Landscaping in Clermont, FL
Galapagos builds Clermont landscapes that stay put on a hillside: edged and terraced beds, rock where water runs hardest, and plants suited to sandy ridge soil, grouped by water need. On lots that drain toward the Chain of Lakes, we keep fertilizer back from the water as Lake County requires.
Beds that stay put
Edging, terraced beds and heavier materials like rock on steep spots keep soil and mulch where they belong after summer storms. Where water already cuts a path across the yard, we shape the bed to slow it down instead of fighting it — a channel lined with rock often solves what more mulch never will.
Plants for sandy, fast-draining soil
We pick plants that tolerate dry, sandy ground and group them by water need so one zone doesn’t drown another. Florida law (s. 373.185) protects an owner’s right to Florida-friendly landscaping under deed restrictions, which helps on HOA lots where drought-tolerant beds are the practical answer for a slope.
New plants under Phase III
The St. Johns River district’s Phase III order gives new plants and sod their own schedule: daily for the first 15 days, up to three days a week for the next 30, then two days a week for the last 15. We plan installs so that schedule fits your controller, and the City of Clermont may add its own rules — we check the city page before setting it.
What a Clermont landscape project includes
- a site visit to read the slope, the sun and where water runs
- a plan and plant list, with HOA submittal help where needed
- grading of bed areas, edging and terraces where the slope calls for them
- planting, then mulch on gentle ground and decorative rock where runoff is strong
- irrigation changes grouped by water need
- fertilizer kept at least 15 feet from lakes and wetlands, per Lake County’s ordinance
How the project runs
- Visit and measure.
- Plan, plant list and written quote.
- Approval, if your community requires it.
- Sunshine 811 locate, then installation.
- A watering schedule for the new-plant period.
What affects the price
- how steep the area is and whether it needs terracing
- rock, edging and retaining materials
- plant sizes and number
- irrigation changes
- access for materials on a hill
Related services in Clermont
For walkways and steps, see pavers and hardscaping. Keep the turf around new beds even with lawn care in Clermont, and read landscape design and installation for plant choices. The Clermont service area page covers the rules.
Watering rules here
St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD)
Phase III water-shortage order: odd addresses Saturday, even addresses Sunday, nonresidential Tuesday; no irrigation 8 a.m.–6 p.m.; no more than one hour per zone.
Checked October 7, 2026. Rules change during droughts — confirm with the official source.
Fertilizer rules
Lake County (unincorporated): no nitrogen or phosphorus June 1–September 30; at least 50% slow-release nitrogen the rest of the year; 15-foot buffer from water. Inside Clermont city limits, confirm current rules with the city.
Questions about landscaping
Mulch washes off my sloped beds every storm. What can I do?
Edge the low side of the bed, break long slopes into terraces, and use rock where water runs hardest. Dense planting also holds the surface better than bare mulch.
How often can I water new plants in Clermont?
Under the current Phase III order: daily for 15 days, up to three days a week for 30 days, then two days a week for the last 15. Check the city page too, since Clermont can be stricter.
My yard slopes down to a lake. Are there extra rules?
Lake County keeps fertilizer at least 15 feet from lakes and wetlands, with none applied on saturated soil or before heavy rain. Shoreline work may need other approvals; ask us before planning anything at the water’s edge.
Should my slope be grass or a planted bed?
If a mower can cross it safely and the sprinklers cover it evenly, grass works. If it is steep, dry at the top or hard to mow, a planted bed with groundcover is usually easier to keep.