Florida-Friendly yards can take any form, from highly manicured to more natural. How you maintain your yard is what ultimately determines if it is Florida-Friendly.
Review and complete this checklist to see if you have a Florida-Friendly yard. By meeting the minimum requirements and collecting at least 50 points, your yard can be certified.
Once it's complete, mail, fax or email the form to:
Florida-Friendly LandscapingTM Program c/o Urban Horticulture Agent 18710 SW 288 St. Homestead, FL 33030 Fax: 305-246-2932 Email: lavasquez@ufl.edu
Homeowners who qualify receive a certificate and a sign to display in their yard.
Landscaping must meet regulations that follow Florida-Friendly Principles and abide by stricter water-efficiency guidelines for all private property and public rights-of-way. These include:
Follow these Florida-Friendly LandscapingTM Principles:
Right plant, right place Plants selected to suit a specific site will require minimal amounts of water, fertilizer and pesticides.
Water efficiently Irrigate only when your lawn and landscape need water. Efficient watering is the key to a healthy Florida-Friendly Yard and conservation of limited resources.
Fertilize appropriately Less is often best. Over-utilization of fertilizers can be hazardous to your yard and the environment.
Mulch Maintaining a 3-inch layer of mulch will help retain soil moisture, prevent erosion and suppress weeds.
Attract wildlife Plants in your yard that provide food, water and shelter can conserve Florida’s diverse wildlife.
Manage pests responsibly Unwise use of pesticides can harm people, pets, beneficial organisms and the environment.
Recycle yard waste Grass clipping, leaves and yard trimmings recycled on site provide nutrients to the soil and reduce waste disposal.
Reduce stormwater runoff Water running off your yard can carry pollutants such as soil, debris, fertilizer and pesticides that can adversely impact water quality. Reduction of this runoff will help prevent nonpoint source pollution.
Protect the waterfront Waterfront property, whether on a bay, river, stream, pond, beach or canal, is very fragile and should be carefully protected to maintain freshwater and marine ecosystem. For more information, visit 9 Principles - Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Program from the University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.
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