Land Management
If we replace 30% of the mowed areas with trees and shrubs it would lower tempatures throughout the park by 15 degrees next summer. Lawns are a drain on resources and ideally would be minimized to front yards only. Most of the grasses in the park are not native to the US so they will not die easily, so this will take time, being done in sections. gonomow.com/mitigation We are exploring methods before starting talks with the landlords but individually there is nothing stopping any of us individually in delawning our yards, provided we keep it pretty. If you are interested email ag@gnomeaid.com, check out gonomow.com for info or or talk to your residents association representative.
We need a land management plan not a lawn care routine. If we were to increase tree cover by 20% we could reduce park air temps by 10 or even 15 degrees. Lowering all of our heating and cooling costs in the process and being able to sit outside again.
Native Plants
Sunshine Mimosa
A flowering groundcover that feeds pollinators and survives foot traffic better than turf. No mowing required.
Dune Sunflower
Beach sunflower is a butterfly-attracting Florida native that’s perfect for hot, dry sites, including coastal areas. Many gardeners like to use it as a colorful and drought-resistant groundcover.
CoontieCoontie is perfect for a dry sunny spot in the yard. Extremely hardy and drought tolerant. It generally stays under three feet tall and 3 feet wide. Coontie is an ancient plant and is the important host plant for the Atala butterfly.
Live OakThe "dwarf live oak" typically refers to Quercus minima, a shrubby oak species native to the southeastern United States. It is characterized by its smaller size, typically reaching only 3 to 6 feet in height, and its ability to form dense colonies. Unlike the larger, more familiar live oak trees, Quercus minima is a shrubby species that spreads through rhizomes and seeds
Simpson StopperSimpson’s stopper (Myrcianthes fragrans) is a Florida native that provides your landscape with springtime flowering, colorful berries, and evergreen leaves. Not only does it look great, this plant is versatile; it can function as a shrub or a small tree depending on the cultivar and how you prune it.
Silver ButtonwoodSilver Buttonwood is a unique coastal native shrub or small tree that can reach 20' and has soft silvery leaves and small brown berries that look like wood buttons. While it thrives in coastal landscapes, taking salt inundation and salty soils like a champ, it can be planted inland as well. The Silver Buttonwood can be used as a specimen tree, part of a natural privacy screen or pruned into a low hedge.
How Do You Feel About It?
A rent increase a few years ago was tied to lawn care costs. Are we satisfied with that direction, or is there another path forward?