Canadians in Action What you can do |
Ten Ways Gardeners Can Help Preserve Water & Salmon HabitatNative Plant Placement: Seek landscaping advice to help prevent erosion and reduce water and chemical needs when planting or redesigning a garden. Strategic placement of native plants can reduce both the maintenance effort required and the impact of your garden on the environment. For help designing your garden, check out Naturescape. Soil pH: Monitor the pH of your soil with a simple test kit. Maintaining an ideal pH reduces the need to fertilize by improving your plants' efficiency at absorbing nutrients. Lawn Watering: Water lawns about one inch -- place an empty can on the lawn when watering to measure one inch of water -- once per week to avoid over-watering. Too much water will wash essential nutrients from the soil, cause shallow root growth and increase runoff of sediment and pollutants to waterways or storm drains. Also, watering lawns in the early morning or late evening will decrease water lost to evaporation. Automatic or Drip Watering System: To conserve water, use automatic or drip watering systems or use sprinkler heads that most efficiently meet your watering needs. Grass Length: Keep grass one to three inches long. Grass this length shades the roots, requires less water and mowing, and allows the root system to become deeper and more efficient in water storage. Mowing: Select plants and grasses that require less mowing. To reduce air pollution, choose alternatives to gas-powered mowers. Weed Management: Pull weeds when they first appear to keep them from spreading. By preventing weeds before they become established, the need for herbicides can be significantly reduced. If herbicides are used, spot spray to target specific plants instead of broadly applying chemicals. Use garden and lawn chemicals sparingly and with care. Do not spray streamside vegetation. Some chemicals (bug and weed killers) are toxic. They harm people and fish as well as animals that may drink from the stream. Other chemicals (fertilizers) can make algae and weeds grow too fast in streams and lakes. This disturbs the fish's food supply and may use up the oxygen in the water. If you must use commercial pesticides, herbicides or fertilizer, follow disposal instructions exactly. Mulch: Mulch between garden rows and around trees and shrubs. Mulch can reduce watering needs by helping the soil retain water and discouraging weeds that can compete for moisture. Composting: Compost yard debris in a contained,
level area away from creeks and wetlands. Compost is a good way
to recycle yard debris and creates an excellent source of fertilizer
and mulch. Ensure compost areas are contained to prevent organic
materials from washing into streams and wetlands where they can
use up the oxygen needed by aquatic life. |