Have you ever contacted your county extension office for help with your landscape? Perhaps you wanted to find out which plants thrive in the Florida heat. Or maybe you needed help installing a rain barrel to take advantage of Florida rains. If so, you probably are familiar with the Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Program (FFL), a program from University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Extension.
FFL’s primary goal is to preserve and protect Florida's water resources, which closely aligns with Tampa Bay Water’s conservation and source water protection goals. That’s why for more than 20 years, Tampa Bay Water has supported FFL in Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties. At its August meeting, the utility’s board of directors approved $581,459 in funding for 2025.
Through public events, workshops and educational programs, FFL teaches residents, homeowners associations, homebuilders and more to use water more efficiently in landscapes and reduce stormwater runoff pollution. During 2023 alone, the program saved more than 38.5 million gallons of water in the tri-county area.
“The Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Program is a great benefit to Tampa Bay residents, HOAs and businesses,” said Amelia Brown, Tampa Bay Water’s demand management program manager. “It provides free assistance and education about best practices in landscape management for our local area, which benefits the environment by supporting wildlife and using our water resources wisely.”
Visit ffl.ifas.ufl.edu to learn more about Florida-Friendly Landscaping™, or contact your local Hillsborough, Pasco or Pinellas county extension office to find a workshop or training near you.
