A yard review is your first step in maintaining all the things that attracted you to Florida in the first place. While gardens are a source of comfort and inspiration to many, they can also be a stressful, confusing, expensive place if you are unfamiliar with what has already been planted and what might work as well, if not better, that fits your aesthetic. It is especially confusing for new Florida residents for whom the climate is very different from where they were.
Is this you?
Having just moved to Florida, you’ve unpacked most of your stuff into the new home. It is not perfect, but it will do for now. You are itching to get outside to work on the yard. After all, you have heard that everything grows here and you can’t wait to grow the garden of your dreams.
But, you have questions:
- What does grow here?
- How much is an opinion going to cost?
- Who do I trust to tell me what is [reasonably] easy to maintain?
- How do I care for this… grass?!
- How often do I need to irrigate and fertilize?
All valid questions and ones you should ask alongside how much sun does this yard get? And how many areas are wet/windy/shady/overgrown/thriving/failing/too close to the house…and more.
What if there is a set of principles already established for Florida gardeners to follow?
What if there are a group of people who will come and offer an evaluation with a written report, FREE OF CHARGE?
Experienced, personable, reliable, knowledgeable people whose information is research-based from a recognized reputable institution…GREAT NEWS! These people exist!
They’re called “Yarders”, and they’re a subset of Master Gardener Volunteers. Trained and certified by the University of Florida, with ongoing continuing education annual requirements, these folks volunteer to share their knowledge to help residents, local governing bodies, and landscapers to follow the 9 Principles of Florida-Friendly Landscaping™
While there are many benefits to requesting a yard review, here are the top three.
Benefits of a Yard Review:
- Free. There is no charge for a yard review, though there are rules and an official process. This is not some “helpful” person wandering around your yard telling you what you ought to be doing. That’s your neighbor. The “Yarders” arrive in teams of 3-5. There is a team leader with a group of fellow Master Gardener Volunteers to review, research and make recommendations together. They have a formal procedure they follow; they do not enter your house; they strive for the utmost in professionalism. They do not create landscape design plans or offer physical labor and installation of landscapes.
- Unbiased, research-based information. The University of Florida trains Master Gardeners. They do not recommend specific product brands or businesses, nor do they offer an opinion on a service you are currently receiving.
- Protect and preserve our waters. Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Principles are specifically defined to have everyone on the same page to best protect and preserve our precious water supply including Florida’s aquifers, rivers and shores.
A yard review follows the same process for every property:
- If you are a Duval County Resident, please email Stephanie Means, Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Program Assistant, to request an appointment. If you’re located elsewhere, find your local Extension Office on this list and ask if they offer yard reviews in your county.
- The team leader makes a preliminary phone call to you once an appointment is scheduled.
- On the day, the team will arrive 15 minutes prior to your appointment. They gather at the front of your property. Remember, they do not come into your home.
- They will walk the yard, evaluating it based on a statewide standardized checklist of Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ practices and confer on recommendations. This can take around an hour.
- The team lead will then check back in with you and invite you to hear the results.
- You and your team discuss how your yard aligns with the 9 Principles and suggest potential actions to enhance it further.
- At this point, you, (as homeowner) may ask site-specific questions; the team will do their best to offer options for consideration. It will always be suggestions, never instructions.
- A letter will arrive within a few weeks with a full report.
- We always recommend taking soil samples. It’s most useful to have results back prior to the review. Click here for more information about taking a sample and submitting it for testing.
If you’re a Duval County resident and would like to have Master Gardener Volunteer team come and review your yard, please email Stephanie Means or call the office (904)255-7450. If you’re located elsewhere, find your local Extension Office on this list and ask if they offer yard reviews in your county.
Florida-Friendly Landscapes are attractive, low-maintenance landscapes that protect our natural resources by conserving water, reducing pollution and waste, creating wildlife habitat and preventing soil erosion. Implementing FFL practices saves you time, money and energy.
This blog post was updated and adapted from the original 2022 blog post: 3 Reasons to book a Florida Friendly Landscape Review Stat