Storm water run-off is the #1 cause of pollution in urban lakes and rivers. Run-off is caused by rain and snow melt running off impervious surfaces such as roof, driveways and patios. This water picks up dirt, salt, fertilizers, pesticides, oil, bacteria, and garbage before running into the untreated storm drains and directly into lakes & streams.
By keeping the water on our property and allowing it to soak into the soil, we prevent it from collecting pollution and flowing into our bay while watering our yards and gardens. We are also helping to replenish our ground water (aquifers.)
Here are some ways to keep it on your property and out of our lakes & streams:
- Aerate compacted soil and lawns. Compacted soil makes it hard for plants to grow, water to be absorbed and increases run-off. Core aeration removes soil cores, increasing porosity in soil (think air pockets) and allowing water to infiltrate into the ground where plant roots can access it. You can rent a core aerator or hire a professional lawn care company. Fall is the best time to core aerate in Minnesota.
- Install a rain barrel. A rain barrel collects water that runs off from roofs, reducing run-off and erosion, and giving you a water source for your flowers, trees and shrubs. Rain barrels may also help reduce monthly water bills by decreasing our dependence on municipal water for watering plants. Click here for more information.
- Direct downspouts into gardens and onto lawns. During a rainstorm, a lot of water runs off roofs, picking up nutrient-rich plant debris that can encourage algae growth. Allowed to drain across hard surfaces, this run-off and plant debris ends up in our waterways. By installing rain barrel overflows and pointing downspouts toward garden beds and lawns - even toward tree roots - that run-off now helps water your plants instead of feeding algae in our lakes.
- Plant a rain garden with native plants. There's room for lots of different kinds of plants in your yard and garden - annuals, perennials, trees, shrubs, flowers, vegetables, non-native and native plants. So why are native plants great for rain gardens? They have the resiliency to withstand the challenges of growing in Minnesota and can tolerate having "wet feet" as the water in a rain garden soaks in. Being indigenous to our area, they have evolved with other native organisms and cannot, by definition, become invasive or harmful to other plants. Click here for more. information
- Check your sprinklers and irrigation systems and run only when needed. We all want to reduce our dependence on municipal water especially when it comes to caring for our yards and gardens. Automated irrigation systems are great, but often left to run on schedule - even in the rain! Check your system, sprinklers and irrigation heads for breaks and leaks that can waste water. Be sure you're not wasting water by watering the street, your driveway, sidewalk or patios either. And take advantage of technology to water wisely. Smartphone apps, rain sensors, timers and moisture sensors can help your irrigation and sprinklers run more efficiently - and effectively.
- Consider using permeable options for walks, driveways and patios. Once upon a time, walks, driveways and patios were made of impervious cement. Nowadays, we have permeable options that allow water to be absorbed into the soil instead of running off into streets, storm drains and, ultimately, our waterways. Contact a landscape professional about using options like permeable pavers, crushed gravel, flatstone and permeable asphalt to create functional, maintainable and attractive spaces to move around and enjoy your landscape.
