UF/IFAS Program · FL Statute 373.185

Florida-Friendly Landscaping

Nine research-backed principles that help Florida homeowners create beautiful, low-maintenance landscapes that conserve water, protect natural resources, and work with Florida's unique climate — not against it.

50% of Florida's drinking water used on landscapes — mostly wasted
9 science-based principles in the FFL program
67 Florida counties covered by FFL extension programs
30% average water savings with FFL practices

What Is Florida-Friendly Landscaping?

Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ (FFL) is a science-based program developed by the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS). It teaches homeowners, landscapers, and communities how to design and maintain landscapes that are beautiful, practical, and kind to Florida's environment.

The program is rooted in nine core principles, each backed by decades of university research. Together they guide how you choose plants, manage water, handle pests, and recycle yard materials — turning your landscape into something that gives back to the ecosystem instead of draining it.

Protected by Florida law: Florida Statute 373.185 prohibits homeowner associations from banning Florida-Friendly Landscaping practices. If your HOA is pushing back on your native garden or reduced-water landscape, you have legal protection. Your FFL landscape cannot be fined or removed by an HOA.

For homeowners in Spring Hill and Hernando County, FFL is especially relevant. We sit in the Southern Water Use Caution Area (SWUCA) — a designated zone where water conservation is both encouraged and regulated. FFL practices directly support SWUCA goals and can meaningfully reduce your water bill while helping restore the Floridan Aquifer that we all depend on.

The 9 Florida-Friendly Landscaping Principles

These aren't arbitrary rules — they're an interconnected system. Implement two or three and you'll see results. Implement all nine and you've built something genuinely sustainable that practically takes care of itself.

Principle 1

Right Plant, Right Place

Choose plants suited to your specific soil, light, and moisture conditions. Native plants thrive with minimal intervention because they evolved here. Putting a moisture-loving plant in a dry spot guarantees failure — and wastes resources fighting it.

Principle 2

Water Efficiently

Water deeply and infrequently to encourage deep root growth. Use rain sensors, adjust your irrigation schedule seasonally, and water before 10 a.m. to reduce evaporation. Florida law requires rain sensor shutoff devices on all automatic irrigation systems.

Principle 3

Fertilize Appropriately

Over-fertilizing is one of the leading causes of algal blooms in Florida's waterways. Test your soil before fertilizing. Apply only what's needed, only when plants are actively growing, and never before heavy rain events when runoff carries nutrients directly into waterways.

Principle 4

Mulch

A 2–3 inch layer of mulch retains soil moisture, moderates temperature, prevents erosion, and enriches soil as it breaks down. Keep mulch 2–3 inches away from plant stems and tree trunks to prevent rot. Pine bark and pine straw are excellent Florida choices.

Principle 5

Attract Wildlife

Plant for pollinators, birds, and beneficial insects. Native plants support native wildlife at every level of the food chain. A landscape with diverse native plantings is a living ecosystem, not just a pretty yard. This is the fun one — watch it come alive.

Principle 6

Manage Yard Pests Responsibly

Reach for the pesticide can last, not first. Identify what's actually eating your plants — it may be beneficial insect larvae. Encourage natural predators. When pesticides are necessary, use targeted, least-toxic options and follow label directions precisely.

Principle 7

Recycle Yard Waste

Grass clippings, leaves, and plant trimmings are not trash — they're free fertilizer and mulch. Leave grass clippings on the lawn after mowing. Compost plant material. Return nutrients to the soil instead of sending them to the landfill.

Principle 8

Reduce Stormwater Runoff

Florida's heavy rain events can carry fertilizers, pesticides, and sediment directly into waterways when landscapes are paved or compacted. Use rain gardens, swales, permeable surfaces, and deep-rooted native plants to slow and absorb runoff on your property.

Principle 9

Protect the Waterfront

If you live on a lake, river, or pond, a 10-foot buffer of native shoreline plants is one of the most powerful things you can do for water quality. Shoreline plants filter runoff, prevent erosion, and provide critical habitat for fish and wildlife.

