Citrus County Schools Landscaping criteria

There are many agencies that have rules and requirements for landscaping at School sites,
they include:
DOE - Department of Education
SREF - School Requirements for Educational Facilities
CCSB Design Guide
CPTED - Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design
FSBIT - Florida School Board Insurance Trust
There are certain types of plants that are not allowed to be used because they are difficult
to maintain, as they require frequent pruning, watering or constant policing to remove
fallen leaves, fronds or flowers/seed pods.
The School site is responsible for the watering and care of your landscaping, gardens,
flower beds etc., so keep this in mind when planning.
SREF (State Requirements for Educational Facilities)
No invasive non-native plants, plants that are not to be used include, but are not limited
to:

Punk tree (Melaleuca Quinquenervia)

Brazilian Pepper (Schinus Terebinthifolius)
Australian Pine (Casuarina-equisetifolia)
Catclaw Mimosa (Mimosa Pigra)

CCSB Design Guide

Magnolia trees (Magnolia Grandiflora)

Palm trees (All)
Crepe Myrtle trees (Lagerstroemia Indica)
Sycamore trees (Acer Pseudoplatanus)

Requirements of SREF

The site is free of any poisonous, toxic and hazardous plants.

Insure that water conservation policies are incorporated in your landscape
maintenance programs.
Trees and landscaped areas around the perimeter of buildings are maintained to
prevent blind spots or provide access to the roof. Trees are healthy; disease-free;
and trimmed of dead, diseased, and broken branches.
Road intersection visibility, on or off site, is achieved by providing a clear sight
line at intersections.

Requirements of CCSB Design Guide

Landscape irrigating requirements are to be kept to an absolute minimum. If

irrigation is needed, it should be a trickle type waterline connected to a
manually operated hose bib.
All sod to be Argentine Bahia (Paspalum Notatum)

The use of stone landscaping material should be kept to a minimum. If used to

control water runoff, the stones are to be size 57 washed gravel (3/4 to 2 in
size).
Specify that all sod be rolled and raked, remove ridges and fill depressions to
meet finish grades. Specify that top of sod to be flush or just below top of
adjacent concrete walks or curbs.
Any plants or shrubs that are not drought tolerant or that require any more than
annual trimming, are not to be included in the landscaping specifications
The use of large planting areas that rely on wooden mulch material is to be
avoided as much as possible.
Tree roots will crack and lift concrete and asphalt, when planting leave a safe
distance between trees and sidewalks or drive ways and allow for future growth.

Requirements of CPTED (Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design)

We do not want to allow access to covered walks or rooftops, so tree planting

needs to consider the mature state of a tree prior to planting.
2 foot 6 foot Rule. Hedges and shrubs to be kept at maximum 2 height and tree
branches to be kept at 6 minimum.

Maintenance Department
Provide their technician with your list of plants and they will help insure you purchase
the correct items.
They will also assist you in choosing planting areas, as there are many underground
utilities to consider.