Smart Yards

And that’s a mistake, say local pros.

“Houses have got to look just as good on the outside as on the inside,” says Matt Gilmore, owner of J&W Landscaping in Winter Park. “Think of it as an investment that increases your property value.”

And don’t worry—you can boost your curb appeal without breaking the bank.

“A lot of times, you can just work with what you already have,” Gilmore says. “Trim the trees. If the grass isn’t looking well, it might have too much shade. If you trim the trees, it’s going to help the grass grow.”

But more and more, homeowners are eschewing lush carpets of turf and embracing low-maintenance native plants and wildlife habitats.

It’s not that the love affair with verdant grass, lush foliage and colorful blooms has ended. It’s just that today’s homeowners have largely bought into the concept of using fewer chemicals and less water while creating beautiful yards that work with nature instead of against it.

An eco-friendly, minimum-fuss landscape still can be eye-catching—but it costs a lot less money and time to maintain.

Water Conservation
“Water-wise principles are coming for everyone,” says landscape architect Scott Redmon of Redmon Design Company in Maitland. “Green principles are coming. Everything is led by sustainability now.”

Installing an eco-friendly landscape is the most important step homeowners can make concerning water conservation, says Greg Hardwick of Hardwick General Contracting in Maitland.

“With the wrong landscape plants, you use tremendous amounts of water—a lot more than you should be using,” Hardwick says. “Stay away from water guzzlers. Look for Florida-friendly native, adaptive or less-thirsty, drought-tolerant plants.”

You don’t necessarily have to pick plants that are native to Florida, Hardwick notes. There are an array of plants from far-flung locales that are equally well adapted to sub-tropical environments.

Florida Water Star (www.floridawaterstar.com), a program run by the St. Johns River Water Management District, publishes a 
list of landscaping materials appro-
priate for Central Florida’s hot and humid weather.

“The Water Star program is more known among builders than homeowners, but more people are becoming aware of it,” says Teresa Watkins, a Water Star specialist who is also recognized as a leader on environmentally friendly landscapes.

The program uses “best management practices,” Watkins says, such as reducing lawn size by adding more plants that don’t need so much water.

Native Plants
Or, take a cue from nature and embellish your yard with wildflowers, says Lisa Roberts, executive director of the Florida Wildflower Foundation.

“Thanks to our native plant industry, there are more Florida wildflowers available than ever before,” Roberts says. “Natives such as blanket flowers and dune sunflowers are not only prolific bloomers, they require little water and fertilizer once established.”

Still, a common complaint among homeowners is that native and drought-tolerant plants are too subtle and lack the wow factor offered by more traditional landscape plants.

Nonetheless, remodelers and landscapers say it’s possible to find Florida-friendly plants boasting liberal doses of color and texture. And while native and drought-tolerant plants can be good choices, they aren’t the only choices.

“A first impression really means everything,” Hardwick says. “A lot of it has to do with the design and the selection of plants. You don’t have to be funky to be green. If you have a good landscaper, then the plants you use, whether they’re native or not, will work.”

Watkins agrees.

“Florida-friendly landscaping doesn’t necessarily mean native plants,” Watkins says. “I have a lot of non-native plants that are very appropriate in my own yard. It’s a personal preference. You can mix. What’s native down in Miami may not be what’s native in Orlando" target=_blank>Orlando, and what’s native in Orlando" target=_blank>Orlando may not be what’s native in Tallahassee. Just having the right plant in the right place is important. They need to be site-appropriate.”

Natives are vital, however, for homeowners who want to attract wildlife such as birds and butterflies.

“Gardeners who plant wildflowers also get the satisfaction of knowing they’re helping replace species destroyed by development while supporting numerous pollinators and bird species,” says Roberts.

For greater visual impact and water efficiency, group flowers and plants with the same watering needs. Also consider using a drip irrigation system, which is an efficient way to deliver water.

“Having an irrigation system 
that’s tailored specifically to your landscape will really be the key,” Hardwick says. “You need the right amount of water in the right location.”

