Florida-friendly yards

Your decisions are important.
They impact water supply, water quality and natural systems. Demand for water will naturally escalate as new home construction continues for Florida’s expanding population.

Our program

The District’s regional landscape education program promotes the use of Florida-friendly landscaping to builders, developers and landscape and irrigation professionals. The goals of the program are to help members of the construction industries conserve water and protect the environment through the incorporation of Florida-friendly landscape design, installation and maintenance into their projects.

Outreach efforts include conferences, workshops, one-on-one interactions, newspaper articles, distribution of printed materials and participation in Parade of Homes events. Education is based on the nine Florida-friendly landscaping principles.

Our resident expert — available for you

Angela Polo Maraj serves as the District’s regional builder/developer landscape education specialist. She has worked with dozens of top builders who have successfully included Florida-friendly landscaping in their properties and communities. She also has coordinated the District’s Water-Wise Landscaping Recognition Program for the past four years for the Parade of Homes event of the Home Builders Association of Manatee and Sarasota counties, and she designed and coordinated the installation of a Florida-friendly landscape for a new home built by Bob Vila for his national television show. Maraj is a certifying agent of the Florida Green Building Coalition, a certified landscape designer and is certified by the Landscape Maintenance Association.

The District also funds Florida-friendly landscaping education programs for builders, developers and landscape and irrigation professionals in four other counties.

Get help from our experts

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