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Lawn & Garden
September 03,2009
Grass clippings, twigs, leaves and other yard waste
When grass clippings, leaves, and other yard materials are blown onto streets, they will eventually be washed into stormwater systems. Leaves and debris either get caught in a drain or culvert causing local flooding, or flow through stormwater systems directly into rivers, streams or stormwater ponds. Yard debris is organic, so when it enters water bodies, it decays and eats up the oxygen in the water which will harm aquatic life.
Here are some points to remember and some alternatives:
- Grass clippings do not cause thatch build-up in the lawn. Thatch is last year’s roots and stems, not clippings.
- When mowing the lawn, leave grass clippings on your lawn. Grass clippings will provide 1/3 to 1/4 of the nutrients your lawn needs in a year. This saves you one fertilizer application per year!
- If your local government provides curbside yard waste collection, keep the yard waste and leaves on the edge of your lawn - not on the road.
- Compost leaves and grass clippings at home
- Sweep grass clippings and other debris off the pavement and into your lawn, garbage, or compost pile. If it rains or you use a hose to clean off your pavement, the debris will be washed into your local stream, lake or river!
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