In Your Yard

 

Limit Fertilizer Use                                                 

Only use the bare minimum. Test your soil before fertilizing to learn what nutrients are needed and fertilize only in the fall.

​

​

Add Compost

Compost helps to create a rich soil amendment for your lawn and garden and is better for the environment that chemical fertilizer. 

​

​

Add Plants

Ditch the turf and make your backyard more interesting with native plants! Native shrubs, trees, and flowers will absorb more runoff than grass, help improve water quality, and can benefit wildlife.

​

​

Cover Soil

Bare soil can be like concrete in terms of its ability to absorb water. Cover bare soil with mulch or plants to slow stormwater runoff.

​

​

Increase Permeable Surfaces

Replace concrete patio slabs and other impermeable surfaces with permeable pavers that allow water to soak in. For driveways, consider also leaving a strip of grass up the center.

​

​

Protect Trees

Like other plant roots, tree roots help absorb and filter runoff. Tree canopies also slow rainfall and spread it over a larger area.

​

​

Plant a Rain Garden

A rain garden is a shallow basin designed to catch and slow runoff. It's frequently planted near downspout outlets. The design includes soil layers, mulch, and plants, all of which filter rainwater as it seeps into soil. Learn more here.

​