Division of Support Operations
Florida-Friendly Landscaping and School Gardens
Florida-Friendly Landscaping
Landscaping the Florida-friendly way means using low maintenance plants and environmentally sustainable practices. Follow these nine principles to create and maintain a Florida-Friendly Landscape:
- Right Plant, Right Place
- Water Efficiently
- Fertilize Appropriately
- Mulch
- Attract Wildlife
- Manage Yard Pests Responsibly
- Recycle
- Reduce Stormwater Runoff
- Protect the Waterfront
The District incorporates many of these landscaping concepts into its Civil Design Criteria document (Section "K"). A list of acceptable shrubs and trees, as well as a list of prohibited plants are included.
School Gardens
Many schools have installed school gardens, from those that feature butterfly-attracting plant species to edible gardens full of vegetables and herbs. Gardens provide an excellent "outdoor classroom" for students to experience intellectual, emotional and social engagement with things that must be measured, counted, weighed, arranged, planned and cared for.

Pine Jog Elementary school teachers volunteering their time to plant a butterfly garden on campus. The garden materials were acquired through a grant from the local non-profit, Keep Palm Beach County Beautiful.