How to Grow a Healthy, No-Waste Lawn and Garden

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If not you, who? your garden may take a few years to establish since these plants tend to grow slower. A checklist for storing household chemicals

You can save energy in your home by planting trees for Household chemicals such as pesticides and fertilizers shade on the west and east windows, avoiding trees become wastes if they’re not stored carefully. Follow these How to grow south of windows. Plant easy tips to keep products usable for future projects. Greener Growing shorter, denser trees, ∫ Always store chemicals out of reach of children Integrated pest management such as firs, to create and pets. (IPM) is an ecosystem-based wind breaks. a healthy, strategy that focuses on long- Benefits: Healthy plants ∫ Never store chemicals near sources of heat, sparks, term prevention of pests or their or flames. damage through a combination in your garden and land- of techniques such as biological scape create less waste ∫ Store chemicals in a dry place. no-waste control, habitat manipulation, and need less chemicals modification of cultural practices, and water. Planting ∫ Keep chemicals from freezing. However, DO NOT store Lawn and use of resistant varieties. plants that are native or gasoline or other fuels in your house — they’re a fire Pesticides are used only after work well in the condi- hazard. monitoring indicates they are When pesticides and fertilizers are no & tions of your garden site needed according to established ∫ Store chemicals in longer needed, they should be disposed of will reduce the need for guidelines, and treatments are their original contain- properly. Call your county solid waste office for made with the goal of removing fertilizers and pesticides; ers with labels intact. Garden information on where you can bring them. only the target organism. Pest and you won’t have to control materials are selected and water as often. Trees ∫ When a container is Caring for all the green and applied in a manner that minimizes planted to reduce ener- leaking, place the whole container into a larger one and risks to human health, beneficial gy use in your home are call your county for disposal advice. growing things in your yard can and nontarget organisms, and the an added bonus. environment. have a big effect on how much

Source: University of California Statewide Integrated Pest Management Project waste your household creates. From grass trimmings and leaves to pesticides and water, the eco-impact of your lawn and garden can be significant. But it doesn’t have to be. To learn more about what you can do: Your lawn and garden’s effect www.reduce.org on the environment What can I do?

Lawns and gardens can create a lot of waste and pollution. Organic A healthy lawn and garden is the best way material, which includes lawn clippings, leaves, and food waste accounts to combat weeds and pests. Over-depen- for a significant portion of waste that cities need to manage. Collection and dence on fertilizers and pesticides may be a processing takes energy and money. (Yard waste has been banned from symptom of an underlying problem in your landfills in Minnesota since 1992.) lawn and garden.

Fertilizers with high phosphorus and nitrogen levels can pollute local Growing plants that are appropriate for your Your county solid waste office watersheds and degrade nearby lakes, streams, wetlands, and rivers. Excess soil type, amount of rainfall, and sun exposure is a great resource for waste phosporus and nitrogen promote too much weed and algae growth, choking greatly decreases the need for fertilizers and Minnesota * reduction materials, including out fish life and reducing water clarity. pesticides. Native plants often require less local waste and environmental water, fertilizer, and pesticides. Pollution information, education resources, Homeowners — and not farmers — are the biggest consumers of pesticides Control and speakers. and herbicides. When overused or misapplied, these chemicals can pose serious Also consider growing plants that can provide Agency risks to animals and people, especially children. They can also kill beneficial habitat, food, water, and shelter to birds and earthworms and organisms, disrupting the ecological balance of your lawn. other wildlife. Reduce Waste—If not you, who? was a project of the Minnesota Office of Environmental Assistance • 800-877-6300 March 2009

