Living in Southwest Florida has many advantages over other parts of the country. But when it comes to Florida landscaping around your home, there are very unique challenges.
As you well know, the rain levels and droughts are as unpredictable as the Florida Lottery — you never know what each day’s draw is going to be. Droughts can last for weeks, then 3 inches of rain will fall in a few hours.
These conditions challenge even the greenest thumb.
Top-notch Florida landscaping revolves around using plants and techniques that are highly drought tolerant (or resistant altogether).
Let’s look at some of your best Florida landscaping options.
Use Succulents in Your Florida Landscaping
Succulents don’t need much water at all. In fact, they hold water for days on end.
Even better, the suggested way to water a succulent is to basically over-water it, then wait until the soil is bone dry before watering again.
This is why they work so great in Florida landscaping. They can soak up several inches of rain at a time, then wait through a short to medium length draught before needing water again.
Some succulents to incorporate include:
- Burro’s tails
- Aloe
- Hens and chicks
Ornamental Grasses
Typical lawn grasses require a lot of watering, making them obsolete for low-water landscaping.
Ornamental lawn grasses are beautiful and thrive in low-water environments.
Some to consider are:
- Blue Oatgrass
- Blue Fescue
- Little Bluestem
- Fountain Grass
- Purple Fountaingrass
- Pampas Grass
Get creative when planting these grasses. Mix together short and tall grasses with some beautifully colored grasses.
It’ll give your landscape a great look while needing very little water.
Low-Water Perennials
No landscape is complete without a wide selection of flowers. For Florida landscaping, you need to select flowers that are robust and need a minimal amount of water.
For a low-water perennial feast of colors, consider some of these options:
- Yarrow (typically come in yellow, but other colors can be found)
- Russian Sage (very fragrant perennial with silver leaves and flowers colored of lavender)
- Blanket Flower (these look like daisies and can be orange, red or yellow)
- Kangaroo Paw (exotic looking, can be orange, yellow or red)
- Lavender (who doesn’t love the color and smell of lavender?)
- Salvia (no, not saliva — these bloom into a deep crimson red color)
Consider Replacing Traditional Grass With Stone or Gravel
This idea is about as drought resistant as you can get.
While some Florida landscaping is done with artificial grass, stone or gravel can give a more appealing look.
When you landscape with stone or gravel, you’ll achieve a look that is both minimalist and contemporary. Once the material is laid, it’ll require very minimal maintenance (and obviously no water).
Stone and gravel landscaping looks great with a fire pit and loads of succulents and perennials surrounding it.
Cheating the Drought
When choosing the right plants, flowers and materials for your Florida landscaping project, keep in mind that water-hungry plants will lose to a drought.
If you want to cheat the drought and have a beautifully landscaped yard year-round, follows these simple guidelines.
If all of this seems like too much work in your busy schedule, our landscaping services can help you create a yard that is the envy of the entire neighborhood.
Here’s to a beautiful Florida yard!
R & R Sprinkler & Landscape
931 SE 11th Avenue
Cape Coral, FL 33990
(239) 772-2607
