Benefits of a Florida-Friendly Local Government
The Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ program was established to protect Florida’s waters and other natural resources. Communities can also benefit financially, aesthetically, and through overall community wellbeing. Florida-Friendly Landscapes are designed to incorporate plants that will have the most success with minimal maintenance once established. State-of-the-art irrigation equipment is used, and both in-house and contracted maintenance staff are required to follow Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ principles. As a result, the community can cut costs on maintenance, improve water quality, and have a healthier landscape to enjoy.
Aesthetics
The principles for designing and maintaining a Florida-Friendly landscape can be used to fit the aesthetics of any community. Through proper plant selection and placement, communities can design Florida-Friendly landscapes that have a natural feel to them, ones that have a more manicured look, or anywhere in between. Landscapes can be designed to match the look and functionality desired by a community.
Community Wellbeing
People are naturally drawn to green spaces. Utilizing Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ in a community will increase the health of the landscape. This in turn has the potential to improve community morale and increase citizens' time spent outdoors, which has been proven to have positive impacts on mental and physical health.
Cost Savings
Implementing Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ practices in your community can be financially beneficial. The first principle of the program is Right Plant, Right Place. This simple concept can go a long way. When a landscape is designed using plants that are naturally suited to local conditions (e.g., shade, rainfall, soil type), it will require less maintenance once established. This can result in reduced expenses on staff time, irrigation, and supply purchases such as fertilizer and pesticides. Additional Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ practices such as irrigating efficiently, fertilizing appropriately, and using mulch can add to the cost savings.