You can get free or low-cost landscape guidance through public education and some utility programs, but a full custom plan for your entire yard is rarely free. Expect templates, classes, and one-on-one advice on plants and water use rather than construction drawings for a major renovation.
UF IFAS Extension serves Sarasota County with workshops and resources tuned to Florida yards. Your water provider may offer irrigation and Florida-friendly plant tips. For big hardscape or permit work, budget for a paid designer or licensed landscape architect.
What to look for
- County or extension events on Florida-friendly landscaping and rain gardens
- Utility or regional programs on smart irrigation and right plant, right place
- Library or community garden talks aimed at homeowners, not product sales pitches
- Clear limits on what is free: a sketch versus a stamped plan
Questions to ask
- Is this a group class, a site visit, or online materials only?
- Does advice cover my HOA rules and city or county water restrictions?
- Will you help me choose drought-tolerant plants for full sun on the Gulf coast?
- What should I bring: photos, plat map, irrigation timer settings?
- When free help ends, what would a paid design need to add for permits or contractors?
Tell us what you are trying to fix, bare dirt, salt wind, or a soggy side yard, and neighbors can share what they used.