Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Principle # 7:

Recycle

Landscape maintenance activities such as mowing, pruning, raking all generate yard waste that can return valuable nutrients to the soil if recycled. Try recycling grass clippings, leaves, and yard trimmings rather than throwing them in the trash. By recycling yard debris, we gain free mulch and return valuable nutrients to the soil.

Composting is a great American tradition that people are rediscovering. Turn plant and kitchen scraps into rich soil for your indoor and outdoor plants. Compost piles are very easy and inexpensive to establish, and they can produce high-quality organic fertilizer for your yard and garden. For additional information on composting, please visit: Living Green.

Florida-Friendly Landscapes: Recycle

• Recycle grass clippings by leaving them on the lawn. Mulching lawn mowers or mulching blades are not necessary. Leaving clippings on the lawn returns nitrogen to the soil and improves soil fertility.
• Group plants according to their water needs (e.g., drought-tolerant plants with low water needs apart from lawn areas).
• Determine how much grass you need for children, pets, recreation, swales, right-of-way areas, etc. Use low-maintenance ground covers, shrubs, mulch, or other porous surfaces where possible.