Zone 9a Plants for Spring Hill & Hernando County

USDA Hardiness Zone 9a covers most of Hernando County, including Spring Hill. Our average annual minimum temperature ranges from 20–25°F, though most winters rarely dip below freezing more than a few nights. What that means practically: we can grow a wide range of Florida natives, and most of our challenges come from heat and drought, not cold.

Native Trees (canopy & understory)

Live Oak Quercus virginiana Cabbage Palm Sabal palmetto Slash Pine Pinus elliottii Sweetbay Magnolia Magnolia virginiana Red Maple Acer rubrum Dahoon Holly Ilex cassine Longleaf Pine Pinus palustris

Native Shrubs

Firebush Hamelia patens Wild Coffee Psychotria nervosa Beautyberry Callicarpa americana Coontie Zamia pumila Saw Palmetto Serenoa repens Walter's Viburnum Viburnum obovatum Muhly Grass Muhlenbergia capillaris

Native Groundcovers & Wildflowers

Gopher Apple Licania michauxii Sunshine Mimosa Mimosa strigillosa Blanket Flower Gaillardia pulchella Tickseed Coreopsis spp. Beggarticks Bidens alba Spiderwort Tradescantia ohiensis Lyreleaf Sage Salvia lyrata

Native Vines

Coral Honeysuckle Lonicera sempervirens Purple Passionflower Passiflora incarnata Crossvine Bignonia capreolata

SWUCA note: Hernando County sits within the Southern Water Use Caution Area. Irrigation restrictions apply — typically two days per week for most residential properties. A landscape planted with Zone 9a natives requires 30–50% less irrigation than a traditional St. Augustine lawn once established. That's not just good for the environment; it's good for your water bill too.

Getting Started: A Practical Path Forward

The good news: you don't have to rip out your entire yard this weekend. Florida-Friendly Landscaping works best as a gradual transition — one bed at a time, one principle at a time. Here's a realistic sequence that builds momentum without overwhelming you.

  1. Audit your irrigation system. Walk your yard while it's running. Fix broken heads, adjust misdirected spray, and install a rain sensor if you don't have one. This single step often cuts outdoor water use by 15–25%.
  2. Stop bagging your leaves. Let them break down as mulch under trees and shrubs. Fallen leaves feed soil organisms, suppress weeds, and retain moisture. Leaf blowing and bagging are among the most wasteful landscape activities in Florida.
  3. Replace one turf area with native groundcover. Pick a spot that's hard to mow, shady, or chronically dry. Sunshine mimosa, gopher apple, or native sedges are excellent low-maintenance options that crowd out weeds over time.
  4. Add one native pollinator plant. Firebush, blanket flower, or tickseed. Put it somewhere you'll see it regularly. Watch what visits. This is how the FFL philosophy clicks — you see results in real time.
  5. Get a soil test. UF/IFAS extension offers low-cost soil testing through your county extension office. Hernando County Extension is in Brooksville. Know what you actually have before you fertilize anything.
  6. Connect with Hernando County Extension. Free workshops, plant sales, and Master Gardener consultations are available year-round. These folks know your specific soil, pests, and conditions — they're a genuinely underused local resource.

Resources & Further Reading

The UF/IFAS Florida-Friendly Landscaping program produces some of the best free gardening resources available anywhere. These are worth bookmarking.

  • Florida-Friendly Landscaping Handbook — the full guide, free PDF download from UF/IFAS Extension
  • FFL Plant Guide — regional plant lists organized by zone, soil type, and site condition
  • Hernando County Extension Office — local workshops, Master Gardener program, soil testing (6754 Cortez Blvd, Brooksville)
  • Florida Wildflower Foundation — flawildflowers.org — native plant profiles and seed sources
  • Florida Native Plant Society (FNPS) — native plant sales, local chapter events, plant ID help
  • SWFWMD WaterMatters.org — irrigation restrictions, rebate programs, and water-saving resources for Hernando County residents

Want to go deeper? The Grow Native Florida community is a great place to ask questions, share photos, and learn from fellow gardeners across Hernando County. Join us on Facebook →