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How to do Florida picks our landscape transformation winner

Behold, the modern Florida lemon landscape: way too much turf and the same old, same old tired non-native landscape plants just taking up space. We can't wait to rip it out! And put back native plants. Woohoo!

Behold, the modern Florida lemon landscape: way too much turf and the same old, same old tired non-native landscape plants just taking up space. We can't wait to rip it out! And put back native plants. Woohoo!


Many Floridians are concerned about our state’s natural resources and want to preserve them, including our water and waterways for generations to come. There is something that all of us can do, and it starts in our own backyard, literally. Chad Crawford, host of the Emmy Award winning television show “how to Do Florida” will feature an episode in the upcoming seasons of the show on having a Florida yard makeover, documenting the landscaping of a yard in the Bradenton area from start to finish, discussing various low maintenance, efficient and environmentally friendly solutions for Florida yards. In the show, Crawford’s large team of people will completely remove all landscaping and replace it with all native landscaping in a single day. The before and after will be amazing! The show will emphasize:

  • Value of reducing your turf grass area
  • Cost savings and water savings of goingwith all native plants & grass
  • Maintenance and other benefits of using all native plants and grass
  • Tips on saving on your irrigation bill

Submit questions to the producers before May 5!

Congratulations to Berni Volkmann in West Bradenton — Berni will be the recipient of the transformed landscape designed and planted by FANN as part of FANN’s sponsorship of How to Do Florida‘s Season 7 Special Edition “How to to do a Florida Yard” TV episode airing statewide this fall on the Fox Sports Sun Network, “Discover Florida” ROKU channel and select broadcast stations and in-flight video. Thanks to producer Chad Crawford and team for bringing this opportunity to us. In just one day, we’ll rip out Berni’s dullsville turf-intensive landscape and put in plants with a purpose! Natives and some edibles and another little surprise to enjoy it all the better … FANN is thrilled, in partnership with Florida Wildflower Foundation, to sponsor this show featuring the use of native plants and wildflowers in a landscape that saves water, cuts down on unnecessary fertilizer and pesticide, and brings joy to the homeowner. Big thanks to our supporting cast of FANN members:

Project oversight by Tom Heitzman, Sweet Bay Nursery & FANN Board Member

Design provided by:

Exotic plant & sod removal, site preparation & installation provided by:

Plants provided by:

Special Equipment provided by:

Mulch provided by:

and delivered by:
Sandhill Native Growers