Florida Waterwise Landscapes - Alliance for Water Efficiency

direction of movement. Plants can modify climate —
a shade tree cools and protects, creating microclimates
that determine the kinds of plants that can live in that
shade. Take out the tree and you change the micro-
climate — different plants can now live in that space.
Your plant choices can also attract and support
wildlife and beneficial insects. Plants can be
specifically selected as nectar and larval food plants
for butterflies and caterpillars or as food and
nesting habitat for birds, or to add vibrant
beauty to the landscape.
Take your time and learn as much as possible
about the area to be landscaped. A year of
observation is recommended to study, reflect on
and tune in to seasonal changes and other
variables that exist in the area.
THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER
When combining plants, the most important
considerations are mature size and how the
plants look and exist together. Experiment
with how different combinations look
together, considering color, shape, texture
and mature size.
Plants combined in groups of odd
numbers often look better than plants
combined in groups of even numbers. Use
repetitive elements — the same color in
different shapes, for example. Other aesthetic
uses for plants are to complement, soften,
frame or emphasize elements within the
landscape or architectural features of
a building.
Plan for different seasons of the year to ensure
year-round interest through blooms, color, foliage
and shapes in the landscape. And, because landscapes
are forever changing, plan accordingly. While waiting
for that young live oak to grow into a dominant
landscape element, plant sunny areas with annuals
or perennials that will eventually be shaded out by
the growing oak.
Lye
6
2. Obtain a Soil Analysis
Florida soils have varying textures, colors, water-
holding capabilities and nutrient levels for plants. It
is important to examine and analyze your soil at the
beginning of a landscaping project. Most Florida
soils typically do a good job of supporting plant life
— just look around at the variety of plants growing
naturally in Florida. When choosing plants, be aware
that some may require a lot of feeding and then may
still have deficiency problems. It’s best to choose
plants suited to existing soil conditions.
A soil’s pH level — acid, neutral or alkaline —
is one factor to analyze before selecting plants.
Most plants grow best in soil that has a pH that is
somewhat acidic (pH 5.5–6.5). Some plants, such as
beach sunflower, will tolerate alkaline soils (high pH,
above 7), while other plants simply can’t. Coastal
areas frequently have alkaline conditions — the
presence of salt and shell fragments can be an
indication of alkalinity.
Milk of magnesia
Ammonia
Some plants can tolerate acidic soils (lower than
pH 5.5), and there are some plants that require acidic
soil to thrive, for example, camellia, blueberry,
gardenia and azalea.
pH Scale
Average seawater
Alkaline
soil Neutral
(above 7)
Baking soda
Milk
Human
blood
Theoretical pH
of rain
Acidic soil
(5.5–6.5)
If your landscape is in a low-lying area such as
pine flatwoods, different kinds of soils may have been
brought in as fill material to raise the building’s
foundation. Thus, soil samples will need to be taken
from several areas around the yard.
Vinegar
Tomato juice
Apples
Most acidic rainfall
recorded in U.S.
Lemon juice
Battery acid