w-hhw1-19 Planting trees Your landscaping can also affect your home’s energy use. For Compost yard waste and other organics What your weeds are telling you. example, planting shade trees on the east and west sides of the house will keep your home cooler in the summer. Planting a Composting is nature’s way of recycling. Organic materials windscreen of evergreens on the northwest side of the house will such as leaves and grass are broken down by bacteria and other organisms to provide nutrients and structure to the block winter winds, keeping your home warmer in the winter. ∫ Plantain may indicate the soil. Composting provides a free soil amendment that you soil is compacted or poorly can use to keep your lawn and garden healthy. A tree-planting plan that saves energy and adds comfort drained. How to: Composting can be done in a free-standing pile or Evergreens on the north Winter a container—homemade or store-bought—which can be winds and west sides act as a windblock. made from wire, bricks, or wood. It should be at least three feet deep and three feet in diameter. Add equal parts of Leaf-dropping carbon (brown materials) and nitrogen (green materials) to shade trees your bin. Brown materials can be leaves, straw, cornstalks ∫ Creeping Charlie may on the east and sawdust. Green materials can be grass clippings, fruit indicate the site is too and west sides cool your and vegetable scraps, and trimmings from your garden. shady or the soil is poorly house in the Turn your compost frequently to get the pile to decompose Benefits: Backyard composting reduces the amount of waste drained. summer and quickly and with little odor. Do not add meat, fats, oils, dairy you create in your yard and kitchen by converting it into a use- allow light able soil amendment. Composting saves you time — no more North through products, or pet feces. Keep your compost moist, like a Leaving the south side clear of trees brings during the damp sponge. bagging and hauling leaves and grass clippings to the county in light and solar heat during the winter. winter. compost site, or paying your garbage hauler to pick up your yard waste. In Minnesota, it is illegal to mix your yard waste with trash. Adding compost to the soil increases its organic ∫ Hawkweed may indicate Tips for a no-waste lawn & garden Get your matter, which in turn enhances the soil’s ability to hold nutrients that the soil is low in nutri- and water. Using compost in your lawn and garden reduces ents. Mow, fertilize, water, and rake less soil tested dependence on fertilizers. Compost can also make good mulch for new plants. You don’t have to spend so much time maintain- treating them All soils are not created equal. ing your lawn. Sound incredible? Mowing your accordingly Find out what your lawn needs yard less, watering it less, fertilizing it less, raking can strengthen before applying “just any old” it less, and using no pesticides may be your way the health of fertilizer. ∫ Dandelions may indicate to a healthy, environmentally friendly lawn. your lawn. Native woodland wildflower garden 1. Call the University of for butterfly, bee, moth, and Violets that the grass is too thin. hummingbird use. Minnesota Extension Service ∫ Mow only enough to keep your grass length Benefits: Take time For sunny to partially Bluebells 1 at 612-625-3101. shaded sites. to 2 /2-3 inches high. Mowing your grass to the today to figure out Lupine proper height is the single most important thing exactly what your 2. Tell them you want to have Selfheal Cardinal Flower you can do to improve the health of your lawn. lawn needs to keep your soil tested. Sweet When you mow, don’t rake clippings — leave healthy. This will decrease William American Phlox Touch-Me Not them on the lawn instead. However, be sure to the amount of time and 3. They will mail you a form to Pale Indian Hemp ∫ Moss may indicate that the Columbine Coralberry sweep up your sidewalk, driveway, or street so money you will have to fill out and a bag for the soil site is too shady or too wet Butterfly- Milkweed for grass to survive. clippings don’t pollute nearby lakes or streams. spend caring for it tomorrow. sample. weed Fireweed Turk’s Cap Lily Source: The Green Thumb Project sponsored by the Western Lake Superior

