Xeriscaping = Water Conservation
 

Xeriscaping is a water conservation concept to utilize water efficient landscape designs to save water, but are also attractive.

Xeriscapes do not have to be cactus or rock gardens. Often they include other native and drought tolerant plants. When you think of dry gardening, you may picture a wild, natural looking landscape. But the xeriscape water conservation principles can be applied to different styles of landscaping. You can create a more formal English, Southwestern, or Japanese garden using the same basic principles. In arid and semiarid climates, where water conservation is important, xeriscaping is a wise choice. Xeriscaping can also be used to reduce the amount of maintenance required for a beautiful yard or garden.

Ok, but would something like that on a large scale be approved? I would like to turn most of my yard into something along that line.

You must have a certain amount grass I am thinkin'.

Call and see first.

In 2001 the Florida legislature said Florida homeowners wishing to minimize maintenance and reduce water bills should consider Florida-friendly landscaping and enacted Florida Statute Section 720.3075:

Homeowners’ association documents, including declarations of covenants, articles of incorporation, or bylaws, entered after October 1, 2001, may not prohibit any property owner from implementing Xeriscape or Florida-friendly landscape, as defined in s. 373.185(1), on his or her land.

So it is a state law. However, that doesn't mean such a landscaping plan will be approved by The Villages. If it is not approved, you'd have to sue The Villages or in some way get them to change any ordinances that are in place so they would comply with the state law.

There was another thread talking about this issue, the xeriscaping is somewhere in the middle of the thread: https://www.talkofthevillages.com/fo...sement-114264/

This is exactly correct and their have been cases of a homeowner successfully suing a HOA over FF landscaping ... and that is what would prob need to happen a time or two in TV.

Its a shame that a person would have to go that route. The law was passed with water conservation in mind, something for the public good.

anyone interested in doing that should come to a meeting of the Florida Native Plant Society on the 4th Fri of the month at Big Cypress at 1:30pm. Steve, the president, totally removed all his grass and with approval. You can get the information needed to do that.

This can get political real quick.

I like the grass. Our sins are so great now that we have a pool that we may never flush again.

I believe that Steve of FNPS still has 750 sq. ft. Of grass on an 11,000 sq. ft. Lot. At least that is what he told me. Florida Friendly Landscaping examples published in their book all show grassy areas surrounded by plants. I do not know why this is, I too would prefer NO GRASS. Zoysia grass doesn't get very green and the story about it requiring less water is a fable, per my experience.

The Villages doesn't have a true HOA.....they are advocates.

I remember that Pooter crew tricking residents into pulling up their grass and putting that artificial grass in front yards by quoting this legislation telling residents they didn't need ARC approval. Then only after residents were threatened legal action sued by the villages these residents were forced at their expense to remedy.

I usually go to the meeting but am now up north. I'd love to see photos of Steve's yard. My understanding is that TV has begun to embrace native plants.

That would be good news, if the Villages has begun to embrace native plants and water saving measures regarding lawns.

I know that in both new homes here the foundation plantings were plants that easily survived here locally. I love the way they do that.

A swimming pool holds a LOT of water, I wonder how folks who conserve water feel about that. We just put one in. The evaporation daily is signicant.

T and D saved all of our foundation plants in the corner of our yard and replanted them after the pool was finished. I was so pleased.