Spring Maintenance
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Dont dump swept up sand onto gardens or storm
drains. This sand contains salt and other pollutants.
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| Avoid 2-in-1 products that mix pesticides and
fertilizers.
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| Recycle winter twigs and leaves by using them as a
base for a new compost pile, or chop it up (with a
lawn mower or shredder) for use as mulch around
shrubs and planting beds.
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| A thin layer of compost on your lawn and planting
areas later in the season provides organic nutrients
for healthy growth.
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Summer Care
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| Dont over water your lawn, or water more than
once per week. Frequent watering weakens grass by
discouraging deep root growth.
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| Avoid mowing your lawn less than 2" in height.
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| Be water conscious. Lawns only need 1" of rain per
week, either from rain or irrigation.
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| Use a rain gauge to measure rainfall, or place a
shallow can beneath the sprinkler to measure
water levels.
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| Install an inexpensive rain sensor on your automatic
sprinkler system to effectively prevent sprinklers
from coming on during or after a rainfall.
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| Keep mower blades sharp to reduce moisture loss
and prevent disease spread, and mow your lawn to a
height of 2 to 3".
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| A thick layer of mulch (at least 2") around trees,
shrubs and planting areas reduces moisture loss,
keeps plants cool, and reduces weeds.
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Fall Leaves & Fertilization
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| Dont dump leaves into waterways or wetlands.
This can clog ponds and waterways, as well as lead
to water quality problems.
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| Collect lawn and garden clippings, pruning waste,
and tree trimmings for compost in your own yard.
Do not place yard wastes into curbside drains which
drain directly to water bodies.
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| Fertilize your lawn with a single dose of slow-release
or organic fertilizer early in the season for a healthy
lawn next spring.
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Winter De-icing & Planning
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| Avoid using rock salt to de-ice your sidewalks and
driveways. Rock salt can be harmful to many forms
of aquatic life as well as damage infrastructure.
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| Instead, use Calcium Chloride or Calcium
Magnesium Acetate (CMA) products to melt ice,
or use plain sand if you are only looking for a little
traction.
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| Sweep up sand from your sidewalks and driveway in
between storms, sift and re-use.
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| Identify and remove invasive plants in natural areas
of your yard. Consider replacing them with native
plants in the spring.
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| Consider creating a rain garden by turning your
downspouts away from the driveway and into a low
spot in your yard. Plant the low spot with
appropriate low-maintenance native shrubs and
perennial flowers.
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