Mother Earth’s Garden

Grow Green Gardens and Lawns, Not Green Streams and Rivers

by linette on April 3rd, 2008

Since Earth Day is April 22nd, I wanted to start the month with information on what you can do to help keep our streams and rivers clean.

What you do in your yard or garden can affect streams and rivers miles away.

Since the property we live on all runs down hill to a creek in front of our house I’m very aware that what we put on our yard or garden is very likely to end up in the creek. Even if it’s not that obvious, excess rain will have to run somewhere. Usually that somewhere is eventually the nearest stream or river.

When you apply to your lawn or garden often doesn’t stay there. When it rains flowing water can carry your fertilizers away. Excess fertilizers in the water can cause excess algae to grow, and pesticides can kill the aquatic life.

Here are some gardening and lawn do’s and don’ts to help keep your local streams and rivers clean.

1. Avoid chemical pesticides and fertilizers. Always try biological pest controls first, and garden using sustainable methods that renew the soil naturally, such as composting. 

2. Use grasses and ground covers to minimize water runoff and soil erosion. Seed bare soil, especially if it is in a high runoff area.

3. Plant native grasses, flowers, and ground covers whenever possible to reduce the need for chemical fertilizers and pesticides. The native plants will also provide natural food for pollinators and beneficial insects.

4. Leave your grass clippings on the lawn or use a mulching mower to help promote a healthy lawn naturally.

6. Set you mower height on a higher cut to help your lawn shade out weeds naturally, and the taller grass will also hold more water.

7. Aim your downspouts for a grassy area or flower bed instead of a driveway or sidewalk area. The water will soak into the grass or dirt instead of flowing away. Better yet use a rain barrel to capture the runoff to use later during dry times to water your lawn or garden.

Earthday is April 22, several blogs here at b5media are taking part in a month long Earth awareness. You can read other Earth Day posts at Tree Hugging Family, check there daily for the latest links.

Image by and (c) Linette Gerlach

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POSTED IN: Environment, Naturalizing, eco-friendly gardening