Landscape Design, Maintenance, and Care

A well planned landscape is one that should only have to be done once, saving the resident time and money in the long run.  So before you start buying plants, decide on a plan and prepare.

A good plan is one that works with what you have, and doesn’t try to change the given conditions.  Assess factors such as soil drainage and pH, the amount of sunlight or shade a given area receives, if there will be irrigation or not, wet areas, etc.  From there you will have a good starting point to choose species appropriate to those conditions.

Consider the scale of your landscape in relation to the scale of your house, a desired color scheme if any, the amount of area you wish to landscape, and how you will irrigate (to establish plants) and maintain them in the long run.

The potential for fire should be kept in mind. Refer to Landscaping in Florida with Fire in Mind for Univesity of Florida guidelines on reducing the threat of damage from wildfires.

Finally the following websites have information on landscape design and plant selection.  These sites will help you choose plants that will fit together and meet your specific needs. In addition to these websites, many excellent books are also available.  

1. University of Florida IFAS–
1. Basic Principals of Landscape Design
2. Urban Design / Tree Canopy
2. Florida Gulf Coast University – Florida Landscape
3. Florida Native Plant Society – www.fnps.org
• Designing the Natural Garden
4. Florida Friendly Landscaping
5. Florida Division of Forestry – Tree Planting; Success or Failure Depends on You.

Landscape Establishment

Once your design is done, your site is ready, and you’ve chosen high quality plants, installation can begin.  There are some simple yet vital steps to follow to ensure that your plants will establish, grow and be healthy in their new home.  These include:

1. Do not let your plants dry out in their containers. Keep them watered until planting time.
2. Plants should be installed in the ground at the same level they are in the pot. In other words, don’t bury the plant’s stem and don’t leave the root ball higher than the existing ground.
3. Holes should be dug as deep as the root ball but twice as wide.
4. Plants that are root bound should have their roots cut or massaged apart.
5. Water in as you plant.  Water is key to plant establishment.
6. Water regularly after you plant.  Herbaceous plants are faster to establish and may only need to be watered every few days for a few weeks.  Woody plants will require more frequent irrigation for a longer time.  Plants will establish faster with regular watering, and once established, will require little if any supplemental irrigation.
7. Remove any tags from the plants. As plants grow, the tags can injure the plant.
8. Only stake trees if you have too.  Use staking materials that will not cut into the trunk or the branches, and remove stakes after one year or less.
9. Mulch beds to suppress weeds and retain moisture.  Do not mulch on top of or immediately next to the stem/trunk of the plant. This can cause the stem or trunk to rot as the mulch breaks down.
10. If you use irrigation, use micro-irrigation and water as little as possible. Over-watering can cause plants to rot and weeds to grow out of control!
11. See University of Florida’s Woody Ornamental’s site for more information.

Landscape Maintenance

All landscapes require regular maintenance to stay healthy and look attractive. This includes landscapes that use non-native ornamental plants as well as native landscapes. Maintenance activities include:

1. Weeding
2. Pruning
3. Trimming
4. Deadheading spent flowers
5. Treating pests
6. Replenishing mulch
7. Watering during times of extreme drought

For further information, you can also consult these websites:

• South Florida Water Management District - Turf and Landscape Best Management Practices – Pruning, Selecting Quality Plants, Watering, Pesticides
• St. Johns River Water Management District

1. Water Conservation

• University of Florida IFAS

• Bedding plant selection, establishment, maintenance
• Community Tree Care
• Pruning Landscape Trees and Shrubs
• Selecting and Planting Trees and Shrubs
• Home Irrigation and Landscape Combinations for Water Conservation in Florida
• Landscape Design for Water Conservation

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