FYN Principle #1 - Right Plant, Right Place

Right Plant, Right Place Landscape Design Principles Planning Site Analysis Plant Selection Trees Palms Shrubs Lawns Turf Alternatives Natives Author: Rebecca McNair

Key to Success
Proper planning and plant selection:
Can avoid problems later
Can save energy, effort, water, money, etc.
Makes the landscape more enjoyable

Plan First, Plant Once
This is a process, not a one-time event!
Have a plan!
Know the plants and what they require to thrive
Utilize regional gardening books and magazines
Consult with your UF County Extension Office
Ask qualified nursery professionals for advice

How Do You Currently Use Your Property?
Family Activities?
Pets?
Outdoor entertainment?
Low-maintenance?
Do you like wildlife?
Is there a view you want to hide or enhance?

What are the site characteristics?
Soil
Sand, silt, clay,
Organic materials
pH
Light
Sun or shade
Drainage
Wet or dry
Drainage patterns
Structures and obstructions
Utility lines (overhead and underground)
Sidewalks / driveways

Know Your Plants
What is the mature size of the plant?
Does it grow well in sun or shade?
Does it tolerate flooded conditions?
Is it salt tolerant?
Is it susceptible to pests which may be difficult to control?
Helianthus debilis Beach Daisy

Selecting Plants
Be familiar with botanical names
Binomial nomenclature - a species name has 2 parts:
Genus and specific epithet
Buy healthy plants
Look for new growth
Roots are white and fibrous
Avoid pot bound plants
Avoid diseased or insect infested plants
Jerusalem Thorn Parkinsonia aculeata
Genus
Specific epithet

Engage The Senses
Scent
Fragrant flowers, aromatic plants or mulch
Be mindful of allergens
Sound
Running water, wind chimes
Touch
Fuzzy, waxy, smooth
Taste
Edible fruits, herbs
The sound of running water attracts wildlife.

Trees in the Landscape
Provide shade
Increase property values
Add color
Add texture
Attract wildlife
Provide a framework for the rest of the landscape
Quercus virginiana Live Oak

Factors to Consider
Most trees DO NOT have taproots
Tree roots grow OUT, not down
80 - 90% of a tree root system is found in the upper 18 - 24 inches of the soil.
Roots of trees and shrubs grow to about 3 times the branch spread.
Incorrect Correct

Trees
Trees growing in commercial settings live an average of 13 years
Trees in residential areas average 37 years
Trees in rural, undisturbed sites average 150 years
Some species live longer than others
Rapid growth results in weaker wood and shorter lifespan
Quercus nigra The Water Oak is a relatively short-lived tree.

Urban Influences
Compacted soils
Over-pruning
Limited space for roots
Improper staking
Mechanical injuries
Construction
Pedestrian and vehicle abuse
Improper planting
Improper fertilization

Construction Issues
Changing the soil grade by as little as 6 inches can seriously damage a tree
When building, remove a tree that cannot be adequately protected and plant several younger, healthy trees
When in doubt, consult an arborist!

More Factors to Consider
Trees damaged by construction may not initially show symptoms and may decline slowly for many years
Topping a tree can create a dangerous situation
Trees which are subjected to stress are more susceptible to insects and diseases
Tree paints do not prevent insects or diseases

Selecting the Right Place For a Tree
Know the mature size
Provide adequate space
Trees should be planted at least 15 ft from the foundation of a home!
Avoid overhead power lines
Quercus laurifolia Laurel Oak

Tree Planting Tips
Dig the plant hole the same depth as the root ball and 2 to 3 times wider
Do not amend the backfill soil
Apply 3 to 4 inches of mulch around the tree to retain moisture, but
avoid contact with the
stem or trunk
Water regularly
until established

Transplanting
Container-grown or “hardened-off” balled and burlapped trees can be planted any time of year
Research indicates that establishment time can increase 1-2 months/ inch of trunk diameter

Fertilizing New Trees
Avoid fertilizing a tree until it is established
Proper irrigation is important
Fertilize 4-6 weeks
after planting
Liriodendron tulipifera Tulip Poplar

Palms Are Different!
Palms have only ONE terminal growing point
Palms do not increase in diameter as they mature
Palm roots grow longer but do not increase in diameter
Many palms are harvested from the wild
Transplant palms in spring and summer
Acoelorraphe wrightii Paurotis Palm

Shrubs
Shrubs are woody plants usually with multiple trunks and branches arising from near the roots
They provide structure, texture and color to a landscape
Many shrubs can be pruned to form hedges and topiary figures
Serenoa repens Saw Palmetto

Keep It Simple
Don’t plant shrubs too close together. Space them according to how far they will spread.
Plant in large groups for continuity and increased visual impact
Don’t place too many different species in the same area
Strelitzia reginae Bird of Paradise has a clumping habit; in time, it will fill an area.

