The Cooperative Extension Service's Florida Yards Checklist focuses on nine major landscaping principles. How does your yard measure up?

1. Use the right plant in the right place, with plants grouped according to water needs.
2. Water only when necessary and irrigate lawns and plant beds separately.
3. Fertilize appropriately by using organic or slow-release fertilizers, and iron instead of nitrogen to "green-up" your lawn in summer months.
4. Mulch plants with 2-3" of byproduct mulch such as pine bark, melaleuca or recycled products.
5. Attract wildlife by planting vines, shrubs and trees that provide food and shelter for birds and butterflies.
6. Control pests responsibly by treating only affected plants and using environmentally friendly pesticides.
7. Recycle grass clippings, leaves and pine needles.
8. Reduce stormwater runoff by directing downspouts to lawns or plant beds.
9. Protect the waterfront by removing invasives, leaving a border of low-maintenance plants between your lawn and the shoreline to absorb nutrients and provide wildlife habitat.