Trees, plants, flowers, shrubs and turf are essentially what make up our subtropical landscape. Besides their natural beauty, they provide fruit to eat, a shelter for wildlife and simply a cool spot to relax. Best of all, they also help save you money.
South Florida landscape is just as diverse as our population. And just as you will find a multitude of cultures, you also encounter an array of plant and tree species. We have everything from fruit trees and ferns to palms and flowering plants, but looks can be deceiving. Sure, some parts of Miami-Dade County have lots of shade but you may be surprised to know that compared to other urban areas of comparable size, we actually fall short. Currently, Miami-Dade County only has a 10% tree canopy compared to the nationwide average of 30%.
Increasing our canopy adds to the area’s natural beauty, but there are other reasons why having more trees makes a lot of sense. For one thing, trees provide shade, which in turn can reduce home cooling costs by up to 30%. A well-landscaped yard that includes trees can also increase your property value by up to 15%. In addition, trees help to reduce flooding and storm water runoff.
Now that you know the benefits of trees and plants you can see why increasing our canopy is so crucial. All residents need to work together to accomplish this task and fortunately Miami-Dade County is taking steps that are making a great, green impact.
What is Miami-Dade County doing?
Creating Your Florida Yard
What is Miami-Dade County doing?
Miami-Dade County is increasing the tree canopy in South Florida with the help of the Adopt-a-Tree program, which has found a home for over 60,000 trees since it began in 2001. At Adopt-a-Tree events, which are held various times throughout the year, Miami-Dade County homeowners can come pick up trees and best of all, it’s free.
All Miami-Dade single-family and duplex homeowners are eligible for up to 2 trees per property per year. You can pick from a variety of species, which include ornamental shade trees and non-citrus fruit trees. The program also provides information on how to plant and care for your new tree. Remember, with the help of Miami-Dade County’s Adopt-a-Tree program you aren’t just improving your own yard, but ultimately you are making our County a better place to live.
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Creating Your Florida Yard
When it comes to landscape, green is good, but it takes more than green to make a yard great. There are several key principles and here are just a few:
- Choose the right plant for the right place
Plant selection is undoubtedly the fun part of landscaping, but it’s also one of the most important. In selecting the right tree or plant, it’s always a good idea to match each spot in your landscape with species that thrive in the specific conditions of that spot. When established in the right location, most trees and plants will require little supplemental water, fertilizers or pesticides. Some species that thrive in our climate include Live Oak, Gumbo Limbo, Sabal Palm, Orange Geiger and Seagrape.
- Avoid invasive species
When choosing your trees and plants, think responsibly. Avoid invasive species, they crowd out native plants by dominating water and nutrients and displace native wildlife.
- Save water
Don’t waste it by letting your plants tell you when they need water. Keep in mind that lawns and plants benefit most from a ¾” deep watering rather than a little bit everyday. It’s actually better to water before the sun rises so that more water is absorbed by your landscape and less water is lost to the wind or sun. In addition, reduce the amount of water that you dispose of in the storm drain system when watering your lawn and washing your car.
- Use mulch
It isn’t just an aesthetic landscape element; it’s actually very beneficial. Maintaining a 2-3” layer of mulch keeps the soil cool, cuts down on evaporation and weed growth, reduces erosion and provides nutrients to soil. This requires less herbicide, less water and saves you money.
- Don’t mow too low
The best method for mowing your lawn is to set your mower blade at its highest level, allowing grass blades to stay about 3 inches long. The longer blades of grass develop deeper roots and shade the soil. This results in better water retention and a lower water bill.
- Prune Properly
When properly done, it not only improves the appearance of the tree it also strengthens it, making it less susceptible to damage during a storm. Proper pruning means removing mainly the interior branches and no more than 25-30% of the tree canopy. To ensure that you don’t damage your trees or yourself, your safest bet is to hire a certified arborist, who is specially trained in proper pruning techniques.
- Avoid Using a Leaf Blower
Although time consuming, your best bet is to gather fallen leaves with a rake and either dispose of them or use them as mulch. A leaf blower only moves leaves towards storm drains causing clogging which leads to flooding.
- Attract wildlife
Providing native flowering and fruit plants can bring birds and butterflies into your yard and your view. Start off by incorporating a bird nest or feeder in your yard or create a butterfly garden.
- Compost
Try to recycle your yard waste. Turn grass clippings, leaves and yard trimmings into mulch instead of trash. Don’t throw your organic materials away; you can compost them. Composting means you convert your organic kitchen and yard waste into usable fertilizer.
- Keep things natural
Don’t replace natural landscape with concrete. Ground that has been covered with concrete is unable to soak up rainwater. This not only causes flooding, but it keeps our aquifer from being recharged with fresh water.
- Use the right type and the right amount
If you must use fertilizers or pesticides, be sure to use the right type and do not over-apply. If not properly used, they can be hazardous to your yard and the environment. When over-applied, fertilizers aggravate insect and disease problems and force excessive growth which must then be mowed or pruned. Choosing a non-chemical pesticide may be a bit more expensive, but it’s much safer.
Doing things like choosing the right plant for the right place and maintaining your yard with environment friendly practices does more than just improve your landscape. Proper plant selection and maintenance also saves you time and money, and enhances our special South Florida environment.
Every community, every neighborhood and every yard is an essential part of our local landscape. It’s important to remember that each yard is a crucial component. Creating a Florida friendly environment starts in your own backyard.
View a Video Clip of Down to Earth Award Winning Episode "Yard Care 101."
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