Bay-Wise Best Practices |
There are many ways to mow a lawn, select a shrub or water a flower bed. Some methods — called “best practices”— are safer for the Chesapeake Bay, its tributaries, and your home environment. By using the Bay-Wise Yardstick and touring residents’ yards, Master Gardeners can discuss how some of these best practices would benefit your specific landscape. Best practices often require less time and money than you may be currently spending. Bonus for you AND the bay!
Fertilize Wisely |
Fertilizers can be harmful to the environment and your yard if not used properly. When applied at the wrong time or over applied, fertilizers can create salt problems in the soil. They can also affect winter hardiness, exaggerate pest problems and make plants grow excessively (which can mean more mowing too!) Excess nitrogen and phosphorus (two components of fertilizers) can leach out of the soil and pollute groundwater. These two nutrients can also wash off landscapes and pollute surface waters and eventually, the Chesapeake Bay.
Learn more from the University of Maryland. |
Water
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Cool season lawns (fescues, bluegrasses, ryegrasses) naturally go semi-dormant in summer; so conserve water and mimic Mother Nature by not watering then. If you choose, irrigate only when your lawn doesn't spring back when stepped on. If stressed, water trees and shrubs slowly at their bases to allow water to soak in, but not run onto hard surfaces. Efficient watering is key to reducing runoff and maintaining a healthy landscape.
Learn more from the University of Maryland. |
Mow Properly |
Cool season grasses grow rapidly during spring and fall. This is when temperatures are cooler and rainfall is more plentiful. Regular mowing at higher heights (3" to 4") encourages a deeper, more drought- and pest-tolerant root system. A higher cut also shades out weeds. Remove no more than a third of the grass blade when you mow.
Learn more from the University of Maryland. |
Control
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Any rain and irrigation water that runs off carries soil, debris, fertilizer and pesticides from your yard into neighborhood storm drains. These storm drains lead to local streams, rivers, drinking water reservoirs and the Bay. These substances can harm living organisms, habitats and water quality. Reducing runoff from your property minimizes these problems.
Learn more from the University of Maryland |
Mulch
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Mulching retains soil moisture, moderates soil temperature and helps prevent erosion and weeds. By using mulch you'll use less water, have healthier plants and fewer weeds. c Deeper mulch can rob plant roots of water and encourage shallow rooting, which is harmful to plants during drought. Note: Never use freshly ground organic material, like brush or hardwood bark, as mulch. It robs nitrogen from the soil and can cause plant yellowing. Allow these materials to age for at least 6 months before using.
Learn more from the University of Maryland |
Recycle
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In a Maryland landscape, grass clippings, leaves, yard trimmings, and
organic kitchen scraps, such as vegetable & fruit peelings, egg shells and tea & coffee grounds, should be recycled rather than thrown away. This recycling of nutrients completes a natural cycle to regenerate and renew soil. Recycling nutrients also reduces the amount of package fertilizer you need to maintain your landscape. Learn more from the University of Maryland |
Manage Yard Pests with IPM |
Pesticides should NOT be used routinely or indiscriminately. Improper use of pesticides can result in pest resistance and can harm humans, pets, beneficial organisms. To prevent problems before they occur, consider regular monitoring for signs of plant and insect problems. Use a hand lens for a closer look and don't forget the leaf undersides. Once identified, consider cultural or mechanical means of control and as a last resort, consider using a pesticide, trying "bio-rational" materials like insecticidal soap, horticultural oil, and Bacillus thuringiensis (B.t.), for caterpillar pests,
Learn more from the University of Maryland |
Plant
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Plants suited to your site will require minimal amounts of water, fertilizer and pesticides; and may provide benefits to your home. A diversity of plants (shade trees, understory trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants) provides an interesting landscape for you, a range of host plants for native wildlife, and reduces the amount of stormwater running off your property. Native plants require less fertilizer, watering and maintenance plus they encourage our native wildlife. Judicial placement of shade trees and evergreen plantings can help keep our homes cooler during summer and warmer during winter. Avoid planting invasive plants, which can out-compete native plants in natural areas.
Learn more from the University of Maryland |
Encourage
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Maryland has a great diversity of wildlife. Provide adequate food, water and shelter to increase the number and variety of species, like birds, butterflies and beneficial insects, which visit your yard. Reducing or eliminating pesticides will make your yard a much safer habitat for birds, pollinators and other wildlife.
Learn more from the University of Maryland |
Protect the Waterfront |
Waterfront property owners realize the special contribution our waterways and the Bay make to their quality of life. They should also understand how fragile these natural treasures can be. Waterfront property includes those properties that border even the smallest streams. Establishing a deep-rooted vegetative buffer or living shoreline will help protect your waterfront.
Learn more from the University of Maryland |