Common Ground

Whether to eliminate all turf grass from your Florida yard is a big conversation taking place on the Internet these days. Between water restrictions and chinch bugs there's no doubt that it's getting harder and harder to maintain a water-thirsty St. Augustine lawn. But don't fret, if you're a homeowner who's not a gardener or not sold on eliminating all the grass in your yard there are ways to scale down the amount of turf grass but still enjoy a pretty green lawn.

If you'd like to eliminate some turf grass start with a plan. Start slowly and choose to replace 30% (about 1/3) of your turf grass with one or more nice-sized garden beds. The garden beds can be planted very simply like the homeowners in the following 3 photos.

This homeowner kept it very simple by planting a large bed of Big Blue or Evergreen Giant Liriope (Liriope muscari).  An easy solution with virtually no maintenance.

*Turf grass tip: St. Augustine grass that receives a fair amount of sunlight through a tree canopy, like the one above, tends to withstand drought conditions better and Chinch bug activity seems to be lower in shady areas. Your turf grass may not be as vigorous as grass in full sunlight though, so choose  shade-tolerant dwarf varieties like Seville and Floraverde for best results.

This creative homeowner solved two problems. Eliminating grass and dealing with a slope on their property. They replaced turf grass with the well-known groundcover Asiatic Jasmine (Trachelospermum asiaticum) which can be neatly maintained with a string trimmer. The Asiatic Jasmine provides a nice expanse of green color that people often like. 

This homeowner eliminated approximately 40% of their turf grass with an extra large landcaped bed. It looks very attractive and colorful with varying green shades of drought-tolerant plants. 

Note: By creating one large bed instead of a  number of smaller ones throughout the yard this homeowner has made it easy to mow the remaining turf grass.

The City of Mount Dora dealt very well with an odd-sized section of land that divides two roads by planting a very large bed of Bromeliads (Bromeliaceae) beneath the oaks and palm. As you can see this area gets a fair amount of sunshine, so it was important  to choose Bromeliads that can take some sunlight. This area looks very colorful and looks perfect with just a small border of turf grass to soften the spiky Bromeliads. Planting Liriope or Asiatic Jasmine groundcover instead of turf grass would also have provided the same affect without having to mow it.

Like the next homeowner I, too, have a large front yard and this creates several dilemnas. First, how do you create a landscape for a large front yard without having it look too busy with a large number of plants? How much time will it take to maintain a super-sized garden bed? How much will it cost to fill up a large space with plants and mulch? 

This homeowner kept it simple by replacing an extensive stretch of turf grass with Junipers (Juniperus). The effect is still a large expanse of green but one that is easily maintained and pleasing to the eye. There are several varieties of Junipers to choose from in varying heights and shades of green.

This next example is my favorite for a regular-sized building lot. They replaced approximately 70% of their turf grass with a beautiful horseshoe-shaped garden bed leaving a small amount of turf grass in the center of their lot. I personally find this look very appealing as it showcases the home beautifully, softens the edges of their property and makes maintaining and mowing the grass super easy.

Here's a view of the right side of the front yard. You can see their driveway right behind the garden bed and they've also replaced the slim strip of grass to the right of the driveway with a hedge of Podocarpus (Podocarpus macrophylla). They've got a combination of neatly trimmed plants as well as soft naturally shaped Florida-Friendly plants  that won't grow too large and block the view of their home.

This homeowner has creatively replaced approximately 90% of their turf grass with predominantly green-toned plants that create a very calming and interesting scene. Once again, this homeowner dealt with a sloped area that would be more difficult to mow by planting two different types of groundcovers - Asiatic Jasmine and Liriope.

They have done the same thing on the right side of their front yard with the variegated form of Liriope known as Aztec grass and Asiatic Jasmine. They incorporated rocks and various tones and heights of plant material which make this landscape design quite interesting . . . and not a speck of turf can be found here.   I would love to sit and study this landscape more because in my minds-eye it works beautifully.

Here's an example of someone who decided to replace 100% of their turf with plants. They have a nice large canopy of Live Oak trees with filtered light and have chosen to use a variety of shade loving plant materials such as Lady Palm (Rhapis humilis), Liriope (Liriope muscari), Bromeliads, Ponytail Palm (Beaucarnea recurvata) and Sago cycads (Cycas revoluta).

Here's a view from the other side of the house. As you can see their front yard is actually quite small which makes the elimination of all the turf grass a little easier.

Here's a look at the right side of the driveway which uses more of the same plantings. Their small side yard on the left side is also composed of a thick patch of several varieties of Bromeliads. 

And if that look is a little too busy for you here's an example at Stetson University where they replaced all of the turf for this building with Mondo Grass (Ophiopogon japonicus). Mondo grass only works in heavily shaded to very filtered sunlight areas. This particular variety only grows 2 inches tall and can sustain very little traffic, but it works great in the right locations and can be a fantastic replacement for turf grasses. 

