Interested in adding some Florida-Friendly Landscaping practices to your yard? Depending on the municipality you live in there are various incentive programs to help you reduce your water use in the landscape.
![](https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/orangeco/files/2022/04/IMG_2115-225x300.jpg)
If you are an Orange County Utilities (OCU) customer you can get a free rain barrel:
http://www.occonservewater.net/
If you are in Winter Park you can get a free compost bin:
https://events.cityofwinterpark.org/event/introduction-to-composting-online-class
City of Winter Park also offers free trees:
https://cityofwinterpark.org/news/drive-up-for-the-trees/
City of Orlando has a Free Street Tree program where they plant a 30-gallon tree in your front yard. You get to pick the tree species.
https://www.orlando.gov/Parks-the-Environment/Trees/Request-a-Free-Street-Tree
City of Orlando also offers free compost bins:
https://www.orlando.gov/Trash-Recycling/Request-a-Free-Composter
City of Orlando also offers rain barrels to their residents:
If you are an Orlando Utilities Commission (OUC) customer you can get a rebate for Florida-Friendly activities in your landscape such as installing a rain barrel or converting to low volume irrigation.
https://www.ouc.com/residential/save-energy-water-money/residential-rebates-information
![](https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/orangeco/files/2022/04/perennial-peanut-close_TS-300x225.jpg)
If you are interested in converting to an alternative lawn we have a blog about some of the different plant selections you can consider:
There is also the Flip My Florida Yard TV series that we participate in: https://www.flipmyfloridayard.com/
Check out what they are doing in Pinellas County:
https://www.pinellascounty.org/environmental/flip.htm
If you are looking for a tree removal permit contact your local municipality.
Tree Removal Permit for Orange County Florida:
Tree Removal Permit for City of Winter Park:
Tree Removal Permit for City of Orlando:
https://www.orlando.gov/Parks-the-Environment/Trees/Apply-for-a-Tree-Removal-or-Encroachment-Permit
If you need someone to come to your site to consult on a tree please find an ISA Certified Arborist:
I hope this provides you with some helpful information. Want to learn more? Check out horticulture classes offered by UF/IFAS Extension Orange County at www.ocextension.eventbrite.com. Read about Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ https://ffl.ifas.ufl.edu/. Follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/GardenFlorida/, Instagram https://www.instagram.com/oc_extension/ and visit our website https://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/orange/home-lawns-landscapes-and-gardens/florida-friendly-landscaping/.