potable (drinking) 5. Attract Wildlife. Friendly visitors, like Manage ment District water in South Florida is used for outdoor butterflies and beneficial insects, will enjoy is a regional, governmental irrigation? You can cut outdoor water use your landscape if you provide food, water and agency that oversees the substantially by installing water-conserving cover. vines, and to create water resources in the and applying Florida-friendly landscaping cover, nesting areas and food. Protect your southern half of the state. principles in your outdoor spaces. visitors by limiting pesticide use or by It is the oldest and largest spot-treating only the areas that need attention. of the state’s five water Florida-friendly landscaping conserves water management districts. and protects the environment through the use 6. Manage Yard Pests Responsibly. of native and drought-tolerant landscaping, When it comes to pest management, nature Our Mission is to manage with proper maintenance and water-wise takes care of itself! Misused pesticides in your and protect water resources irrigation. Follow the nine principles of yard can run off into waterways and harm of the region by balancing Florida-friendly landscaping, and you’ll beneficial insects. Learn to identify beneficial and improving water quality, be well on your way to saving water insects and let them do the work for you. If flood control, natural and enjoying your beautiful Florida yard! pesticides are needed, choose the least-toxic systems and water supply. pesticides, such as horticultural oils, insecticidal 1. Right Plant, Right Place. Almost any soaps and Bacillus thuringiensis (BT). Remember, plant will survive in your landscape if you low levels of pests will do minimal damage, plant it in the right place. You can drastically so be tolerant! reduce the need for water, fertilizer, pesticides and pruning if you choose and group plants 7. Recycle. Recycling your yard waste back according to their water and sunlight needs, onto your lawn and landscape can improve as well as the type of soil, sunlight exposure the fertility and water-holding ability of the and water conditions of your planting sites. soil and help aerate soil that has become Be sure to also remove invasive exotic plants compacted. There’s no need to bag or rake that may steal water and nutrients from your lawn clippings; leave them on the lawn to Florida-friendly plants. recycle nitrogen. Use fallen and pine needles as mulch under trees and shrubs. 2. Water Efficiently. Efficient watering will not only help you save money and conserve 8. Reduce Stormwater Runoff. water, it can also create a healthier landscape. Stormwater runoff can carry pollutants, Seagrape Avoid overwatering, use micro-irrigation, and pesticides and excess fertilizers into bays, water your lawn and plants only when you know rivers and lakes. Remember that what goes they need it or when they show signs of stress. in your storm drain can find its way into 3. Fertilize Appropriately. Plants, animals our water sources. Pick up pet waste to and people depend on clean water for survival. help reduce bacterial and nutrient pollution. When too much fertilizer is applied to landscapes, Remove trash from street gutters before it seeps past the root zone of the grass, plants it gets washed into storm drains. And use or trees and into the aquifer or runs off into swales (low areas) to hold and filter water. water bodies. Avoid weed-and-seed products, 9. Protect the Waterfront. Bays and use slow-release fertilizers, and fertilize lawns, waterways contribute to the quality of life in trees and plants only to maintain health. Florida. Waterfront owners can help protect Fertilizer will not help poor growth caused these fragile natural treasures by removing by poor plant placement, disease or pests. invasive aquatic plants and establishing a 4. Mulch. Keeping 2 to 3 inches of mulch 10-30 foot “no fertilizer, no pesticide” zone on your plant beds helps control weeds, along their shoreline. Never prune mangroves retain soil moisture and reduce erosion and or remove any vegetation without first seeking