The basic principles of native landscaping mean that you use plants, trees and shrubs that are native to your area to help maintain a garden that is both easier to care for and more efficient for your region. Considering the wetland areas of Florida and other specific qualities, it can be very important to have plants that can handle that climate and land mass effectively. There are several websites where you can look up eco-friendly plants for your garden and landscaping design, including here. All it takes is a quick search and the entry of your city and state, and you can find your answers.
Basic principles to native landscaping consider the large amount of natural groundwater you have, which also supplies municipal drinking water. One of the primary things to remember when native landscaping is to minimize or eliminate fertilizers and pesticides to help reduce pollution of local natural water sources. 
Whether you work to protect the overall environment with an eco-friendly home or to save our natural environment with protection of the ground water and lakes, appreciation and respect are gained from enhancing your yard with native landscaping. Including the minimization of fertilizers and pesticides there are eight additional principles to maintaining native local landscaping in your own yard. Help your plants grow healthy and smart… just like your family!
First, by using the website above you can help choose the right plants for your yard based upon the region where you live. This will help the natural environment keep the plants healthy and take less work from watering, fertilizers and other chemicals. Additionally, there is the ability to only water when your lawn or garden needs it. By choosing plants that are native to your region you will not need to water as often.
There is also the need to fertilize properly; less often is usually better. Fertilizing too much can be harmful to your yard, family and the environment. With native landscaping and reduced fertilization, the use for mulch is even more effective to help maintain moisture in the soil and prevent weed growth.
Some additional benefits of native landscaping include plants that attract and feed local wildlife along with the ability to more easily manage yard pests. With the use of native plants their clippings and leaves can be used on site as nutritious supplements to the growing plants.
And the final principles to help maintain native landscaping and the health of your yard and garden are to reduce storm water runoff because of the pollutants and other dangerous chemicals it may carry. You also have the option with native landscaping to protect the waterfront nearest your property by helping to maintain clean freshwater locations. So, help keep the land healthy with your own yard!