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Five Steps

Easy steps to consider for a more environmentally friendly lawn...

  1. Mow higher as taller turf results in 80 percent fewer weeds and conserves moisture.
  2. Keep your mower blades sharp.
  3. Do not bag your grass clippings as they add nutrients and build organic matter.
  4. Accept some clover, as it adds nitrogen(free fertilizer).
  5. Do a soil test to see if you really need to fertilize, and if so, how much and what type.
  6. Sweep granular chemicals off sidewalks and driveways back into the lawn or garden after spreading.
  7. Install a rain barrel or rain garden to trap and slow down excess rain that might otherwise run off

Homeowners use more chemicals per acre on lawns than farmers use on crops. Some of these chemicals are finding their way to our streams and lakes.

All storm water flows directly from gutters and storm drains straight to streams and is not treated in any way. This means our lawn and garden chemicals have the potential to cause fish kills and harm other living things.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) considers storm water runoff from yards, streets, parking lots and other urban areas to be one of the most significant sources of contamination in our nation’s waters.

What Does My Yard Have to do With Healthy Streams?

  • If lawns were classified as a crop, turf would rank as the fifth-largest in the country, based on acreage.
  • Homeowners use ten times more chemicals per acre than farmers.
  • 67,000,000 lbs. of synthetic pesticides are used on U.S. lawns.
  • 30-60% of urban fresh water is used for watering lawns.*
    *Source: Borman et al. Redesigning the American Lawn, Yale University Press, 2001.

Easy changes for a healthy yard:

  1. LAWNS
    • Mow high … 3 to 4 inches or at highest setting
    • Keep mower blade sharp
    • Leave clippings on lawn as they provide nutrients
    • Clover is okay; it adds nitrogen to your yard
    • Over seed bare spots in early spring or early fall.
    • Compost leaves, yard trimmings and weeds. If you collect lawn clippings, compost them too.
    • Reduce lawn area and mowing, eliminate erosion and stabilize slopes with no-mow plantings
    • Clean up pet waste
  2. GARDENS
    • Use hardy native plants for easy-care perennial beds and rain gardens
    • Mulch circles beneath trees and around flower beds
    • Identify weeds, diseases or insects before taking action to control them.
  3. WATERING and FERTILIZING
    • Use a rain gauge or small tin can to track rainfall and avoid unnecessary over-watering
    • Install a rain barrel and use collected rain for watering plants and washing your car
    • Check streets and sidewalks after applying lawn products; sweep excess into lawn, not the street. Remember: storm drains lead straight to streams.
    • Measure your yard to determine its size and have a soil test done to determine correct product rates and application. Reduce when possible and follow directions.
  4. LEARN and SHARE INFORMATION