“It sort of molds new designs you work on. It gives the owner a competitive edge over other communities. Most Florida-Friendly communities incorporate “best management practice” principles within each design. As well, existing trees and native plant communities are preserved. Following these principles and techniques give each new community an established, unique feeling," he says.
Rogers says they now use more drip irrigation than projects in previous years. All irrigation designs incorporate separation of turf zones and shrub/groundcover zones, moisture meters or rain sensor technology. And he says a Florida-Friendly plant palette is standard practice as well. Oviedo Town Centre, designed by Foster Conant & Associates, is the first affordable housing apartment complex to receive Florida-Friendly certification under the State Apartment Incentive Loan program. Under such programs, projects receive points on the universal application for Florida-Friendly Landscapes™.
While Rogers found installation costs to be “a wash” when compared to a more traditional landscape design, he said savings are in the maintenance, replacement of plant material and water savings. A major principle of Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ is to put the right plant in the right place to minimize irrigation, fertilization and pesticide use. Plants that match site conditions, whether native or non-native, generally require less water and care. Rogers specified mostly native plants—larger containers but fewer in number—that matched site conditions.
Ira Locks, the developer, formerly of Atlantic Housing Partners, said he “wanted to do the right thing,” and he was interested in saving dollars on landscape maintenance on the company side with the use of fewer chemicals and fertilizers.
Saw palmetto splashes green accents throughout the landscape. Bahia grass was watered in for establishment, but as a drought tolerant turf, is now watered only during droughts.
A vegetative buffer rings the lake and filters pollutants |
An attractive vegetative buffer rings the retention pond, and the developer preserved a number of trees on the site. Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ recommends a 10-foot, no maintenance buffer around ponds.
Other lessons learned: Rogers says it’s important for civil engineers to integrate sustainable site grading practices into pre-planning. He said a lot of the topsoil gets sold but can be re-used onsite. The Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Program and other certification programs promote re-use of topsoil onsite as it pays off in the long-run to place plants in their native soils.
Rogers says it all comes down to education—convincing contractors and clients that there are important reasons to be Florida-Friendly.
Finally, Rogers says the people who maintain the landscape need to understand proper functioning of drip irrigation and other maintenance practices. Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Program recommends property managers hire landscaping professionals who have completed training in Best Management Practices for Green Industries. Afterall, since the goal of Florida-Friendly is to conserve water and keep it clean to reduce pollution, maintenance is critically important.
