Florida Waterwise Landscapes - Alliance for Water Efficiency

Seagrapes and cabbage palms
going out from the plant. Add new mulch as needed,
stirring the old mulch to promote air and moisture
circulation to avoid matting.
Don’t use compost or mulch that has diseased
material. Get mulches from a reputable dealer, as
mulches can contain contaminants such as
undesirable seeds or insect pests. Mulching holds
moisture and may attract termites, so should not be
piled up right next to a building’s foundation.
Be aware that inorganic mulch such as gravel or
colored rocks will not hold moisture. Moreover,
white rock reflects heat, which is stressful to plants.
7. Perform Proper Maintenance
An environmentally balanced, low-maintenance
landscape starts with the previous steps of analysis,
planning and selecting the plants suitable for the site.
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A diverse array of plant species will attract a variety
of insects to the area, helping to create a balanced
food chain so that no one species can become
dominant enough to become a major pest problem.
This way, nature works for you to make landscaping
and maintenance easy and rewarding.
NATURAL PEST MANAGEMENT
Only a fraction of a percent of all insects known
to humans are considered pests, and these species are
generally herbivores, eating plants we want for
ourselves — either for food or for ornamental value.
A food chain always has carnivores looking to eat
herbivores. Predators — including predatory insects
— that eat our “pests” are called “beneficial”
organisms. But it doesn’t stop there. Birds, bats,
lizards and frogs also eat insects. As a part of the
food chain, this diversity of life creates a living
balance and will do so in the landscape if allowed.