stormwater runoff. Cut down on mowing by proper permits and guidelines. replacing grass with mulch in areas that are shaded or difficult to mow. FLORIDA-FRIENDLY LANDSCAPING Plants for Your Palms and Cycads Florida-Friendly Landscape Buccaneer palm (Pseudophoenix sargentii) Florida-friendly landscaping is vibrant, alive and colorful. Cabbage palm ( palmetto) Many lush and tropical-looking plants are among the list of Dwarf palmetto () native or drought-tolerant plants appropriate for South Florida’s Florida thatch palm (Thrinax radiata) unique climate, with some listed here. They will add to the Florida royal palm (Roystonea elata) beauty of your landscape while conserving water. Consult Needle palm ( ) your nursery professional for information on which of these Paurotis/Everglades palm plants are appropriate for your region. (Acoelorrhaphe wrightii) Buccaneer Palm Queen sago (Cycas circinalis) Trees Saw palmetto (Serenoa repens) Bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) Accent Grasses, Black ironwood (Krugiodendron ferreum) Buttonwood (Conocarpus erectus) Vines and Groundcovers Dahoon holly (Ilex cassine) Blue Jacquemontia (Jacquemontia pentanthos) Geiger (Cordia sebestena) Bougainvillea (Bouganvillea spectabilis) Gumbo Limbo (Bursera simaruba) Coral honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens) Live oak (Quercus virginiana) Corky-stemmed passion- (Passiflora suberosa) Paradise tree (Simarouba glauca) Crossvine (Bignonia capreolata) Pigeon plum (Coccoloba diversifolia) Sweetbay magnolia Passion-flower (Passiflora incarnata) Pond apple (Annona glabra) Mondo grass (Ophiopogon japonicus) Red bay (Persea borbonia) Purple love grass (Eragrostis spectabilis) Red maple (Acer rubrum) Railroad vine (Ipomoea pes-caprae) Seagrape (Coccoloba uvifera) Trailing Lantana (Lantana montevidensis) Simpson’s stopper (Myricanthes fragrans) Trumpet vine (Campsis radicans) Slash pine (Pinus elliottii) Yellow Jessamine (Gelsemium sempervirens) Southern magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora) Southern red cedar (Juniperus silicicola) Annuals/Perennials/Wildflowers Sweetbay magnolia () Sycamore (Platanus occidentalis) Beach sunflower (Helianthus debilis) Tulip tree (Liriodendron tulipifera) Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) Blanket flower (Gaillardia pulchella) Shrubs Cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis) Green eyes () Bay Cedar (Suriana maritima) Purple coneflower Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) (Echinacea purpurea) Coral bean (Erythrina herbacea) Rain lily (Zephyranthes atamasco) Firebush (Hamelia patens) verbena (Lantana depressa) Florida privet (Forestiera segregata) Sea oxeye daisy Florida gamagrass (Tripsacum floridanum) (Borrichia frutescens) Inkberry (Scaevola plumieri) Stokes (Stokesia laevis) Jamaican caper (Capparis cyanophallophora) Tropical red sage (Salvia coccinea) Blanket flower Marlberry (Ardisia escallonioides) Tickseed (Coreopsis leavenworthii) Swamp mallow (Hibiscus coccineus) Virginia Iris (Iris virginica) Walter’s viburnum (Viburnum obovatum) Wax myrtle (Myrica cerifera) White indigo berry (Randia aculeata) Florida-friendly landscaping saves time, money, water Wild coffee (Psychotria nervosa) and our environment! For more information, go to Wild olive (Osmanthus americanus) www.savewaterfl.com. Yellow anise (Illicium parviflorum) The University of Florida established these nine Florida-friendly landscaping principles to guide Florida Yards & Neighborhoods programs offered through county Extension Service offices.

SERVICE CENTERS Martin/St. Lucie 772-223-2600 or 800-250-4100 South Florida Water Management District Big Cypress Basin/Naples Miami-Dade 3301 Gun Club Road 239-263-7615 305-377-7274 or 800-250-4300 West Palm Beach, Florida 33406 Broward Okeechobee 561-686-8800 • 800-432-2045 954-713-3200 863-462-5260 or 800-250-4200 www.sfwmd.gov Florida Keys Orlando JR8/06/09 305-453-1275 407-858-6100 or 800-250-4250 MAILING ADDRESS: P.O. Box 24680 Lower West Coast Palm Beach County West Palm Beach, FL 33416-4680 239-338-2929 or 800-248-1201 561-682-6000 or 800-432-2045