Yard Care

It is possible to have a beautiful yard and a healthy environment. You can prevent your lawn and garden from contributing polluted runoff to streams, lakes, and rivers.

Fact sheet: Protecting Water Quality in Your Backyard

Chemicals, fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides

Outdoor home maintenance

  • Sweep up debris in your driveway instead of hosing it down.
  • Pick up litter around your yard so it doesn’t blow into streams or storm drains.
  • Drain swimming pools only when chlorine is not detected by a swimming pool test kit.
  • Direct water from your home’s downspouts to vegetated areas, or collect rainwater in a rain barrel.

Lawns

  • Don’t leave grass clippings or other yard waste along curbs or ditches.
  • Don’t over-water your lawn. Water during the cooler times of day to minimize evaporation. Turn off automatic sprinklers for a couple of days if it rains.
  • Test soils before fertilizing lawns. The NC Dept. of Agriculture and Consumer Services will test soil samples for free.
  • Do not mow within at least 10 feet of the stream bank.

Landscaping

  • Consider landscaping alternatives to grass lawns that offer more environmental benefits.
  • Use mulch instead of herbicides. Mulch naturally prevents weeds and absorbs water.
  • Select drought-resistant and native plants and grasses. Native plants require less water, fertilizers, and pesticides.
  • Create a “rain garden” to collect and treat runoff before it leaves your property.
    This web page teaches about rain gardens.
    Build a rain garden in eight simple steps.
  • Leave vegetated and wooded areas in their natural state, especially along streams and ditches.

Visit EPA’s environmentally friendly landscaping web site to learn more.

Learn about green landscaping techniques, supplies and vendors.

Additional Resources

N.C. Department of Environment & Natural Resources

Clean Water Campaign

U.S. EPA

N.C. State University

This Home*A*Syst Stormwater Quiz is easy self-assessment that can show you how to reduce stormwater pollution around your home and yard.

A great report from the NC Division of Water Quality that explains many ways to help prevent pollution: “Improving Water Quality in Your Own Backyard: Stormwater Management Starts At Home”