Our inhospitable environment in Central Florida can make it difficult to keep your landscape looking its best or your garden in tip top shape. From the blazing heat to sandy soil, and the perfect climate for pests and bugs. On top of that, you need to know what plants to grow.
Many people achieve that perfect looking landscape with a host of pesticides, fertilizer, and herbicides, but they are only hurting our waterways, natural environment, and our drinking supply.
The Solution Is A Florida Friendly Landscape
The University of Florida IFAS Extension started the Florida Friendly Landscape program, with the goal of preserving our natural resources and protecting Florida’s unique beauty.
It’s only 9 simple landscape principles, which are environmentally sustainable and research based, to help homeowners maintain a beautiful property.
Those principles are:
Right Plant, Right Place
Water Efficiently
Fertilize Appropriately
Mulch
Attract Wildlife
Manage Yard Pests Responsibly
Recycle
Reduce Stormwater Runoff
Protect the Waterfront
While all 9 principles are important, mulch is a huge part of the process. Next time you visit a natural area, such as a state park, take notice of the environment. The primary way that nature cares for the plant life and soils is with mulch.
It is mulch that covers most of the ground, whether it is decomposing wood, pine needles, bark, leaves, or some type of debris from trees. This is how nature takes care of itself.
You can follow the same principles in your landscape by adding 2 -3 inch layer of organic mulch to flower beds, walkways, paths, an area where grass or plant’s won’t grow or a place you want to keep weeds from growing.
Mulch also helps:
Retain moisture, which means you won’t have to water as often.
Insulates the soil from the cold and extreme heat
Surpasses unwanted plants and weeds, keeping them from competing for nutrients
Reduces stormwater run-off and soil erosion
Add vital nutrients to the soil as it breaks down.
Creating low maintenance gardens and landscape will help free up your time for better things. Just choose the type of mulch you want, determine how much you will need, and give Reliable Peat a call and we can deliver fresh, quality mulch to your home. It’s as simple as that!
