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This publication describes an example ordinance that can be used by local governments as a starting point for developing a compost amendment ordinance tailored to their local situation and conditions. Written by Jovana Radovanovic, James D. McGuire, Jana Caracciolo, Tom Ankersen, and Eban Z. Bean, and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, October 2021.

Florida-Friendly LandscapingTM (FFL) protects natural resources through water conservation, waste and nonpoint source pollution reduction, erosion prevention, and creation of wildlife-sustaining habitats by implementing science-based landscaping practices. 4-H Florida-Friendly LandscapingTM Curriculum fosters environmental stewardship among youth and allows them to engage in conserving water, soil, and vegetation resources from an early age. This curriculum addresses Florida’s unique environment and may be used alone or as a supplement to the 4-H Junior Master Gardener curriculum. Through 4-H Florida-Friendly LandscapingTM Curriculum, youth will learn nine basic principles of FFL, including water, soil, and vegetation conservation through landscape and gardening activities. This curriculum targets youth in grades 6 to 8 (ages 10 to 14) and contains both in-classroom and home activities that allow youth to understand and engage the world around them, thereby helping them gain life skills in the areas of Head, Heart, Hands, and Health. All volunteers and instructors utilizing this resource should work with their local 4-H Extension Agent to appropriately enroll youth in 4-H in order for them to experience the full benefits of the 4-H Youth Development program and to receive credit for completion of a 4-H project.Leader Guide; https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/4h411

Florida-Friendly LandscapingTM (FFL) protects natural resources through water conservation, waste and nonpoint source pollution reduction, erosion prevention, and creation of wildlife-sustaining habitats by implementing science-based landscaping practices. 4-H Florida-Friendly LandscapingTM Curriculum fosters environmental stewardship among youth and allows them to engage in conserving water, soil, and vegetation resources from an early age. This curriculum addresses Florida’s unique environment and may be used alone or as a supplement to the 4-H Junior Master Gardener curriculum. Through 4-H Florida-Friendly LandscapingTM Curriculum, youth will learn nine basic principles of FFL, including water, soil, and vegetation conservation through landscape and gardening activities. This curriculum targets youth in grades 6 to 8 (ages 10 to 14) and contains both in-classroom and home activities that allow youth to understand and engage the world around them, thereby helping them gain life skills in the areas of Head, Heart, Hands, and Health. All volunteers and instructors utilizing this resource should work with their local 4-H Extension Agent to appropriately enroll youth in 4-H in order for them to experience the full benefits of the 4-H Youth Development program and to receive credit for completion of a 4-H project. Workbook; https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/4h422

Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ (FFL) provides science-based landscape design and plant selection practices for installing and maintaining resilient, aesthetically pleasing landscapes. Once established, FFL landscapes require little, if any, irrigation, fertilizer, or pesticides. This new 7-page publication of the UF/IFAS Environmental Horticulture Department provides a brief overview of the FFL program, outreach, and requirements.

Maintaining edible landscapes in a way that protects the environment is an important concern for protecting Florida’s water quality. The objective of this new 7-page publication of the UF/IFAS Environmental Horticulture Department is to introduce the framework of the Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ principles and apply the principles to guide decisions about Best Management Practices (BMPs) for care of edible landscapes. Written by Tiare Silvasy, Lynn Barber, Esen Momol, Tina McIntyre, Tom Wichman, Gail Hansen, Jen Marvin, Terra Freeman, Joseph Sewards, Wendy Wilber, and Jacqlyn Rivas.https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep594

Septic systems are common throughout most rural areas, and their care and maintenance are essential to the health of people, wildlife, livestock, agricultural commodities, and water resources. One way to ensure optimal performance of your septic system is to landscape appropriately near the drain field. The purpose of this new 3-page publication of the UF/IFAS Department of Soil and Water Sciences is to provide landscape management guidance for septic system drain fields. Information presented here will be useful for homeowners, landscape management professionals, and Extension agents who work in horticulture, natural resources, agriculture, and family services. Written by Whitney C. Elmore, William Lester, James Moll, Andrea Albertin, and Mary Lusk.https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ss687

