Did you know that the way you care for your lawn can have a direct impact on local streams and waterways?
When fertilizer, grass clippings, or soil wash off lawns during rainstorms, they can enter storm drains and eventually make their way into nearby creeks and rivers. By adopting a few watershed-friendly lawn care practices, homeowners can help reduce stormwater pollution while maintaining a healthy lawn.
Some easy ways to protect water quality include:
- Test your soil before applying fertilizer to determine what nutrients your lawn actually needs.
- Avoid fertilizing before heavy rain, when nutrients are more likely to wash away.
- Sweep fertilizer off sidewalks and driveways instead of rinsing it into storm drains.
- Mow high and leave grass clippings on the lawn to naturally return nutrients to the soil.
- Reduce runoff by keeping your lawn healthy and considering practices like rain gardens or rain barrels where appropriate.
Penn State Extension has developed a comprehensive guide, "Watershed-Friendly Lawn Fertilization and Care," that explains how Pennsylvania homeowners can care for their lawns while protecting water resources. The guide covers proper fertilization, mowing, watering, soil testing, and other best management practices designed to promote healthy landscapes and cleaner waterways.
