If you want to grow of garden of any kind on your Florida property, you may want to get into composting. Composting is especially helpful in Florida because you'll probably be doing a lot of pruning over time, and it will be very convenient and helpful to the environment to place all the branches and other material you have removed from your yard in a compost bin. It's also easy to throw your kitchen scraps and vegetables in the compost.

As the materials compost in the bin, a rich humus develops that you can then use back in your garden. Just lay the humus in the garden bed to enrich the soil and encourage the growth of a more bountiful garden. The microbes present in the compost are extremely beneficial to garden beds.

Another issue when it comes to landscaping in Florida involves how much turf to include in the entire design. Generally, in Florida it's a better idea to focus more on landscaping and minimize the amount of grass you plant. Many homeowners who live on the water are tempted to plant grass all the way to the bulkhead at the edge of the water, but this isn't recommended because of runoff issues. If you use pesticides and fertilizers on your lawn, they will trickle down into the water system, which is not good for the environment. If you want to avoid runoff problems, plant a low shrub bed at the edge of the waterfront. Essentially, any plant that requires less pruning, fewer fertilizers, and less watering, is a good idea for planting near the water's edge.

Water conservation is a big key issue when it comes to Florida landscaping. When putting together your garden and yard, you have to take more into consideration than just how it will end up looking. For instance, you should plant trees and shrubs that don't require a lot of maintenance or watering. The less you have to water your garden the more water will be conserved.

That's the main reason you should minimize the amount of turf in a Florida yard - the more grass you have the more you have to water. If you have less grass water conservation becomes a priority.

Even if you have a large yard, you can reduce the amount of grass planted by creating larger plant beds with shrubs and other plants instead of grass. The type of grass you select is also important. Look for a grass that doesn't mind a hot climate.

When selecting plants, think in terms of water conservation as well. Choose plants that require little maintenance and small amounts of watering. Plants that attract wildlife are ideal, and if you select species that provide a lot of ground cover, eventually you won't have to worry about mulch anymore. Mulch is important when you are establishing a garden, however, because it will conserve moisture and encourage root growth.

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