Complete yard care
Below are some simple tips you can follow this summer to help protect our natural resources while maintaining your yard:
- Keep the storm drain clean
- Cleaning leaves, twigs, and debris from the storm drain is easy to do, helps keep our waters clean, and reduces flooding. Make it part of your weekly routine or check it after every rain. Compost the material or dispose of it with your yard waste or garbage.
- Don’t fertilize brown grass
- Apply fertilizers only as needed and to actively-growing grass. Have a soil test to determine if, and how much, fertilizer is needed before you apply it. Misapplied fertilizer not only is wasted but will wash into our lakes, creeks, and wetlands where it can encourage the growth of algae and weeds.
- Seed areas of exposed soil
- Seeding exposed soil can help prevent erosion and weeds. Seed turf grasses in the spring or fall, if you can, to avoid watering. Fine fescues generally are more shade and drought tolerant and require less mowing. Consider using wood mulch in areas with deep shade and around trees rather than continued reseeding.
- Mow smarter, not harder
- Setting your mower higher (3 inches) and keeping your blade sharp can help keep your grass greener and healthier. Using a mulching mower can supply as much nutrients as one fertilizer application. Remember to keep the clippings on your lawn, not the street.
- Avoid working wet soil
- Grading or driving equipment across your lawn when the soil is wet can hasten soil compaction. Putting down plywood or a heavy layer of wood mulch in the path of equipment can help prevent some compaction. Avoid working within the critical root zone of trees regardless of soil moisture to prevent potential tree stress or loss due to soil compaction.
- Cover your stockpiles
- Covering piles of soil, sand, and other materials with tarps helps prevent erosion and material loss. It is also easier to work with dry materials. Bury silt fence (4 to 6 inches deep) down slope of areas of exposed soil to prevent erosion into the street, onto adjacent properties, and towards protected waters such as lakes, creeks, and wetlands.
- Water only when needed
- Don’t water in the heat of the day when evaporation is high. Water in the early morning if you can; otherwise, in the late afternoon and only when needed. Most trees, shrubs, and other plants grow best if watered deeply and periodically rather than frequent shallow watering.
- Pull and smother weeds
- You can pull weeds easily after it rains and smother patches of creeping charlie with a few sheets of newspapers and wet leaves rather than using herbicides over your whole yard. If you do use herbicides, consider using a spot sprayer to avoid waste and watch for overspray. Using clean wood mulch around plantings can help control weeds, but avoid plastic weed barriers that prevent the transport of air, water, and nutrients into the soil.
- Choose the right plant
- Check the plant tag or other resources to determine the ideal conditions for the plant (shade tolerance, moisture needs, soil preference, etc.) before you buy it. Avoid species that will not grow well in your yard. You can often find similar-looking plants that will thrive in your yard rather than decline in health. Plant deep-rooted and drought-tolerant species in the dry areas of your yard to avoid watering.
- Consider native vegetation
- Native trees, shrubs, grasses, and wildflowers are better adapted to our soils and climate and often require less maintenance once established. You can turn a section of your lawn into a small wildflower garden, woodland patch, or prairie meadow. Choose plants with fruits, flowers, or nuts to attract birds and butterflies. Using plants that bloom and fruit in different months can attract wildlife all year long.
If you are planning a construction or landscape project, be certain to check with the city to see if a permit is required or regarding any regulations that may apply before you start.
For information on sustainable landscape practices visit the University of Minnesota’s Web site or the United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resource Conservation Service.
