landscape solutions
Rainscaping
Untreated stormwater runoff carries pollutants such as fertilizer from lawns, pesticides, oil and anti-freeze, animal waste, and sediment, all of which can compromise the integrity of the environment. When pollution enters the waterway, it can cause algae blooms, loss of habitat or species, and significant human health risk.
RainScaping reduces the amount of residential run-off through landscaping practices on individual properties. These include installing a rain garden or permeable paver, and infiltrating runoff through rain barrels or bioswales. When runoff is able to naturally infiltrate, it carries fewer pollutants to the main body of water, and causes less erosion and sediment loading To learn more about rainscaping and how to apply it to your property, click here. |
NATIVE PLANTINGS
Planting trees is a sure way to help improve any watershed. Not only can it provide shade on a sunny hot day for a person but if placed next to your house it can help cool your house down leading to a lower energy bill. However, when planting trees or any plants make sure to plant native species. Invasive species of plants, trees and shrubs can be harmful to the environmental ecosystem.
Invasive species deprive native species of nutrients and light thereby decreasing biodiversity. Another attribute of native plants are their deep root systems; non-native plants lack deep roots. Deep roots allow native plants to consume less water as they can infiltrate deeper into the ground for water. These systems are well-adapted to our climate and rainfall and help slow the velocity of the rain fall through absorption which leads to less erosion and less non-point source pollution. Whenever possible, seek out native trees and plants that normally grow in your area.
To learn more about native plants of Missouri, click here.
Planting trees is a sure way to help improve any watershed. Not only can it provide shade on a sunny hot day for a person but if placed next to your house it can help cool your house down leading to a lower energy bill. However, when planting trees or any plants make sure to plant native species. Invasive species of plants, trees and shrubs can be harmful to the environmental ecosystem.
Invasive species deprive native species of nutrients and light thereby decreasing biodiversity. Another attribute of native plants are their deep root systems; non-native plants lack deep roots. Deep roots allow native plants to consume less water as they can infiltrate deeper into the ground for water. These systems are well-adapted to our climate and rainfall and help slow the velocity of the rain fall through absorption which leads to less erosion and less non-point source pollution. Whenever possible, seek out native trees and plants that normally grow in your area.
To learn more about native plants of Missouri, click here.
RAIN GARDENS
Rain gardens are another method of collecting runoff from properties. However, in this case it allows the water to infiltrate into the ground. This allows for groundwater replenishment and for filtration of the water before it reaches the creek. There are many different methods and techniques to building a rain garden. More information can be found here. Rain gardens can be aesthetically pleasing and require little maintenance.
Rain gardens are another method of collecting runoff from properties. However, in this case it allows the water to infiltrate into the ground. This allows for groundwater replenishment and for filtration of the water before it reaches the creek. There are many different methods and techniques to building a rain garden. More information can be found here. Rain gardens can be aesthetically pleasing and require little maintenance.
REDUCE USE OF SYNTHETIC FERTILIZER
Nitrogen and phosphorus are essential to plant growth and are therefore included in many synthetic fertilizers. However, when too much fertilizer is applied or when fertilizer is incorrectly applied, it runs off or leaches out of the soil into nearby waterways. When this happens, waterways can become overloaded with nutrients, leading to algal blooms in a process called eutrophication. Eutrophication in turn leads to the depletion of dissolved oxygen in the water (hypoxia), declines in species biodiversity, disruption of plant successions, and water quality degradation.
Tips for maintaining a healthy lawn while protecting watershed health:
Tips for maintaining a healthy lawn while protecting watershed health:
1. Learn about the type of grass you are growing
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2. Remember that a little fertilizer goes a long way
3. Test your lawn soil
- Well-meaning homeowners frequently cause more harm than good to their lawns by over-fertilizing. Synthetic fertilizers are highly concentrated, so it is easy to apply more fertilizer than a healthy lawn requires. In fact, too much fertilizer can do significant damage to grass by causing excess growth at the wrong time or in the wrong part part of the plant - leaving grass vulnerable to pests, disease, and shock. It is recommended that homeowners apply synthetic fertilizers at least one month apart, and no more than three times a year.
3. Test your lawn soil
- Soil profile plays a major role in determining how well different grass varieties will grow. Before you apply fertilizer, it may be helpful to test the pH of your lawn. The pH should be between 6.0 and 7.0 because most grass species do no absorb nutrients well in soils beyond this range. To increase your soil's alkalinity, apply lime; to increase your soil's acidity, apply sphagnum peat or a pine needle mulch.
4. Leave grass clippings and clover on the lawn
5. Add a thin top layer of compost
6. Aerate compacted soil
7. Use organic fertilizers
- In addition to saving you time and energy, leaving grass clippings and clover on your lawn provides two natural sources of nutrients. Clippings break down to provide nitrogen, while clover is a valuable nitrogen-fixing plant that increases nitrogen levels in the soil directly. In some cases, grass clippings can provide up to 25% of the nutrients that your lawn requires.
5. Add a thin top layer of compost
- "Topdressing" with less than an inch of compost goes a long ways towards helping your lawn maintain high moisture and nutrient levels. Compost is full of beneficial microorganisms and micronutrients that greatly improve soil quality, resulting in healthier grass. Apply compost after aerating soil for best results.
6. Aerate compacted soil
- Perforating the ground with small holes allows water and nutrients to penetrate the soil, leading to stronger plants. Less synthetic fertilizer application is necessary when aeration is paired with compost topdressing, because these methods combine to allow grass to uptake greater amounts of nutrients in the soil.
7. Use organic fertilizers
- How are organic fertilizers different from synthetic fertilizers? To begin with, organic fertilizers are produced from broken down plant or animal material; by contrast, synthetic fertilizers are derived from petroleum and other fossil fuels. Furthermore, while synthetic fertilizers provide a short-term boost to plant growth, organic fertilizers are slow-acting and typically last for an entire growing season. Organic fertilizers also provide benefits that include building up soil quality and long-term productivity, improving drainage, and increasing soil water-holding capacity.
BIO-SWALES
Bioswales are very similar to rain gardens in that they help water infiltration. However, a bioswale is a “channel rain garden” meaning that it incorporates loose soils to allow for infiltration while channeling the water to either surface waters or sewer inlets. Bioswales typically cost a lot less than a system of underground storm pipes would to channel the water and can be just as affective. Also bioswales can be aesthetically pleasing and require less maintenance than a mown lawn or underground storm pipes.
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