 Here's another look at the Mondo grass which fill in quickly when planted close together.

Start slow, as I mentioned above, by replacing a percentage . . . 30% garden bed to 70% turf grass or 40% to 60%. If you like the results, move on to a 50%/50% split between garden beds and turf grass, and if you're really happy with the results plunge ahead with a 60% garden bed to 40% turf grass or more if you so desire.

 Here's some tips on how to get started:

* Start with a plan

* Start slowly. Rome was not built in a day and you won't want to replace your entire turf in one season. That would be a major undertaking and could be costly if you use the wrong plants and have to replace them or your turf grass later.

* Improve your soil prior to planting any plants with compost, garden soil or other soil-enriching amendments. 

* Choose plants that are drought-tolerant, native, Florida-friendly and predominantly cold-tolerant (especially for your front yard) varieties.

* Take note of plants that have not performed well  so you won't use them in the future.

* Mulch, mulch, mulch. In order to keep the garden beds weed-free and reduce your maintenance it will be important to mulch with pine bark, straw, pine needles, melaleuca mulch, but not cypress, please.

It's my sincere hope that you've gotten some great ideas and been inspired by the creative homeowners featured above who have successfully replaced turf grass with attractive garden beds. If you have replaced a large portion of your turf grass and want to share your results and tips with others, please contact me at cenflagardener at gmail.com, and I'll be delighted to feature your yard here.

Don't Toss those Bags Just Yet!

The Live Oaks are probably starting to cause you some grief as they have been slowly dropping their canopy of leaves all over everything. How lucky you are if you have one or more of these stately trees in your yard. Why? You ask. Not because you like to rake or because you like having their pollen everywhere but because they are going to save you a lot of money and make your plants very happy.

Your garden beds are probably in dire need of a new layer of mulch and that's exactly where all those wonderful leaves come into play. A thick layer of Oak leaves provides a nice "free" barrier of weed control in your beds, PLUS as they decompose they add a rich layer of nutrients to our sandy soil. Over time, they can improve the water holding capacity of our soil and provide fertilizer for your plants. All this for "FREE!"

There is one catch though. Yes, you'll have to spend a little time raking them into your garden beds. And, while you're doing that you can just keep telling yourself: I might have to rake, BUT . . .

#1 - I won't have to buy mulch and drag the bags all over the garden.

#2 - I won't have to buy fertilizer and toss some under each plant.

Do you see the savings adding up already? Keep going.

#3 - I won't have to spend time bagging them and dragging them to the curb.

#4 - I won't have to go to the gym today because I got my exercise in the yard.

Do you get the picture? 

Do you see the benefits of not raking, bagging and dragging them to the curb? 

I thought you might!

Hey, you might even try using your blower to blow some of them into your garden beds.

Now I'm really convincing you. Aren't I? 

So, garden smart and don't let all that free mulch end up on your curb. Take advantage of Mother Nature's bounty and save some $$$'s and time. And, while you're at it, sneak over to your neighbor's driveway after dark and snitch their...already raked...bags of leaves. The more the merrier!

Flowerlady Widow Love Offering Request

For those of you who haven't heard . . . Lorraine's (Flowerlady at Flowerlady's Musings)  spouse of 43 years died unexpectedly this week. Many of  you know Lorraine who is such a sweet and caring person who leaves such thoughtful comments on many Florida gardener's blogs.

Gina, a fellow garden blogger in South Carolina, at Antique Art Garden has been kind enough to establish a way to raise some much  needed funds to assist Lorraine in the upcoming year. If you would like to make a donation, please visit Gina's post for more information. Thank you!

Creating A Wildlife Habitat - Step #5: Sustainable Garden Practices

The last and final step in turning your garden into a wildlife habitat is to garden sustainably. That's a big term for practicing natural garden techniques in your yard. Wildlife are sensitive to chemicals so it makes sense to incorporate this last element into the garden whenever and wherever possible.

The Fifth Element necessary to attract wildlife is to practice sustainable gardening techniques.

Tips for creating a more sustainable landscape:

* Enriching your soil with compost prior to planting will help plants thrive and reduce the chances of insect invasions.

* Plant Florida-friendly and native plants so that you will experience less disease and pest problems.

* Use the least toxic methods for controlling pests such as hand-picking, BT for caterpillars, horticulture oil for scale, baking soda to eliminate crabgrass, horticulture soap for most insects.  

* Mulch (pine bark, hay straw or pine needles - no cypress mulch, please) to reduce weeds.

* Use less fertilizer or eliminate large portions of turf grass.

* Fertilize plants with natural products such as compost, compost tea, fish emulsion or manure.

