Success Stories
Florida Yards & Neighborhoods
Bob Vila grew up in Miami and attended the University of Florida. So it's no surprise that, when he recently started a new television program, the famed home improvement guru returned to Florida to film a series of shows about current issues in homeownership.
After building a hurricane-ready house in Punta Gorda for his television show, Vila utilized the expertise of the UF/IFAS Florida Yards & Neighborhoods program to create "Florida-friendly" landscaping for the house. Florida-friendly landscaping practices are characterized by the use of low maintenance plants.
Yards that use low maintenance plants can serve as much-needed habitats for wildlife in a state whose population has quadrupled in the past four decades, and whose growth shows no sign of slowing anytime soon.
The Florida Yards & Neighborhoods program helps homeowners save time, energy, and money by reducing the need for water, fertilizers, and pesticides. The program benefits the environment by reducing the pollution of our waters and ecosystems caused by fertilizers and pesticides commonly used in yards.
Florida Yards & Neighborhoods, available in forty of the state's sixty-seven counties, encourages homeowners to water efficiently; mulch; recycle; select the least-toxic pest control measures; put the right plant in the right place; fertilize only when necessary; provide food, water, and shelter for wildlife; protect surface water bodies (bays, rivers, streams, and ponds); and minimize stormwater runoff.
Yards that adhere to Florida Yards & Neighborhoods principles are attractive, easy to maintain, and help protect Florida's unique environment for future generations to enjoy. To learn more about the program, visit the Florida Yards & Neighborhoods Web site.
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