Trees in cities were formerly thought of merely as a collection of individuals found along streets and incorporated into landscaping. However, urban trees are now viewed as being part of a unique forest type, and understanding the urban forest’s structure and composition is an important first step towards managing it. This 4-page fact sheet written by Michael G. Andreu, Caroline A. Hament, David A. Fox, and Robert J. Northrop and published by the UF/IFAS School of Forest Resources and Conservation aims to provide a broader understanding of the urban forest in the city of Gainesville, Florida. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fr413

Florida-Friendly Landscaping protects Florida’s unique natural resources by conserving water, reducing waste and pollution, creating wildlife habitat, and preventing erosion. This 12-page document will help the reader with selecting and writing a landscape contract that follows Florida-Friendly Landscaping principles. Written by Adam Dale, Claire Lewis, Esen Momol, Don Rainey, John Bossart, C. J. Bain, Jen Marvin, Lynn Barber, Norman Leppla, Gary Knox, and Thomas T. Ankerson and published by the UF/IFAS Environmental Horticulture Department. https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep347

With increasing concerns related to water in Florida, Extension can target households with irrigated landscapes to promote landscaping practices that protect water quality and quantity. We used landscape design features from 2,100 Florida households to segment households into subgroups that may have different educational needs. Data analysis revealed two distinct subgroups based on landscape design features: the diversity-prone water protectors and the apathetic landscape minimalists. Comparison of subgroups revealed that compared to apathetic landscape minimalists, households in diversity-prone water protectors’ subgroup had higher personal obligation, more social support, stronger perceived behavioral control, and more engagement in water protection behaviors. Extension professionals can use the connection between diverse landscape design features and to water protection behaviors to encourage good irrigation and fertilizer practices.

ENH-1080, a 15-page fact sheet by Annemarie Post, Margaret D. Dessaint, Donald Rainey, and Fred Santana, provides guidelines that community associations can use for selecting a landscape maintenance contractor and write an effective contract. Published by the UF Department of Environmental Horticulture, October 2007. ENH1080/EP347: Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Guidelines for Community Associations: Considerations for Selecting a Landscape Contractor and Writing an Effective Landscaping Contract (ufl.edu)

Revised! ENH-971, a 3-page fact sheet by Eva C. Worden and Sydney Park Brown, describes a landscaping practice that replaces plants that are strictly ornamental with plants that produce food. Published by the UF Department of Environmental Horticulture, November 2007. ENH971/EP146: Edible Landscaping+ (ufl.edu)

Circular 1478, an 8-page illustrated publication by Cotton K. Randall, L. Annie Hermansen-Báez, and Glenn Acomb, gives a brief overview of several different landscaping goals, including wildfire risk reduction (Firewise), wildlife habitat creation or enhancement, water conservation, and energy conservation. It introduces the main principles and compares each to firewise landscaping. It also briefly discusses examples of programs and guidelines that incorporate multiple goals. Includes additional resources and a table showing compatibilities of several landscaping goals and firewise landscaping principles. Published by the UF School of Forest Resources and Conservation, October 2006.

This document is Circular 1429, one of a series of the Department of Widlife Ecology and Conservation, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. First published in January 2003. CIR 1429/UW175: Landscaping Backyards for Wildlife: Top Ten Tips for Success (ufl.edu)

Landscaping in the urban setting offers tremendous opportunity for contributing to sustainability. One such opportunity is edible landscaping. Edible landscapes are those that include plant species for human consumption. This document is ENH971, one of a series of the Environmental Horticulture Department, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Original publication date May 2004. ENH971/EP146: Edible Landscaping (ufl.edu)

This extension publication outlines plant characteristics that have the greatest effect on flammability, as discussed at three levels: plant parts (primarily leaves), whole plants, and groups of plants. Selecting firewise plants can reduce wildfire risk, but during drought conditions, most plants will burn if exposed to enough heat, regardless of their flammability. This document is Circular 1445, one of the series Fire in the Wildland-Urban Interface of the School of Forest Resources and Conservation, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. First published: March 2004. Circular 1445/FR147: Fire in the Wildland-Urban Interface: Selecting and Maintaining Firewise Plants for Landscaping (ufl.edu)