Planting Shrubs
Plant in beds
Incorporate organic matter in the bed
Group according to water and maintenance needs
Apply 3 to 4 inches of mulch, but do not allow mulch to rest against the plant stems

Major Turfgrass Species in Florida
St. Augustinegrass
The most popular
Bahiagrass
Very drought tolerant
Seashore paspalum
Very salt tolerant
Bermudagrass
Used on golf courses
Centipedegrass
Common in the Panhandle
Bahiagrass Bermudagrass St. Augustinegrass

St. Augustinegrass- Varieties
Floratam
Poor shade and cold -tolerance
Coarse texture
Resistant to chinch bugs
Reddish colored stolons
Sheds foliage coming out of dormancy
Excellent heat tolerance
Best mowed at 3 - 4 inches
Delmar
Improved shade- tolerance
Dwarf variety
Good cold- tolerance
Susceptible to chinch bugs and sod webworms
Slow growth means it takes longer to establish
Mow at 2.5 - 4 inches

A Shady Spot Even the shade tolerant varieties will do well only up to about 50% shade.

St. Augustinegrass Varieties for Semi-Shade
Bitterblue
Improved cold- and shade-tolerance
Finer, denser texture than Floratam
Susceptible to chinch bugs
Darker green than other varieties
Mow at 3 - 4 inches
Seville
Does well in partial shade
Semi-dwarf type, mow at 2 - 3 inches
Susceptible to chinch bugs (more in sun than in shade)
More prone to thatch formation than other varieties

Drought Tolerant Varieties
Seashore paspalum
‘ SeaIsle 1’
Excellent salt and drought tolerance
Tolerates flooding and some shade
Fine textured, dense, dark green growth
Disease and pest resistant
Moderate thatch
Mow at 1 – 2 inches
Bahiagrass
Argentine
Good cold and drought tolerance
Poor salt and shade tolerance
Coarse textured, dense growth
Dormant in winter
Wear tolerant
Mow at 3 - 4 inches

Turf areas should be functional and easy to maintain!

Alternatives To Turf
Landscaping beds require less effort and cost less to maintain than turf
Consider low-maintenance ground covers, mulched landscape beds, and pathways

Native Plants
Native Plants are adapted to Florida’s environment
Many non-native species are also appropriate for a “Florida-Friendly Landscape”
Visit garden stores and ask
about low maintenance
and native plants
Association of Florida Native Nurseries
www.afnn.org
Search for a specific plant and locate the native plant nurseries that sell it!
www.floridata.com Zamia floridana Coontie

A Few Natives Rhapidophyllum hystrix Needle Palm Passiflora edulis Passion Vine Calicarpa americana Beautyberry www.floridata.com Erythrina herbacea Cherokee Bean

Environmentally Friendly Landscaping
Your yard is an integral part of the protection and preservation of Florida’s environment.

The collective decisions we make about our landscapes have a profound impact on the quality of surface and ground water supplies, and ultimately, our quality of life.

With a little thought, our landscapes can combine beauty, function and environmental protection.

Further Reading http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu
Circular 536 Basic Principles of Landscape Design
ENH-15 Budgeting For a Better Landscape
ENH-25 Native Florida Plants for Home Landscapes
SS-ENH-901 Botany Handbook for Florida, Revised Edition

Thanks for your attention!
The following presentation was made possible through a grant from FL DEP and EPA. Special thanks to the following reviewers for their valued contributions:
FL114 ELM Design Team and the FYN Subcommittee
Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, UF
Agriculture Education and Communication Department
Environmental Horticulture Department
Entomology and Nematology Department
Soil and Water Sciences Department
Florida Cooperative Extension Service in: Alachua, Broward, Clay, Hillsborough, Lake, Miami-Dade, Orange, Pinellas, Sarasota, and Volusia Counties
Florida Organics Recycling Center for Excellence
The Center For Wetlands, UF
United States Department of Agriculture
FL Department of Agriculture and Consumer Sciences: Division of Plant Industry

FYN Principle #1 - Right Plant, Right Place

by Charlotte County UF/IFAS Extension Service

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FYN Principle #1 - Right Plant, Right Place Presentation Transcript