LR Dispose of lawn and garden

chemicals properlyUse your local recycling center (whereavailable). Take advantage of local householdchemical round-ups. Buy only what you need.Never pour chemicals into the storm drains —it’s illegal and it pollutes the water.

Landscaping your lawnLandscape bare areasRain, snow melt, and wind can erode exposedsoil. Soil washed into the storm drains pollutesour waterways with sediment.

Landscape with native and xeriscape plantsPlant alternatives to bluegrass lawns, such asbuffalo grass. This not only conserves water, butlowers fertilizer and pesticide requirements.Native plants are better adapted to our climateand more capable of surviving without chemicalassistance.

Recycle yard wasteRecycle yard wastes, such as leaves, grassclippings, and weeds, by composting. Removedead leaves promptly, so that they don’t washinto the storm drains during rains.

Mow your grass frequentlyFrequent mowing can help the grass choke outweeds. Mow frequently enough to avoid cuttingoff more than one inch (1”) of the grass blade.

Avoid overwateringOverwatering isn’t healthy for your lawn. Itwastes water and the excess runoff can carrypollution into the storm drainage system. Checkwith the local water department or countyextension service for watering tips.

Use alternatives to insecticides and pesticidesConsider using non-chemical methods forcontrolling pests. For example, you can usebeneficial insects such as ladybugs. Ask yourlawn care company if they offer Integrated PestManagement (IPM) services as an alternative toharmful chemicals.

Store your lawn and gardenchemicals properlyStore insecticides, herbicides, fertilizer, andgasoline in a secure, covered area to preventaccidental poisonings and contamination ofrunoff.

Caring for Your

Lawn andGarden

C L E A R C H O I C E S F O R C L E A N W AT E R

Remember...Water runs downhill.

Water picks upeverything.

Water flows to our rivers,streams, and creeks.

Do your partto keep our water clean!

Dumping liquid or solid wasteinto a storm drain or creek is

a crime! If you see illegaldumping, report it!

Broomfield303-464-5648

Golden303-384-8181

Wheat Ridge303-235-2861

Westminster303-430-2400 x3362

Jefferson County303-271-8454

Arvada720-898-7810

This brochure was created by and used with the permission of the City and County of Denver,the City of Aurora, the City of Lakewood and the

Urban Drainage and Flood Control District.

C T W AClean water – we need it to surviveRivers, streams, creeks, ponds, lakes, reservoirs

— the metro area’s waterways are some of our

most precious resources. They provide drinking

water, recreation, and wildlife habitat. But only

if the water remains clean and unpolluted.

This brochure offers ways to care for your lawn

and garden that will help prevent water

pollution and keep our streams, rivers, and lakes

clear and clean.

Not allpollution isintentionalWe all need to do our partto protect local waterwaysfrom pollution. What youmay not realize is thatmuch of the pollution isunintentional, caused bythe things that we doeveryday — at work, athome, at play.

What you do makes a difference!You might not think that you can help solve theproblem, but you can! Lawn and gardenchemicals, such as insecticides, pesticides, andfertilizers, contaminate the stormwater if usedimproperly. Soil in bare, unlandscaped areas canbe washed away during heavy rains, pollutingthe water with sediment.

A healthy lawn helpswater qualityCaring for your lawn and garden properly helpskeep our water quality high. Research has shownthat healthy lawns help:

� Improve water quality

� Prevent soil erosion

� Reduce air pollution

� Provide wildlife habitat

Why? Because healthy, dense lawns absorbrainfall, reducing runoff and erosion.

Caring for your lawnand gardenLeave grass clippings on the lawnA healthy, established lawn with recycledclippings needs little or no additionalphosphorus fertilizer.

Apply fertilizer sparinglyand at the right timeExcess fertilizer washes off andends up in stormwater. Be sure toapply fertilizer in early Octoberbefore the grass goes dormant. Ifthe grass is dormant, it can’t takeup the fertilizer, so it escapes toour creeks and reservoirs.

The gutter in the street outside your homecarries water into a network of storm drains thatlead straight to local creeks and rivers. Stormdrains are separate from the sanitary sewersystem (which handles wastewater from yoursinks, tubs, and toilets). Unlike wastewater,stormwater is not treated at a sewage treatmentplant. Stormwater goes directly from the stormdrainage system into local creeks and rivers.

Anything on the sidewalks and streets, such asgrass clippings, leaves, pet waste, trash, or excessfertilizer, is carried away by runoff and ends upin storm drains, where it flows into rivers, lakes,and streams.