Resident Checklist

Jersey-Friendly Yards Resident Certification Checklist

Complete this checklist about your current yard care practices. If you check off at least 30 of the actions on the list, you can become a certified Jersey-Friendly Yards Resident!

Please take your time and complete this checklist thoughtfully and honestly. To maintain the integrity of the Jersey-Friendly Yards Resident Certification process, we can only review the first submission from each household within a two-month period. This allows applicants time to make meaningful changes in their yards. Thank you for your commitment to creating a healthier, more sustainable yard!

Certification Residents Checklist

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Residential Certification Survey Checklist

Use this Resident Program checklist to find out how many Jersey-Friendly practices you’re already using in your yard, and which additional practices you can adopt for an even healthier yard. Save your checklist to record your progress as you expand your list of Jersey-Friendly landscaping practices.

Step 1 Plan Before You Plant

I know the light conditions (number of hours of direct sunlight) in different areas of my yard.

I know the soil conditions (e.g., soil type, pH, and soil moisture) in my yard.

I make plant selections based on the growing conditions in my yard.

I use the Jersey-Friendly Yards Plant Database to research plants well-suited to my yard’s conditions.

I leave enough space for plant growth, keeping in mind the size of a plant at maturity.

Step 2 Start with Healthy Soil

I get my soil tested and use the results to guide my decisions about improving soil health.

I add organic matter (e.g., compost, grass clippings, leaves) to the soil.

I plant groundcovers or use mulch to protect any exposed soil.

I don’t work in or walk on wet soil to avoid compacting it.

I avoid the use of pesticides, which can harm beneficial soil organisms.

Step 3 Water Wisely

I water my lawn if a rain gauge or soil moisture sensor indicates a need, OR I do not water my lawn.

I reduce my water needs by growing drought-tolerant plants in my yard.

I water early in the morning to reduce loss from evaporation.

I fix leaks in hoses, sprinklers, or irrigation systems immediately.

I direct sprinklers away from driveways, sidewalks, and other hard surfaces.

I use a drip irrigation system in my garden beds.

I direct my gutter downspouts onto vegetated areas, OR I use a rain barrel to collect roof runoff water.

I have a rain garden in my yard.

Step 4 Fertilize Less

I apply fertilizer only when soil test results indicate a need, OR I do not use fertilizer in my yard.

I clean up any fertilizer that spills on driveways, sidewalks, or other hard surfaces.

I do not apply fertilizer during or just before a heavy rain.

I seed or re-seed my lawn with grass species that need less fertilizer (e.g., fescues), OR I do not have a lawn.

I grow native plants in my yard to reduce the need to fertilize.

I have at least 10 feet of undisturbed vegetation along my stream (or other water body) AND do not use fertilizers in this area, OR I do not have a water body on my property.

Step 5 Minimize Risks When Managing Pests

I tolerate some pests/weeds in my lawn and garden.

I use non-chemical methods to control unwanted insects, weeds, and animals.

I observe pest numbers and the level of damage to determine if and when any action is needed.

I grow native plants to attract beneficial insects and birds that provide natural pest control in my yard.

Step 6 Reduce Lawn Size

I have reduced the size of my lawn, OR I have no lawn.

I replaced some of my lawn with native plants.

Step 7 Create Wildlife Habitat

I grow native plants to provide food and shelter for pollinators, birds, and other wildlife.

I have different layers of vegetation from trees to shrubs to groundcover in my yard to provide a variety of cover types and nesting sites for wildlife.

I remove invasive plant species from my property.

I have a bird bath, shallow pond, or other source of clean water for wildlife in my yard.

I wait until spring to cut back plant stems to provide food and shelter for overwintering wildlife.

I put branches and sticks into brush piles to create homes for wildlife.

I have bird feeders/nest boxes, bat houses, or beneficial insect shelters on my property.

Step 8 Reduce, Reuse, Recycle in the Yard

I have a compost pile.

I use a mulching mower and leave grass clippings on the lawn.

In autumn, I “leave the leaves” – using them in garden beds, shredding them on the lawn with a mulching mower, or leaving them where they fall.