Florida-Friendly Landscaping™

Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ (FFL) is a leading program in Florida that encourages sustainable landscaping methods as an alternative to traditional approaches. Focused on protecting natural resources, FFL promotes environmentally responsible, science-backed practices that conserve water and help prevent pollution in Florida’s waterways. Since its launch in 1993, the program has been a collaborative effort between UF/IFAS Extension and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).

The 9 FFL Principles

• Right Plant, Right Place

  Achieving a healthy, low-maintenance home landscape starts with putting the right plant in the right place. Select plants that match a site’s soil, light, water, and climatic conditions.

• Water Efficiently

  An efficient irrigation system conserves water and helps to ensure that fertilizer and other pollution doesn’t flow into water bodies. 

• Fertilize Appropriately

  Proper fertilization enhances growth, increases flowering or fruiting, corrects nutritional deficiencies, and enhances the plant’s appearance. Improper fertilization can damage plants and the environment.

• Mulch

  Mulch helps retain soil moisture, protects plants, and inhibits weed growth. It gives your landscape a neat, uniform appearance and is a great Florida-Friendly choice for hard-to-mow areas and shady spots.

• Attract Wildlife

  Select plants with seeds, fruit, foliage, flowers, or berries that provide food. Supply sources of water, such as a rain garden or bird bath.

• Manage Yard Pests Responsibly

  To prevent disease and insect outbreaks, select pest-resistant plants and put them in suitable locations. When problems do arise, remove the affected leaves or plant parts, or pick the insects off by hand.

• Recycle Yard Waste

  Decomposing organic matter releases nutrients back to the soil in a form that plants can easily use. Using yard waste for composting is a sustainable way of creating organic fertilizer.

• Reduce Stormwater Runoff

  Fertilizers, pesticides, debris, and eroded soil carried in stormwater can wreak havoc on our water quality. Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ seeks to retain and use as much of the rainfall and irrigation water that lands on our home landscapes as possible.

• Protect the Waterfront

  Florida boasts over 10,000 miles of rivers and streams, about 7,800 lakes, more than 700 freshwater springs, and the U.S.’s second-longest coastline. To protect any water body, keep a "low-maintenance zone" for at least 10 feet from the waterside. Do not mow, fertilize, or use pesticides in this zone.

Want to Get Recognized?

Recognitions are offered for home, commercial, and new construction landscapes. Landscapes that meet the requirements and are deemed Florida-Friendly landscapes receive a yard flag or sign to display. They also receive a certificate for the recognition of Silver, Gold, or FFL Natural level.

To find out more about how to meet the criteria to have your landscape recognized, visit the FFL Recognition webpage. Once you are ready, you can apply for FFL Recognition by contacting UF/IFAS Polk County FFL Coordinator Julie Schleb at j.schleb@ufl.edu.

Additional Resources

• Florida-Friendly Landscaping - Polk County - University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences - UF/IFAS
• Your Central Florida Yard Podcast
• Learn & Grow Workshops