developed by: fred burkey florida yard’s and neighborhoods martin and st. lucie county

Developed by: Fred Burkey Florida Yard’s and NeighborhoodsMartin and St. Lucie County

The Florida Yards & Neighborhoods program is an educational outreach program informing homeowners how they can be more environmentally friendly with their landscape care practices and how this can help protect Florida's natural environment for future generations.

* Rreduce stormwater runoff

* Decrease non-point source pollution

* Conserve water

* Enhance wildlife habitat

* Create beautiful landscapes

A Florida Yard can take any form...unique or traditional. You can create a Florida Yard simply by changing the way you take care of your yard.

* Right plant, right place * Water efficiently

* Fertilize appropriately * Mulch

* Attract wildlife * Manage yard pests responsibly

* Recycle yard waste * Reduce stormwater runoff

* Protect the waterfront

Developed by: Fred Burkey Florida Yard’s and NeighborhoodsMartin and St. Lucie County

YANKEE VIEW

REALITY

H2O* Under ideal

conditions, an adult can live for over a month without food, but only 10 days without water.

* Population is increasing, but water is not!

Domestic Water Use

•American water use is high compared to other nations.

– Twice European use

•Florida has the highest domestic water use in U.S.

– Partly due to irrigation of lawns and landscapes

Fishing Pier, St. Lucie RiverUSGS, 1998

Where does it come from?

95% of Florida’s drinking water comes from groundwater

Groundwater resources are depleted when water is withdrawn faster than replenished Over pumpingDrought reduces recharge

Mining Ground Water

A river of water ?

Salt water intrusion is also a concern

WATER WATER EVERYWHERE AND NOT A DROP TO DRINK

97% of all water on earth is salt water.

1% of all water on earth is available to drink.

SWIFT, NARROW WESTERN BOUNDARY CURRENT

* Width is about 31-47 miles

* Depth of about 1-1.5 miles

* Flows northeastward

* Flow has a velocity of 2-6.5 miles per hour

* Starts it’s journey in the Caribbean

* Has a water temperature of 80

* Warm water gives Europe it’s mild weather

SEA SUFACETEMPERATURE

* warm waters (red areas)

* orange circular warm eddies

* yellow circular cold eddies

CHLOROPHYLL CONCENTRATIO

N* High (red-brown)

* Intermediate (green)

* Lowest (blue)

USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map

Florida Soils

• High sand content• Low organic matter

content– Rainfall

– Humidity– Temperature

– Micro-organisms

* Proper planning and plant selection:

* Plan First, Plant Once

* Site Analysis

* Know your Plants

* Selecting and Installing Plants

* Current Use of Your Property

* Proper turf selection

* Proper landscape maintenance

* This is a process, not a one-time event!

* Utilize regional gardening books and magazines.

* Consult with your UF County Extension Office.

* Ask qualified nursery professionals for advice.

* Know the plants and what they require to thrive.

* Have a plan!

What are the site characteristics?* Soil

• sand, silt, clay, organic matter content• pH

* Light• sun or shade

* Drainage• wet• dry• drainage patterns

* Structures and obstacles• power lines• sidewalks / driveways

* What is the mature size of the plant?

* Does it grow well in sun or shade?

* Does it grow well in wet or dry soils?

* Is it salt tolerant?* Is it susceptible to

pests which may be difficult to control? Helianthus

debilis ‘Beach Daisy’

BahiaBahia BermuBermudada

St. AugustineSt. Augustine

MAJOR GRASS SPECIES IN SOUTH FLORIDA

Rainfall averages 56 inches a year

* Half of the rain falls from June through September

* Sandy soils do not hold much water

* Less rainfall occurs during the winter and spring

* temperatures can be over 90°F six months per year

Over watering occurs when water is applied too frequently or in excessive amounts.

* Encourages growth of fungi and bacteria

* Promotes a shallow root system

* Reduces oxygen to the roots, causing stress

* Encourages weed growth

Pennywort is a good indication of an over

watered lawn.

* Early morning or evening– Temperature is cool and wind is

calm– 40% - 60% of water applied

evaporates in the afternoon sun!* Some Water Management Districts

mandate:No watering between 9 AM and 4 PM

Year - round!

* Apply ½ to ¾ inch water per application.

* Soak soil thoroughly to promote a deeper, more drought tolerant root system

Efficient watering wets only the root zone

* Prune properly

* Plant nutrition

* Fertilization

* Pest management

* Pruning is the

Selective removal of vegetative growth, typically shoots and branches

* Remove dead or diseased wood

* Maintain or improve plant vigor

* Control plant size and form

* Train young plants* Influence flower or

fruit production* Safety* Rejuvenate old

shrubs

How Do You Know!

A proper pruning

cut will allow the callus or wound wood to grow in a circular or

ring shaped fashion.

pH * The alkalinity or acidity of the soil Measured on a scale of 0 to 14

– less than 7 is acid– 7 is neutral– more than 7 is alkaline

* Influences uptake of some nutrients

* Ideal range is between 5.5 and 6.5

• Often above pH 7, especially in southern Florida

• Influenced by soil parent material

• Influenced by ground water

* Indicates a disturbance of plant metabolism

* Should not be ignored

* Take corrective and, later, preventative measures

* Read and understand the fertilizer label

* Look for the “guaranteed analysis”

–list of the percentage of N,P, & K

–a good fertilizer generally has 1.5 to 2 times as much N as K

* Look for terms like “slow release”, “resin coated”, plastic coated”, “water insoluble”, etc.

* Select a fertilizer containing at least 30% of the N in slow-release form

* Slow release fertilizers cost initially but are more cost-effective in the long run

* Slow release fertilizers are the most environmentally safe types

* Use care when selecting fertilizers containing weed killer or insecticide

* The pesticide cannot distinguish between “good” and “bad” bugs or weeds and your broad-leaved landscaped plants

8-12 inches

What is a Pest?What is a Pest?

A plant or animal that is out of place

Diseases, Weeds,Arthropods, Reptiles, Mammals, etc.

Biology and IdentificationBiology and Identificationof Pests and Beneficialsof Pests and Beneficials

PreventativePreventativePracticesPractices

Monitor PestMonitor PestPopulationsPopulations

Action ThresholdAction Threshold

Make ActionMake ActionDecisionDecision

Evaluation &Evaluation &Follow-upFollow-up

IPMIPMProgramProgram

* Mix 1.5 fl. oz. dishwashing soap * Mix 1.5 fl. oz. dishwashing soap

in 2 gal. waterin 2 gal. water

* Drench 4 ft* Drench 4 ft22 area with the area with the

solutionsolution

* Count insects that emerge* Count insects that emerge

* Examine 3 - 4 random * Examine 3 - 4 random

places in healthy turfplaces in healthy turf

* Concentrate along the * Concentrate along the edges of brown patchesedges of brown patches

* Also works for chinch* Also works for chinch bugsbugs

St Lucie County/University of Florida Cooperative Extension

Service8400 Picos Rd Suite

101Ft. Pierce, Florida

34945(772) 462-1660

Martin County/University of Florida Cooperative Extension

Service2614 SE Dixie

HighwayStuart, Florida 34996

(772) 288-5654

Martin County/University of Florida

Cooperative Extension Service2614 SE Dixie HighwayStuart, Florida 34996

(561) 288-5654