[kansasrph]

We moved in January 2017 and are finally thinking of landscaping. We are wanting to use plants native to Florida. With water conditions, low water needs would be nice. Not crucial, but nice would be low maintenance on my part. We would appreciate advice on which landscapers might be good at the "native" plant aspects of our plans. Any advice appreciated. Thank you.

[OldManTime]

Florida Friendly, the UCF site will tell you

[springfield]

Contact Steve. He is the head of our local FL Native Plant society. His entire yard has gone native. You can see his yard in a utube segment called "going native in the villages"

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by kansasrph

We moved in January 2017 and are finally thinking of landscaping. We are wanting to use plants native to Florida. With water conditions, low water needs would be nice. Not crucial, but nice would be low maintenance on my part. We would appreciate advice on which landscapers might be good at the "native" plant aspects of our plans. Any advice appreciated. Thank you.

Our homes, both of them here, came with plants that do well in this zone. That is what The Villages give you in foundation plantings.

[Villageswimmer]

The Florida Native Plant Society meets the fourth Friday of each month at Big Cypress Rec Center at 1:30. Loads of info available by folks who are experts in native plants...speakers, plant giveaways and sales, field trips, you name it.

[Mrs. Robinson]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

Our homes, both of them here, came with plants that do well in this zone. That is what The Villages give you in foundation plantings.

Yes, the plants and trees do pretty well and practically every cookie cutter landscaped house looks the same.

Don't come home drunk!

[SouthOfTheBorder]

Originally Posted by Mrs. Robinson

Yes, the plants and trees do pretty well and practically every cookie cutter landscaped house looks the same.

Don't come home drunk!

What plants/landscaping would you use in each of the 45,000+ yards in The Villages to eliminate the “cookie cutter” look?

Don

[Mrs. Robinson]

Originally Posted by SouthOfTheBorder

What plants/landscaping would you use in each of the 45,000+ yards in The Villages to eliminate the “cookie cutter” look?

Don

Change the cookie cutter look? It can be done very easily.

Change the shape/curve of what TV does in the front of every house.
Use different color/type stone borders other than what everyone who has landscaping installed uses.
Practically all landscapers have utilized the same type and color in their borders.
Use brick, stepping stones, flagstone, etc., to change the look and color.

Be aware of shape, type, texture, color and form in choosing plants and shrubs; all green plants are not the same shade of green. Don't go overboard with variegated shrubs and plants. Plant some colorful seasonal annuals.

Utilize an interesting planted pot, waterfall or other water feature, a bird bath, edging or mulch.
A little stone here or there, etc., looks nice.
Many of these things can become a focal point to draw your eye.

It doesn't have to cost a lot of money.
Do what you can afford.
A few changes can be a totally new look.

Any more information and I would have to charge you!

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by Mrs. Robinson

Yes, the plants and trees do pretty well and practically every cookie cutter landscaped house looks the same.

Don't come home drunk!

Some people like the more formal look and others like the unrestrained look. Some people add so much STUFF it looks junky and overdone.

My point is that the plants they gave us are all good plants. We got color with redleaves and green leaves and pretty plumbago's and crepe myrtles and deep green ivy. We got dense plants and trees that you can see through, tall ones and short ones and triangles ones and round ones. I love what they gave us. We added Hibiscus and Bougainvilla.

[Carl in Tampa]

Returning to the OP question about native, drought resistant plants for landscaping, the web sites of the various Florida universities are great places to get information.

The sad fact is that many of the available plants look very much like weeds to people who move here from other areas, and who are accustomed to very formal landscaping.

However, with a little imagination, a lot can be accomplished. In my back yard in Tampa, I placed a couple of very dense plantings to provide places of concealment for birds who were awaiting opportunities to visit one of my bird feeders.

You can also have large expanses of mulch to lower the amount of turf grass in your lawn that requires watering. Just make them attractive and fitting the landscape.

Read a lot of suggestions before you decide what to do.

[Arctic Fox]

Originally Posted by kansasrph

We are wanting to use plants native to Florida. With water conditions, low water needs would be nice. Not crucial, but nice would be low maintenance on my part.

Grass is the main culprit in terms of water, fertilizer, weedkiller and work hours, so replace your lawn areas with Florida-friendly or Florida-native ground cover and you will achieve most of what you want without worrying too much about the other plants. Just remember to get approval from the Architectural Review Committee first.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by Arctic Fox

Grass is the main culprit in terms of water, fertilizer, weedkiller and work hours, so replace your lawn areas with Florida-friendly or Florida-native ground cover and you will achieve most of what you want without worrying too much about the other plants. Just remember to get approval from the Architectural Review Committee first.

I like grass, no not that kind.

I think grass is lovely throughout The Villages. I hope that people realize that green plants and their processes provide GOOD AIR and aren't contra productive to SOME of the things greenies worry about. I hope this place doesn't start looking like Arizona.

If you interview most grass cutters you will find you can have your lawn mowed foraround $40 bucks a month if cost is on your mind. It is WAY cheaper here to have your lawn cared for than it is up North. Provides jobs, and beauty to all of us.

One of the things I love best about the Villages is the miles and miles and miles and miles of beautiful landscape and grass. And cookie cutter homes????
homes in the villages, florida - Bing images

[joldnol]

I commend your desire to go native. One of the first things many Villagers do is tear out the native plants that come with the house and replace them with non-native palms.

[Villageswimmer]

I think the OP is interested in native plants. The term is often confused with "Florida-friendly" plants. The Villages are experts in use of the latter. Not all FF plants are native.

[Mrs. Robinson]

Originally Posted by Arctic Fox

Grass is the main culprit in terms of water, fertilizer, weedkiller and work hours, so replace your lawn areas with Florida-friendly or Florida-native ground cover and you will achieve most of what you want without worrying too much about the other plants. Just remember to get approval from the Architectural Review Committee first.

Yes, grass is the main culprit in terms of chemicals and mainly water, which is either a contaminate or just wasteful.

I will agree that the look of grass is a thing of beauty, when properly maintained.
However with the problem of water shortages due to climate change restrictions and anything else,
the use of artificial turf should be a choice a homeowner should be able to make.
Alas -- we cannot because of the "rules" The Villages has imposed upon us.

When done properly, I defy anyone to tell the difference in the look of turf compared to grass.
Yes, it is expensive to install but over time, pays for itself.

Installing artificial turf should be the choice of every homeowner, not a stupid edict set upon us by the developer.