Wildlife Friendly Tip

Mix up a batch of homemade horticulture soap which is very effective in eliminating a large number of pests in the garden. Mix together 2 Tablespoons of dishwashing liquid into one gallon of water. Pour into a spray bottle and you've got an easy remedy to combat mealybugs, aphids, soft scale, thrips and mites. 

Test out your product on a small portion of a plant before spraying the entire plant as some plants may be sensitive to the soap. Also, do not spray when temperatures are 90 degrees or above. I like to spray my plants in late afternoon and then give them a rinse the next morning. 

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Now that you've turned your yard into a "Florida-friendly Wildlife Habitat" why not take the next step and get it certified by the National Wildlife Federation (NWF). Florida gardens are only 2nd to California in the number of gardens certified by the NWF. So, let's all get on board and make Florida #1 in the country!

As a recap, the following are the 5 steps required by the National Wildlife Federation for creating a "certified wildlife habitat:" 

•Food Sources - For example: Native plants, seeds, fruits, nuts, berries, nectar

•Water Sources - For example: Birdbath, pond, water garden, stream

•Places for Cover - For example: Thicket, rockpile, birdhouse

•Places to Raise Young - For example: Dense shrubs, vegetation, nesting box, pond

•Sustainable Gardening - For example: Mulch, compost, rain garden, chemical-free fertilizer

When you certify your garden, you'll receive all these NWF benefits:

•A personalized certificate that recognizes your NWF Certified Wildlife Habitat™.

•A free NWF membership which includes a full year's subscription to the award-winning National Wildlife® magazine and 10% off all NWF catalog purchases.

•A free subscription to the quarterly e-newsletter, Habitats, full of insightful tips and information on gardening and attracting wildlife year after year.

•Your name listed in NWF's National registry of certified habitats...to recognize all you've done for wildlife.

And, once you complete your application, you'll be eligible to purchase the "wildly" popular Certified Wildlife Habitat™ yard sign (above) that shows your commitment to conserving wildlife.

Start your certification application here >> NWF Certified Wildlife Habitat

As you create your own wildlife friendly garden I would love to hear about your experiences, suggestions, tips and questions involving your transformation. You can reach me at: cenflagardener at gmail.com. Congratulations and good luck in transforming your yard into a wildlife habitat

Creating a Wildlife Habitat - Step #4: Provide Places for Raising Young

Now that you've provided food, water and cover in your garden and the birds, butterflies and other creatures are showing up in great numbers it's time to think about providing places for nesting.

The following ideas will entice wildlife to put out the "Home Sweet Home" sign and make your garden their permanent home.

The FOURTH element to attract wildlife is to provide places for nesting.

Here's 4 suggestions for providing places for nesting: 

Plant a variety of trees. Establishing trees of varying varieties and heights will attract a variety of birds to your garden and provide them with a place to build nests.

Don't forget to include palm trees when deciding which trees you'll grow. Not only do the birds love the berries but the palm fibers are used as nesting material.

When possible, leaving a dead tree trunk. . . also called a "snag" . . . in your yard. The snag in this photo stands between a series of trees planted all around it. It's been there for about 7 years and the woodpeckers love it.

These snags provide a place for cavity nesting birds to create a home. Do be careful that the snag will not cause damage to your home or other structures should it eventually fall over. My snag is slowly decomposing and looks like it will most likely break off in small chunks as it ages.



Attach or hang birdhouses to a tree or post in the garden. Small birds such as wrens and sparrows will appreciate these little homes scattered around your garden. Some small mammals like flying squirrels will also nest in these houses. We have a Bluebird family that has taken up residence in the Bluebird house pictured at the beginning of this post.
Don't forget to include duck houses if you live on the water, and bat houses are another option.

Place a large piece of wood or a woodpile in a quiet area of the yard. I like to incorporate large pieces of wood, such as the one in the photo, in my garden as a decorative piece. This unusually shaped piece of wood looks natural and you can see that some critter has created an entrance to his home where the piece of wood curves. Nothing makes me smile more than making this discovery.

Wildlife Friendly Tip

This half wire basket was repurposed to hold Spanish moss, dryer lint and any other material that birds can use to build nests. When I find a fallen nest I separate it and place the materials in this basket, too.

I'm more than willing to give the birds a little help if I can entice them to nest in my garden.


Attracting wildlife to your garden is only half the equation. To get them to set up home means providing nesting opportunities and that's not difficult to do with a little thought and planning. Your garden will come alive with the sounds and sights of many varieties of birds, butterflies, dragonflies, frogs, squirrels, snakes, armadillos and other types of wildlife. Yes...I said snakes and armadillos! That's all part of creating a "Florida-friendly wildlife habitat" folks.

Creating a Wildlife Habitat - Step #3: Places for Cover

Wildlife needs a certain amount of cover - - trees, shrubs, grasses - - for protection from predators. By providing a network of cover for safe passage it's likely you'll see greater numbers and varieties of wildlife all around your garden.

