6/30/2023 0 Comments Florida beach landscapePeople shouldn't "go out and rip out their landscapes," without a plan that's preferably sanctioned by their community, he said. Seward said the Senate bill's intent "is to encourage Florida-friendly landscaping principles it does not mandate them." Augustine grass, including a variety of grasses or ground covers. Right plant, right place means there are a number of alternatives to St. With the new state law on his side, the resident won the right to keep his new Florida-friendly yard intact.īut Seward said people need to be careful if they decide to change their yards, because they could encounter problems if they don't stay within the general landscape theme of their community. The homeowner replaced the grass with Florida-friendly trees, shrubs and other plants, then covered the remaining soil with mulch.Īfter neighbors complained, the homeowner association cited the resident and called for a hearing. Johns County horticulture agent Joe Sewards. Augustine grass front lawn encountered protests from his community association, said St. However, a homeowner in the L'Atrium community in Ponte Vedra Beach who recently ripped up his St. Since she removed patches of grass gradually, she didn't run into any opposition from the gated community's homeowner association and she didn't need the new law to protect her. Augustine grass from her front yard in 1998, replacing it with attractive and colorful Florida-friendly plants. "You and your children and pets would live in a relatively chemical-free environment, and all of this would hopefully also save our water."ĭunne began removing the St. "Can you imagine the sensual pleasure of living in a neighborhood where you don't have lawn mowers, blowers, weed eaters and the smell of chemicals?" she asked. She hopes that as other Beaches residents learn about it, no matter what type of neighborhood they live in, they too will begin to practice its principles. One of the bill's key provisions states that any landscape that follows Florida Yards and NeighborhoodGuidelines promoting the nine principles supersedes and takes precedence over all other municipal, county and homeowner association rules, ordinances or laws, because "the use of Florida-friendly landscaping and other water use and pollution prevention measures to conserve or protect the state's water resources serves a compelling public interest."Īs a certified gardening expert, Dunne is well aware of the bill that promotes the type of gardening she has been practicing for years. Johns County horticultural agent Keith Fuller said the law encourages the nine basic principles of Florida-friendly landscaping, which are: use the right plant in the right place, water efficiently, fertilize appropriately, mulch, attract wildlife, manage yard pests responsibly, recycle, reduce storm water runoff and protect the waterfront. Charlie Crist signed Senate Bill 2080, also called the Water Rights Bill, on June 30 because lawn and landscape irrigation uses a tremendous amount of water, seriously impacting the Floridan aquifer, which provides the state's drinking water and feeds its springs and other ecosystems. Augustine grass lawns that are regularly mowed, edged and weeded. It supports them even if they live in communities with covenants and restrictions, where it's expected that they have pristine St. The state would like more Floridians to have yards like Dunne's, and a state law passed last summer supports homeowners who want to convert thirsty lawn grass to plants that are friendlier to the environment. Johns County master gardener, said she designed her yard to feature Florida native and Florida-friendly plants because they don't need fertilizers, watering or much maintenance.Įven in the midst of summer, "we can be gone for a month and don't have to do anything," she said. Rocks outline flower beds that feature holly ferns, ginger and Bird of Paradise.ĭunne, a St. Holly trees flourish next to white lantana. Augustine grass, like her neighbors', but with jasmine and dwarf chenille ground cover. Tall cactuses frame the front yard of her Sawgrass Country Club home, and the grounds are not covered with St. Even in the dead of winter, Linda Dunne's yard stands out.
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