Harry Everhart wrote:
Lots of land? An acre? 100? North? South? Extension service can give
you tips on native plants, xeriscaping, etc. Good luck.


Our lot is 100 feet about 400 feet - shaped funny like a dog leg. It
extends from a main street on a corner with a side street - then turns
inward - and finally goes down a small hill to some lake frontage - lake
is about 4 football fields in area. I have lots of live oak trees - a
few palms - many tall pine trees - some open sunny areas - some wood
areas - no wet lands. Wife has planted lots of impatiens. We have some
azlaea bushes - a few other flowering plants.

Thanks for the luck.
Harry

How much of the area do you really, really want to be covered by lawn
grass? Taking out any trees? Sounds like a losing proposition as to
planting the whole thing in lawn grass, because:

Florida winters tend to be very dry. Have to irrigate.
Tree roots, especially pines, above surface, making mowing/tilling tough.
A lot of work in mowing, fertilizing.

I assume you have sandy soil, which has little in the way of nutrients.
Love the trees. Don't plant any northern "house plants", as many are
invasive species here. Some are really nasty, like asparagus fern,
wandering jew, bamboo, etc.

Pine needles make a mess.

Impatients are great. Azaleas can be tough to grow near salt water, but
can be done. Gardenias are heavenly. Mulch azaleas and gard. with some
of those oak leaves.

There are more shade tolerant species of St. Augustine grass, but all
need some sun. Requires thinning tree limbs sometimes. I would really
take some photos to extension service along with a tentative plan. I,
personally, would not want lawn grass without irrigation system.
Irrigation system doesn't go well with tree roots. You may be able to
get freebies from extension service if you want to plant xeriscaping or
native plants. They should have some good booklets and EDIS website has
lots of info. I lived in a not-very-dense subdivision, with wooded lots
on both sides. Wildlife was really great - possums, racoons, owls,
gopher tortoise, fox, hawks. I have never seen a poisonous snake, even
in much hiking in woods, but they are around. A friend found a coral
snake in her house (near water) after very heavy rainfall. Pygmy
rattlers common, even in the city. Enjoy.