By keeping your grass length Source: Minnesota DNR ∫ Get your soil tested to determine the right mix 4. You collect the soil sample Sanitary District Zero Discharge Project. longer, the roots of your grass are of fertilizer for your lawn. You may need less than and mail it to St. Paul along deeper and can reach more water during you think. with the form and payment dry periods making it less necessary to (a regular soil test is $15). Garden and landscape to ∫ Water only when it hasn’t rained for seven water. Longer grass also creates more Examples: Get to know your garden site. For example, days and only water in the early morning hours shade and makes it harder for weeds to 5. The results are mailed back to encourage wildlife and shade how long is it exposed to sunlight? What is the soil type? you in about 10 days. before 10 a.m. Grasses naturally grow slower in get established. By leaving your clippings Your garden and landscape can provide habitat for birds and but- Does the soil hold moisture? What will you keep and on the lawn, you will fertilize your grass the summer so brown grass usually means it’s just The Extension Service also gets terflies as well as save energy. When you plant the right plants given what will you take out? How will your plants influence throughout the summer. Controlling weeds dormant, not dead. a copy so that they can help you your site, soil type and rainfall, you reduce the amount of pesticides, wild native plants, or be influenced by nearby weedy by interrupting the cycle of seed production interpret them. fertilizer, and water used in your garden. Native Minnesota plants exotics? Once you’ve answered these questions, you can ∫ A weed-free lawn is not necessarily a healthy (either by digging them up or cutting off often require less water and fertilizer. The types and location of trees plant your garden and landscaping to fit your needs and lawn. Weeds can tell you something about what’s flowering stalks) makes it harder for them to Source: University of Minnesota Extension Service. in your yard can reduce heating and cooling costs. budget. When planting native plants, remember that wrong with your lawn. Identifying your weeds and get established in your lawn. continued on back Planting trees Your landscaping can also affect your home’s energy use. For Compost yard waste and other organics What your weeds are telling you. example, planting shade trees on the east and west sides of the house will keep your home cooler in the summer. Planting a Composting is nature’s way of recycling. Organic materials windscreen of evergreens on the northwest side of the house will such as leaves and grass are broken down by bacteria and other organisms to provide nutrients and structure to the block winter winds, keeping your home warmer in the winter. ∫ Plantain may indicate the soil. Composting provides a free soil amendment that you soil is compacted or poorly can use to keep your lawn and garden healthy. A tree-planting plan that saves energy and adds comfort drained. How to: Composting can be done in a free-standing pile or Evergreens on the north Winter a container—homemade or store-bought—which can be winds and west sides act as a windblock. made from wire, bricks, or wood. It should be at least three feet deep and three feet in diameter. Add equal parts of Leaf-dropping carbon (brown materials) and nitrogen (green materials) to shade trees your bin. Brown materials can be leaves, straw, cornstalks ∫ Creeping Charlie may on the east and sawdust. Green materials can be grass clippings, fruit indicate the site is too and west sides cool your and vegetable scraps, and trimmings from your garden. shady or the soil is poorly house in the Turn your compost frequently to get the pile to decompose Benefits: Backyard composting reduces the amount of waste drained. summer and quickly and with little odor. Do not add meat, fats, oils, dairy you create in your yard and kitchen by converting it into a use- allow light able soil amendment. Composting saves you time — no more North through products, or pet feces. Keep your compost moist, like a Leaving the south side clear of trees brings during the damp sponge. bagging and hauling leaves and grass clippings to the county in light and solar heat during the winter. winter. compost site, or paying your garbage hauler to pick up your yard waste. In Minnesota, it is illegal to mix your yard waste with trash. Adding compost to the soil increases its organic ∫ Hawkweed may indicate Tips for a no-waste lawn & garden Get your matter, which in turn enhances the soil’s ability to hold nutrients that the soil is low in nutri- and water. Using compost in your lawn and garden reduces ents. Mow, fertilize, water, and rake less soil tested dependence on fertilizers. Compost can also make good mulch for new plants. You don’t have to spend so much time maintain- treating them All soils are not created equal. ing your lawn. Sound incredible? Mowing your accordingly Find out what your lawn needs yard less, watering it less, fertilizing it less, raking can strengthen before applying “just any old” it less, and using no pesticides may be your way the health of fertilizer. ∫ Dandelions may indicate to a healthy, environmentally friendly lawn. your lawn. Native woodland wildflower garden 1. Call the University of for butterfly, bee, moth, and Violets that the grass is too thin. hummingbird use. Minnesota Extension Service ∫ Mow only enough to keep your grass length Benefits: Take time For sunny to partially Bluebells 1 at 612-625-3101. shaded sites. to 2 /2-3 inches high. Mowing your grass to the today to figure out Lupine proper height is the single most important thing exactly what your 2. Tell them you want to have Selfheal Cardinal Flower you can do to improve the health of your lawn. lawn needs to keep your soil tested. Sweet When you mow, don’t rake clippings — leave healthy. This will decrease William American Phlox Touch-Me Not them on the lawn instead. However, be sure to the amount of time and 3. They will mail you a form to Pale Indian Hemp ∫ Moss may indicate that the Columbine Coralberry sweep up your sidewalk, driveway, or street so money you will have to fill out and a bag for the soil site is too shady or too wet Butterfly- Milkweed for grass to survive. clippings don’t pollute nearby lakes or streams. spend caring for it tomorrow. sample. weed Fireweed Turk’s Cap Lily Source: The Green Thumb Project sponsored by the Western Lake Superior