Yard Care

What helps make your yard green can potentially harm the environment if residents are not careful. Storm drains collect and transport rain water, but typically more than that goes down the drains. As rain water flows from yards to the storm drains, it picks up fertilizers, pesticides, dirt and other harmful pollutants from your yard, which enter our local waterways untreated.

Residents can help prevent stormwater pollution by following a few simple steps when taking part in landscaping activities in their neighborhoods.

Simple ways to prevent stormwater pollution:

• Be careful to not over water your lawn.
• Apply fertilizer sparingly and according to packaging instructions.
• Use organic or safe pest control methods.
• Make sure any exposed soil being used for landscaping is covered or located away from storm drains.
• Sweep grass clippings and leaves off streets and sidewalks into yards so materials can be returned to the soil. 
• Never place or allow anything to enter a storm drain.

“Yard maintenance is important to everyone but it is important to make sure you’re not harming the environment in the process,” said Arianne Robison, Stormwater Program Coordinator. “Residents should monitor the amount of water used to water their lawns, and instead of bagging lawn clippings, residents should consider using a mulching lawn mower which will leave the clippings in their lawn so materials can be returned to the soil. Residents should also follow the directions in applying chemicals to their lawn. These steps will help reduce the effects on stormwater runoff if everyone does their part.”