Front Yard Transformation

I included the “before” pictures (at the end) because they show a typical yard of mixed turf with added random, non-native shrubs. The “after” pictures reflect a Phase 1 planting (pictured at 6 months in the ground) and new plantings where the entirety of the turf was removed. The new space already hosts wildlife such as birds, hummingbirds, bees and butterflies and will house more as it continues to grow. I designed for layers of small native trees, shrubs, grasses that can take full sun and very dry conditions. I made sitting areas and pathways with 250 Sand. There are long-lasting trellises made with hog panels and t-stakes. I located plant beds away from the house foundation to let the house have air flow and planned for an open area over the septic tank and drain field. Another challenge was to keep the plantings low enough to stay out of the way of the overhead electrical lines.

- Annie Schiller, Florida Native Plants Nursery Landscape Designer