Tag: low maintenance

Native Plants Play Key Role in Wildlife Gardens

by Maria Quirico
August 9, 2026

Native plants are increasingly promoted as a cornerstone of wildlife-friendly gardening, but experts say gardeners do not need to limit themselves exclusively to native species to support pollinators and other wildlife. What are Native ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Lawn, Natural Resources, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research, UF/IFAS Teaching, Wildlife
Tags: Ecological Value, Florida Native Plants, Florida-Friendly Plants, Low Maintenance, Non Invasive

Florida-Friendly Landscaping™: Simple Practices, Big Impact!

by Kaylynn Hyson
June 23, 2026

Florida-Friendly Landscaping™: Simple Practices, Big Impact! FFL protects the state’s natural resources while allowing individual expression and encouraging beautiful landscapes! Developed by the University of Florida's Institute of ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes
Tags: Drought Tolerant, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Gardening, Groundcover, Low Maintenance, Native

Another turf alternative – perennial peanut

by Ralph Mitchell
March 16, 2026

Some plants have a number of uses across a broad spectrum – Bahia grass as an example where it is used both in pastures and as a landscape turf. Another crossover plant in the same vein is the turf alternative called perennial peanuts. ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Lawn
Tags: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Flowering, Groundcover, Low Maintenance, Perennial Peanut

New year’s gardening resolutions – spring into 2025 with UF/IFAS resources!

by Ralph Mitchell
December 31, 2024

The New Year is a great time to make some horticultural resolutions that will benefit any landscape. Let's look at some resources that will make your landscaping experience in Southwest Florida the best in 2025 – we can help! The overarching ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes
Tags: Edis, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Gardening, Landscape, Low Maintenance, Master Gardener Volunteers, Ornamental, Perennial

The Magic of Mulch in the Landscape

by Stephanie Means
November 21, 2023

Utilizing mulch in your yard is a cost-effective tool that is so often overlooked. It's surprising to see how many landscapes lack the benefits of mulch. (more…) READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Lawn
Tags: Conserve Water, Duval, FFL, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Landscape Design, Landscape Maintenance, Low Maintenance, Mulching, Soil Health

2023 – New year’s gardening resolutions

by Ralph Mitchell
January 8, 2023

It has been an interesting 2022 gardening year beginning with a hard freeze and finishing up with a hurricane, but 2023 is ready for cultivation and planting! Take time for some personal horticultural reflection and goal setting in the ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes
Tags: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Gardening, Groundcover, Low Maintenance, Southwest Florida

Starting over from scratch – the Florida-friendly landscaping™ way!

by Ralph Mitchell
November 10, 2022

Post-hurricane our landscapes are blank canvases awaiting renewal and reinvigoration. What better time to explore the Florida- Friendly Landscaping™ manner of gardening! Our yards are merely small models of the outside environment. ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes
Tags: Butterflies, Drought Tolerant, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Gardening, Low Maintenance, Natural Environment

Foolproof Palm Care: Areca (Butterfly) Palm

by Marguerite Beckford
October 28, 2022

The Areca palm aka butterfly palm (Dypsis lutescens) like many other palms, is notable for high wind resistance. It also makes a great privacy screen plant due to its clumping growth habit, with multiple stems arising from a central growing ... READ MORE

Category: Home Landscapes, Horticulture,
Tags: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Low Maintenance, Ornamental, Palms

Foolproof Palm Care: Bamboo Palm

by Marguerite Beckford
October 28, 2022

Bamboo palms (Chamaedorea erumpens) and many closely related species in the genus, are among the few palms that thrive in shade and low-light conditions. For this reason, they are widely used as potted indoor palms and in interiorscapes. Their ... READ MORE

Category: Home Landscapes, Horticulture, UF/IFAS Extension,
Tags: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Flowering, Gardening, Low Maintenance, Ornamental, Palms

Suds in the garden

by Ralph Mitchell
August 28, 2022

Aloe plants are very popular due to their Its adaptability to a variety of conditions. Besides the ever-familiar Aloe vera plant, there is another species known as the soap aloe or Aloe maculata. Very ornamental and a great beginner ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes
Tags: Aloe, Drought Tolerant, Flowering, Hummingbirds, Low Maintenance, Succulents

Subscribe For More Great Content