After the grass has been stripped, lay down a
fabric tarp to ensure no weeds will pop up
underneath the material. A bed of river rock,
shell, mulch, or any other gravel can be laid
around plants of your choosing, and fi nished with
a border. Additional touches can include
anything from fl agstones, rock
fountains or displays, birdbaths,
statues and more.
After a few years the
underlying landscaping
fabric can become
punctured and worn,
so a good border
technique or a different
tarp is recommended.
This inconvenience,
compared to
the constant weeding of
a typical yard, is minor.
“Everyone thinks it’s Hawaii
here,” said Riker.
He explained that landscapes that
need extra attention and water are often due
to plants that have not – or cannot – adapt to
Florida’s stubborn soil.
48 GASPARILLA MAGAZINE May/June 2020
Florida native plants that work well with a
xeriscaped lawn include fi rebush, beautyberry,
sweet acacia, weeping lantana shrub, blanket
fl ower, beach sunfl ower, marlberry and succulents.
Wildfl owers that have adapted to this
environment include the gaillardia, ironweed
and purple conefl ower. These drought-tolerant
plants thrive in the low fertility
dirt of our state. A garden like this
will also attract the right kinds
of insects to keep the system’s
balance.
The best part about a
xeriscaped yard is not only
the lack of maintenance, but
also the concept of working
with nature. With a number
of native plants and no grass
to mow, the landscape begins to
work with the rest of our natural
environment and Florida’s ecosystem.
Caring for the yard only requires
pre-planned spacing for plants to grow, and
a watering mechanism. Sprinkler systems are typically
the source of a lot of water waste, particulary
when half of it sprays out onto the sidewalk.