Florida Xeriscapes with Style!

Xeriscapes for Florida

Xeriscaping in Florida translates to a style of landscaping that's drought tolerant and water wise. A term that's borrowed from Southwestern style landscape design, most people see it as a landscape covered in rocks and devoid of any plants. Many feel this is a no-maintenance approach too. Based on my experience, vast expanses of rock in the Florida landscape not only require regular weeding which gets worse over time but also tend to become a hassle after the rock bed has been in for a while. Rock beds are a good solution in some instances, and they can make a nice enhancement as a component of the design.

Florida Xeriscaping should incorporate several elements.  If you don't want to have a lawn, we can do that.  The care of this type of landscape is different and I make sure you understand what will be needed before we install the landscape, not after. 

Xeriscaping Goals

If you would like to install a garden or landscape that requires minimal water, you have come to the right place.  Most Clients contact me about xeriscaping options for the landscape because they want to conserve water and have a low maintenance landscape. There are many different ways to achieve this!  I don't know how many rock beds we have dug out and removed so that we can properly install a water wise landscape. Rocks are a great accent, good for paths, and interesting in designs which utilize many elements.

To achieve the goal of irrigation conservation, special consideration must be paid to plant selection and establishment procedures. Using a good quality design to combine these elements with natural stone and you will truly have a 'Florida Xeriscape!" 

This is where I come in, contact me to arrange a consult and design for your water wise landscape!

Xeriscape Maintenance

As stated above, this type of landscaping is usually combined with rocks to create that southwestern look. But vast expanses of rocks are not without their maintenance requirements. If you cover extensive areas with loose rock, you can count on the need to control weeds in these areas. Over time, dirt and debris is blown in and settles in the gaps, providing a prime spot for weed seeds to settle and germinate among the rock. The only viable options I have found for weed control in rock gardens is either systemic herbicides or a weed flamer.  I do not recommend the weed flamer because of the fire hazard during extended drought periods in Florida.

Speaking of drought periods in Florida, xeriscaping has also become a catch all term used to describe a garden that doesn't require water. While this is possible, there is a short list of plants that can not only survive in Florida sun but remain aesthetically acceptable during extended drought conditions.  Further, the plants must be properly established before they can exist without supplemental irrigation.

Xeriscaping with a … lawn?

Also, you don't have to abandon the lawn altogether.  You can intelligently use less grass in limited areas where it will thrive with minimal effort relative to the turf selection.  I have installed small areas of lawn that only need a few minutes with an electric mower to keep it nice.