How you care for your lawn and garden has a direct impact on the health of local streams and the Chesapeake Bay! Take a stand for clean water….right in your own yard!

• Before applying fertilizer, test your soil. You may not need to fertilize! Always read the instructions on the bag. Fall is the best time to fertilize.
• Avoid using chemicals in your yard – keep it healthy for you, your family and your pets!
• Try composting! Composting is a great way to recycle trimmings from your yard, and you can use the mulch to enrich your soil and feed your plants.
• Use native plants. Native plants are adapted to the local climate and thrive in our local conditions without fertilizers and chemicals. They help feed local wildlife too!
• Recycle your rainwater! Direct your downspouts to your garden beds, to take advantage of the runoff from your house. Collect some of the water in a rain barrel or cistern. Plant a raingarden to help manage the runoff!

Check out the links below for more information on these tips!

Places to Know

• Arlington County Demonstration Gardens
• Farmers Markets
• Native Plant Nurseries
• Parkfairfax Native Plant Sales
• Long Branch Nature Center native plant sale (usually in April)

Rules to Know

• Chesapeake Bay Preservation Ordinance

Learn More!

• Green Gardening
• Composting Information
• Grasscycling
• Rain Barrels
• Raingarden Overview (see projects in Arlington)
• Raingarden Design and Plant Selection
• Gardening for Wildlife
• Arlington County Master Gardeners
• Soil Testing Information from Virginia Cooperative Extension
• Bayscapes Conservation Landscaping