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Create Your Own Eco-Friendly Yard
One of the best ways to help the planet is to start improving the environment around your own home. Follow these tips to turn your yard into a lush and inviting habitat for you and local wildlife.
1. Go native
Focus on native plants for an eco-friendly yard. Locate the native plants growing wild in your yard, then introduce more species to complement them. Remove invasive exotic plants that may hinder the growth of natives. Consider working with a landscape architect, or contact the Florida-Friendly Yards program for assistance.
Florida Native Plant Society
Florida-Friendly Yards
Florida Plants Online
Find Florida Native Plants in your county: FL Native Nurseries
2. Choose the right plant for the right place
Pay close attention to the daily and seasonal conditions of your yard, and select plants that will thrive with minimal maintenance. |
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Choose drought-tolerant species for sunny areas and shade-loving plants under tree canopies. Check your soil—some plants will thrive in sand while others need nutrient-rich soil. Ask at local nurseries to find plants that grow best in your region.
Florida House Learning Center
Sarasota County Extension Service (Soil testing)
Sarasota County Community Gardens
3. Provide wildlife habitat
A native yard is vital wildlife habitat. Select plans with fruit, seeds and nectar-rich flowers to attract butterflies, birds, bees and other insects. Diversify your landscape with ground covers, native grasses, shrubs and trees. Leave dead trees, stumps, rotten logs and brush to provide nesting materials. Place water pans on the ground for birds, turtles, frogs and insects. Never use any toxic pesticides in your yard, and keep cats indoors to protect wildlife.
4. Conserve water
Irrigation of lawns and yards is inefficient use of our fresh water. Minimize water usage by planting drought-tolerant species and using lots of mulch. If watering is necessary, install a micro-irrigation system and plan your landscape in “watering zones,” grouping plants by their water needs.
5. Mulch, mulch, mulch
Apply mulch to throughout the year to conserve water and suppress weeds. Mulch should be four to six inches thick, as it will decompose over time and add nutrients to the soil. Collect oak leaves and slash pine needles in your yard and neighborhood to use as mulch, or get free mulch from the Sarasota County landfill. Avoid mulch made from cypress, a native tree species.
6. Add organic compost
Chemical fertilizers lead to pollution of our waterways. Organic compost is cheaper, safer and helps build nutrient-rich soil. Mulch is one type of organic fertilizer— it adds nutrients as it decomposes. Animal manure can also be used, but should be composted or "aged" before added to your garden. (Fresh manure can be added to trees and shrubs with minimal risk.) Compost should be applied once or twice a year to fruit trees, ornamental plants and vegetable gardens. Native plants only need a small amount of compost when first planted.
Free mulch and compost are available in Sarasota County:
Bee Ridge Landfill, Sarasota: 941-861-1530
Butler Park, 6205 West Price Boulevard, Northport: 941-316-1172
Central County Landfill, Sarasota: 941-861-1570
Longwood Park, 6050 Longwood Boulevard, Sarasota: 941-316-1383
Nokomis Park, 234 Nippino Trail, Nokomis: 941-486-2595
Shamrock Park, 3900 W. Shamrock Drive, Venice 941-486-2706
Florida's Compost Information Center: Compostinfo.com
7. Control pests naturally
A native landscape will attract beneficial insects to help prevent pest problems. If you have pests, try simple, natural controls. Use biodegradable soap to wash fungus, bacterial growth and aphids off of plants. Spray plants with a mixture of cayenne pepper and/or garlic in water to prevent further infestations. If you have a vegetable garden, intersperse flowering plants with vegetable plants to attract beneficial insects. Keep plants and soil healthy with compost and mulch to minimize pest outbreaks.
ECO-Tips: Natural Pest Control
Sarasota County Extension Service 941-861-9800
Beyond Pesticides
For more information, see ECO-Tips:
Safe and Simple Lawn Care
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