Clean Ocean Action: Lawn & Garden

10 Tips For Lawn & Garden

1. Reduce the size of your lawn. Lawns are high maintenance, expensive, and add to runoff problems. (See tip #10.)

2. Don’t treat your lawn or garden until you test the soil. Soil-testing kits are available at garden centers.

3. Aerate your soil and remove dead organics by raking. This produces a stronger lawn and reduces the need to use fertilizers or pesticides.

4. Use organic fertilizers to condition the soil, if needed, and use minimally. For a greener lawn, use natural sources of nitrogen, such as composted manure.

5. Water only when the soil is dry. Water deeply to encourage root growth and to reduce the frequency of watering. Garden centers sell meters, gauges, and automatic sprinkler shut-off valves, which help minimize over-watering and save money. Cultivate and mulch your gardens to help retain moisture.

6. Install rain barrels at your house downspouts to reuse rain water and save money. Rain is a naturally soft water with less minerals, chlorine, fluoride, and other chemicals.

7. Mow high and mow often to reduce stress on grass, retain moisture, shade out weeds, reduce clumping, and keep soil cool. Mow without a bag and leave the clippings to fertilize naturally.

8. Start a compost pile. Leaves and garden waste, as well as kitchen waste (except meat, fish, & citrus products), can be used to create a nutrient-rich fertilizer to till into the garden.

9. Avoid using chemical pesticides or lawn services that use chemicals. Any chemicals applied to the lawn or garden run off into waterways, kill beneficial insects, and are long lasting. Large insects (e.g., Japanese beetles) can be hand picked from plants. Pheromone traps and biological non-toxic controls are available at garden centers.

10. Plant native plants and create a wildlife habitat. Plants produce oxygen, remove carbon dioxide, reduce erosion, provide shade, stabilize soil, and are habitat for many creatures. Try to use succulents and drought-resistant plants.