- Utilize available resources to determine natural plant communities that would exist in you landscape (resources include soil surveys and guides to natural plant communities).
- Take into account limitations such as existing trees that can’t be removed, neighboring landscaping practices and unfortunately governmental and quasi-governmental restrictions that may regulate the extent to which environmentally beneficial landscaping is possible.
- Observe well maintained examples of the native plant communities selected for your landscape in State Parks, Forests and other natural areas in your vicinity to get a feel for the aesthetic of the desired plant communities.
- Educate yourself on plant species appropriate for the plant communities you are seeking to create as well as invasive species and weedy plants that will hinder development of a sustainable native plant community.
- Become familiar with invasive and weedy plants in your area by visiting abandoned areas in your neighborhood and town, with attention to areas with similar soil types and utilize resources to identify these species (FLEPPC list, IFAS “Weeds of Southern Turfgrasses”, Floras, etc.)
FLECL
Florida Ecologically Centered Landscaping
