Florida-Friendly Landscaping: The Smart Way to Grow

Landscaping the Florida-Friendly way means using low maintenance plants and environmentally sustainable practices. Learn how you can have a beautiful landscape that could save you time, energy and money while protecting our future. Find out more from your county’s FYN program or from this website and the FloridaYards.org companion website of the FDEP Springs Initiative.

Mission Statement

The mission of the Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Program is to educate Floridians about science-based, environmentally friendly landscaping practices and to encourage them to conserve and protect our water resources by applying Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Principles in their landscapes.

Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Program

Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Program, a University of Florida Extension program, operates under the Environmental Horticulture Department and works closely with the Master Gardener Program, the Center for Landscape Conservation and Ecology, and the Program for Resource Efficient Communities. 

Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Program has three program areas; Florida Yards and Neighborhoods Home Owner Program, Florida Yards and Neighborhoods Builder and Developer Program and Green Industries Best Management Practices Program.  

Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Program  partners with national, state and local agencies to teach Florida-Friendly Landscaping. Join a growing group of Florida homeowners, landscaping professionals and builders and developers who are helping to conserve and protect our water, keep it clean and protect our rich native plant and wildlife resources.

9 Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Principles

The Florida Yards and Neighborhoods Program is designed to educate homeowners and other community members about the techniques and benefits of Florida-Friendly Landscaping with the help of nine key principles.

Click here to view the new e-Learning Articulate Flash Module on these nine principles.

1. Right Plant, Right Place (933KB pdf)

2. Water Efficiently (688KB pdf)

3. Fertilize Appropriately (965KB pdf)

4. Mulch (515KB pdf)

5. Attract Wildlife (401KB pdf)

6. Manage Yard Pests Responsibly (1.04MB pdf)

7. Recycle (1.12MB pdf)

8. Reduce Storm Water Runoff (586KB pdf)

9. Protect the Waterfront (672KB pdf)

This page was last updated on 1/15/10.