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Florida Green Local Government
LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE

For more information visit us online at
floridagreenbuilding.org








Florida
Green Local Government
Designation














Planning for our tomorrow...
Working smarter today!


A
BOUT THE
F
LORIDA
G
REEN
L
OCAL
G
OVERNMENT
D
ESIGNATION

The Florida Green Local Government Designation is intended to be a standard for evaluating
and rating the environmental and sustainability performance of local governments within the state.
The overall designation organizes criteria in terms of individual government functions typically
centralized within a department. The designation then focuses on improving the environmental
performance of these functions through a number of techniques and mediums (energy, water, air,
land, waste). Primary techniques include recommendations for what the local government can do
in-house to lead by example within the community, controls and incentives that can be enacted
to foster green practices within the community, and education within the community, including
internal staff. In addition to providing a rating system, it is believed that this standard will serve as a
valuable resource for enlightening local governments and exposing them to options that they may
not have considered before or have not implemented fully.
For more information about the Green Local Government Designation please visit us
online at
http://www.floridagreenbuilding.org/
.

O
VERVIEW OF THIS
D
OCUMENT

This module is not intended to provide a detailed explanation of basic job functions. Readers of
this document should already be familiar with basic landscaping maintenance procedures. This
module is intended to highlight common landscape maintenance operations that often have the
potential to demonstrate sustainable practices that go beyond basic compliance. Throughout this
module, short descriptions of options are provided for consideration. Along with these short
descriptions, the location of additional resources have been provided to allow more detailed
research prior to implementing options. In addition, available case studies have been cited to
demonstrate real world application of techniques.
D
ISCLAIMER

The information contained in this document is believed to be accurate and reliable and is
intended to provide options available for improvement of operations. However, the application of
this information is at each local governments discretion. This module is not intended to be a
compliance manual. Landscape maintenance managers are advised to work with their local and
state environmental regulatory agencies to determine relevant rules and regulations, and how to
remain in compliance within their own regions.
Any products or services mentioned in this document are provided only as example references
and are not to be considered an endorsement or a comprehensive list of vendors available. Local
governments are encouraged to research all available vendors and evaluate their performance
based on relevant criteria such as costs, regulatory compliance, reliability, reviews from past
customers, etc.
A
CKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This module was originally developed in 2004 by:
Miami-Dade County
Department of Environmental Resources Management
Office of Sustainable Environment & Education
33 SW 2 Avenue, Miami, FL
Phone: 305.372.6784
Website:
http://www.miamidade.gov/derm/

This project was supported by the U.S. Department of Energy and the Florida Department of
Community Affairs/Florida Energy Office through the University of Central Florida. F
LORIDA
G
REEN
L
OCAL
G
OVERNMENT
D
ESIGNATION
: L
ANDSCAPE
M
AINTENANCE


T
ABLE OF
C
ONTENTS


SECTION I -

LEAD BY EXAMPLE........................................................................................... 3

A.

P
LAN
U
SING
N
ATURE FOR
S
ITE
L
AYOUT AND
P
REPARATION
................................................. 4

1.

Identify and work with existing features..................................................................................... 4

2.

Preserving existing desirable trees ........................................................................................... 5

3.

Identify and plan for environmental characteristics ................................................................... 5

4.

Draw a site plan......................................................................................................................... 6

5.

Identify and incorporate functional needs.................................................................................. 6

6.

Identify and incorporate aesthetic desires................................................................................. 6

7.

Use low-maintenance ground-cover instead of turf................................................................... 6

8.

Group plants by common environmental and maintenance needs ........................................... 6

9.

Removal of invasive species ..................................................................................................... 7

10.

Its not just the plants................................................................................................................. 7

B.

R
IGHT
P
LANT
R
IGHT
P
LACE
.............................................................................................. 8

1.

Select environmentally compatible and native plants ............................................................... 8

2.

Vary plant material to encourage bio-diversity .......................................................................... 8

3.

Ensure utility and hardscape clearance .................................................................................... 8

4.

Ensure adequate spacing.......................................................................................................... 9

5.

Plant for shading and energy conservation ............................................................................... 9

6.

Avoid invasive species .............................................................................................................. 9

7.

Select appropriate turf grasses................................................................................................ 10

C.

X
ERISCAPING AND
W
ATER
C
ONSERVING
I
RRIGATION
S
YSTEMS
......................................... 11

1.

Right plant - Right place .......................................................................................................... 11

2.

Use xeriscaping and native plants........................................................................................... 12

3.

Design the irrigation system to match the landscape.............................................................. 12

4.

Use irrigation timers and sensors............................................................................................ 12

5.

Use drip or micro-irrigation ...................................................................................................... 12

6.

Perform periodic maintenance................................................................................................. 13

7.

Evaluate rain water collection systems ................................................................................... 13

8.

Evaluate reclaimed or gray water use ..................................................................................... 13

D.

M
ULCH AND
C
OMPOST
...................................................................................................... 14

1.

Apply mulch properly ............................................................................................................... 14

2.

Use organic mulch whenever practical.................................................................................... 14

3.

Evaluate use of inorganic mulching materials ......................................................................... 15

4.

Consider composting and the use of compost ........................................................................ 15

E.

F
ERTILIZERS
..................................................................................................................... 16

1.

Right plant - Right place .......................................................................................................... 16

2.

Fertilize to achieve a targeted objective .................................................................................. 16

3.

Apply fertilizers appropriately .................................................................................................. 16

4.

Consider exclusively using organic fertilizers.......................................................................... 17

5.

Capture run-off for reuse ...........................................