Once you determine which plants you want to add to your Louisiana-Friendly Yard, it is time to breakground and start planting.

If you decide that you want to change your landscape, it is important not to simply remove everything that is there.

Landscape design combines art and science to create functional, aesthetically pleasing and ecologically sound surroundings that complement a home or other structure.

It is important to remember that our yards and neighborhoods are channels to our waterways.

A Louisiana-Friendly Yard doesn’t merely offer a good-looking landscape, it also becomes an asset to the local environment, protecting natural resources and preserving our state’s unique beauty.

A wide variety of soil types are in Louisiana. Talk to your parish county agent about what the soil is like where you live. A soil test, available through your parish LSU AgCenter Extension office, will tell you a lot about the type of soil(s) your site has.

This handbook is organized into two sections. The first section contains background information that will help you as you make plans to create a Louisiana-friendly yard. The second offers detailed description of landscape ideas and practices that explain and illustrate the seven basic LYN principles.

The focus of this program is to encourage homeowners to create and maintain landscapes in ways that minimize environmental damage. This will include looking at water quality and conservation, reducing stormwater runoff and decreasing nonpoint source pollution of surface water, enhancing desirable wildlife habitats and creating functional, attractive landscapes.

The focus of this program is to encourage homeowners to create and maintain landscapes in ways that minimize environmental damage. This will include looking at water quality and conservation, reducing stormwater runoff and decreasing nonpoint source pollution of surface water, enhancing desirable wildlife habitats and creating functional, attractive landscapes.