There's many ways to create covered areas in your garden. Some will produce results quickly while others will take time for trees and plants to establish themselves and grow, but with each passing year more and more wildlife will call your garden home.

We built a new home 5 years ago and our trees and shrubs have grown nicely and our flowerbeds larger, and we are reaping the rewards of seeing birds darting from one tree to another and into areas of shrubbery. We even spotted a rabbit feeding in our front and backyard recently.

The THIRD element necessary to attract wildlife is to provide places for cover.

Here's a list of suggestions for creating cover in your garden:

Plant trees and garden beds of shrubbery around them using a mix of Florida-Friendly and native varieties. Establishing a landscape with trees and plants of varying heights provides a more natural landscape cover for wildlife. When planting trees take into consideration the location of the sun to maximize energy savings for your home. Also, consider planting a mix of evergreen and deciduous varieties, as well as seed and fruit varieties to increase food sources for wildlife.

Create a network of cover areas. This sounds complicated but it simply means establishing trees and garden beds of shrubbery in various places throughout your landscape. In this photo off in the distance are some larger trees...a medium sized tree is a little closer....a palm is near the house as is the shrubbery....and another tree in the forefront of the photo which is hard to see. All of these areas provide cover over a specified area in which birds, squirrels, rabbits have a place to take cover when they dart from tree to shrubbery to tree in search of food.

Replace lawn with groundcovers and large island beds. Groundcovers can be easily maintained and provide cover to a number of small creatures. This island bed in my front yard provides coverage to birds as they dart back and forth to trees that frame our property. As it turned out, this butterfly garden provides lots of yummy caterpillars for the birds to feed on. Keep in mind that wildlife is more likely to use an island bed if it's located near other garden beds.

Add a  woodpile in an area of your garden. In this photo on the left you can see that I left the tree stump of a fallen tree along with a small portion of the tree trunk lying in the center of this bromeliad bed. The remnants of the tree that once stood there now is home to some creature that has dug a hole at the base of the stump. As the wood is slowly decomposing it's enriching the soil for the spreading bromeliads that surround it.

Wildlife Friendly Tip

#1 - Locate birdfeeders near bushes or trees so that birds are not exposed to larger predators.

#2 - Get your neighbors involved. A larger habitat will draw more species into a neighborhood.

Increasing cover in your garden is an essential element that is most often overlooked. By adding a variety of flowerbeds and trees of varying heights throughout your garden you will provide good coverage for wildlife and bring them closer to your home for better viewing.

Creating a Wildlife Habitat - Step #2: Providing Water Sources

Water is a crucial resource for our survival and the same is true for wildlife. In order to attract and keep wildlife in our garden it is important to add at least one source of water...varying types of water sources spread throughout your garden is even more beneficial.

The SECOND element necessary to attract wildlife to your garden is a source of water.

It doesn't have to be a large water pond...adding small elements throughout your garden is all you need.

TO-DO: Add a birdbath, pond or water garden, rain or bog garden, butterfly puddling area to your garden.

 Birdbaths are one of the easiest ways to add a water source to your garden. Adding several in different locations is a good start. Also, consider adding a saucer of water at ground level for other animals. Rocks with depressions in them will fill with rain water for butterflies and other animals. Birds are attracted to the sound of running water, so feel free to include a fountain in your plans.

Adding a pond or water garden to your yard is a more ambitious undertaking but it creates its own small ecosystem that attracts a larger number of wild creatures such as frogs, toads, turtles, racoons, dragonflies, birds and butterflies.

 Rain gardens that contain water runoff and boggy areas of a garden that contain water or stay damp for a portion of the year that are planted with native plants also attract and provide habitat for butterflies, insects, frogs and birds.

Leaving areas of unmulched sandy soil (near butterfly plants) provide butterflies with a puddling area where they can easily get the necessary water, minerals and salt that they need for survival. If you don't want to leave an area of ground unmulched you can create a puddling station in a clay saucer. Just fill it with sand/dirt, place several small stones on top of the soil and keep it moist.

Many times I've caught squirrels sipping water from this small potted water garden in my backyard. It's easy to make and maintain. All you need is a container that doesn't have drainage holes. I added a couple inches of dirt and two native potted Pickerel Weed plants. I filled it with water and added small quantities of tiny native Duckweed and Water Lettuce. Occassionally, I have to add water to it when it doesn't rain but it never smells foul or needs cleaning.

Wildlife Friendly Tip: 

#1 - When cleaning birdbaths use a small amount of vinegar instead of bleach and a good stiff brush to scrub off debris.

#2 - Using native plants in ponds or bog/rain gardens is beneficial to wildlife. 

Adding a variety of water sources to your garden is easy and inexpensive. Position them in different areas of your garden for maximum benefit and sit back and enjoy the entertainment of all the happy creatures that visit them.