I am diminishing the amount of lawn, and making an Arroyo to distribute rain water from the roof gutters. I would love to hear about other projects here in Florida.
I know the University of Florida has a program for this! I think it's called the Florida Yard and Neighborhood Program. For your county the contact info is:
Always a fan of less lawn, more garden. Research your plant choices-the local extension office is the perfect place to start. Join a local garden club, or at least attend a couple of meetings. Other Florida gardeners are a valuable resource. I've amassed a large plant collection from cuttings and seeds shared by my gardener friends. Dan's gives you good advice!
Great idea,as grass gets real expensive when you have to replace it alot! As a landscaper I do entire yards with groundcovers and low maintenance shrubs, that attract birds,and truly provide a prettier and more environmentally friendly yard.
You're doing exactly what more Floridians should be doing, Cynthia. You might want to attend a meeting of your local chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society. You are sure to find kindred spirits there. They meet the third Thursday of the month:
We have been doing more yards with no turf in the last 4 years than I have in the last 25 years, I few tricks I use when designing a yard with no turf, Pathways and seating areas will use up space, even in small back yards everyone love the feeling of walking on pathways, they can be simple as mulch or rock, or with a little more work and money done in pavers. It looks like you are working in the back yard, back yards are different than front yards, I will make different areas in back
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yards, sitting areas, butterfly plant areas, maybe a area for a fountain or water feature. Choose your plants wisely so you don't make to much maintenance.
What would you get the most use of Cynthia? For me, the answer would probably be a pergola. (Is that plastic or landscape cloth under the stones? How close do you have it to your oleander?)
I agree with Douglas. I know how great they are because I have a pergola and it helps a lot in hot, sunny Florida. But it all comes down to what do you like. I personally would never want a fire pit.
Thanks for all the great comments. I am working on a design that will give me storage,privacy, work space and space to sit and admire.... Will try to scan a drawing soon.
Doug,, The landscape fabric is commercial grade woven plastic ribbons. I get it at Busy Bee in Wabasso. They charge 69cents per ft forthe 3' and 1.69 for the 12' wide... The water will flow and absorb. With the grade in the river, the majority of the run-off water is delivered to the rock garden.
Cynthia, I am concerned about how much water is getting to the roots of the oleander and how much the plastic is raising the soil temperature. I personally would could the fabric back at least to the drip line of the oleander.
I understand,,,, the landscape fabric is the kind you walk on a some nurseries and it breathes quite well. So far the Oleander has exploded with leaves. When I dug out the river, I was very careful to keep the roots intact. It took a while, since I did it with a hand trowel. I used a moisture-guard garden soil to cover up the roots once I got the grade right. The tree has been in the same spot for 7 years with no irrigation. I am hoping the directed water will be beneficial.
I know the University of Florida has a program for this! I think it's called the Florida Yard and Neighborhood Program. For your county the contact info is:
Joan Benson
Office Manager ...»
Indian River County Extension Office
1028 20 Place, Suite D
Vero Beach, FL 32960-5360
Phone: (772) 770-5030
Fax: (772) 770-5148
Email: jebenson@ufl.edu
The site they have gives you ideas and plants to put in your yard and garden that are friendly to the Florida environment.
http://fnps.org/pages/chapters/chapterpg.php...