Less is More
Also important: Don’t crowd the plants.

“We need a paradigm shift about instant landscapes,” Watkins says. “They look good for the first six months and then they start to grow and then come insects and disease. They’re overgrown after five years. You can’t even see the home’s doors and windows.”

Not only is crowding a waste of money, Watkins says, but it also becomes a maintenance headache.

“If you don’t want to spend 
all your free time planting, watering, weeding and pruning, think about putting in a low-maintenance design with plants that grow to the size you’ll need them to be,” Watkins adds. “You’re preventing disease and saving time. If you did that, you’d have more time for golf because you wouldn’t have to prune and maintain the landscape.”

Hiring a Pro
Sure, anybody can try to cobble together a landscape with a few blooms and a bag of rocks from the local home-improvement store. But if you want your newly remodeled home to look just as good outside as it does inside, consider consulting with an experienced professional. The pros know how to fashion a functional and eye-catching landscape using an assortment of shapes, textures and heights. Here are a few tips for hiring the right landscaper:
> Ask around. If you admire a neighbor’s yard, ask who installed the landscaping. Or get recommendations from friends and family. Then interview several prospects before you make a final decision.
> Ask questions. When interviewing prospective landscapers, ask to see photos of their favorite projects and request references. Also, check to see if they’ve won any awards for their designs.
> Create a wish list. Do you want to transform your yard into a kaleidoscope of color? Do you want to grow edible plants? Do you want a low-maintenance landscape? Clip photos from magazines to share your vision.
> Listen to your gut. As you’re talking with potential landscapers, ask yourself: Do I feel comfortable with this person? Do I feel as if I am being heard and understood? Do the fees and timeline seem reasonable? Trust your instincts.

Florida-Friendly
Landscapes
Here are a few other ideas for creating and maintaining an appealing, low-maintenance, Florida-friendly landscape:
> Consider compost. For a free source of rich nutrients for your plants, consider composting. Place leaves and grass clippings in a compost pile, add air and water and you can create your own fertilizer. Use a compost bin and tumbler to avoid the unsightly, unpleasant-smelling heap.
> Skip the St. Augustine. Try a hybrid grass such as Zoysia, which doesn’t use as much water as the more common St. Augustine. Zoysia adapts to Florida’s climate very well.
> Harvest and manage rainwater. Channel rainwater from the roof into rain barrels or collection tanks for irrigation. Also, think about creating a rain garden, which is basically a plant pond that can catch storm water so it won’t run off into drains and pollute groundwater sources.
> Create some drama. Soothe your weary soul with a fountain, reflecting pool, waterfall or koi pond. Show off your artistic side with a garden sculpture or add a fire feature such as an outdoor fireplace, tiki torches and fire bowls.
> Add hardscape elements. Make the path to your door a pleasant journey with walkways made of durable natural materials. For a cohesive look, select materials that complement or mimic what’s on your home’s exterior. For environmental sensitivity, use permeable pavers, which allow storm water to seep back into the ground.
> Illuminate your landscape. Add to the visual appeal of your landscape by uplighting a beautiful plant, tree or water feature. For safety purposes, shed light on the walkway to your front door. For real excitement, create a “glass garden” with colorful recycled glass landscaping nuggets highlighted by LED lights underneath.
> Dress up small spaces. Shallow yards and small outdoor spaces are challenging. Create privacy and planting space by building a wall or fence and letting plants cascade over. Also, container gardening can be the answer for porches, patios and balconies.
> Extend your living space. Integrate garden structures such as gazebos, pergolas, trellises and arbors, which can offer protection from the hot sun and rain while offering an appealing spot for seating and dining.
> Appeal to all your senses. Mix textured greenery and vivid blooms with fragrant herbs and edible plants.
> Go green on roofs and walls. Take a cue from the Europeans by growing greenery on a roof or wall. A green or “living” roof uses a specially designed membrane, a drainage system, a lightweight growing medium and plants that are appropriate for the roof’s size and depth. Benefits include stormwater management, improved air quality, increased energy efficiency and noise reduction.