Tips For ARouge-Friendly Landscape

WHERE POLLUTION IS CONCERNED,EVERY HOME IS WATERFRONT PROPERTY!

Distributed by Rouge River municipalities, Main 1-2 SubwatershedAuburn Hills • Beverly Hills • Bingham Farms • Birmingham • Bloomfield Hills • Bloomfield Township • Farmington HillsFranklin • Lathrup Village • Pontiac • Rochester Hills • Southfield • Southfield Township • Troy • West Bloomfield Township

Storm water runoff from lawns, gardens, driveways, androoftops contributes to the pollution of the Rouge River andnearby lakes. Water from rains and sprinkler systems picksup soil, fertilizer, pesticide, oil, leaves, grass clippings,and other materials. Water then flows into stormdrains which discharge to the Rouge River.

Runoff containing phosphorus and nitrogen is aparticular concern for the Rouge River in OaklandCounty. Excess amounts of these nutrients canbecome sources of pollution.

Why not compost, mulch, and recycle yard clippings?Follow the tips below to ensure a healthy watershed!

• Compost your clippings – Mix leaves and grass clippingswith soil and water in a backyard compost bin. Use thefinished compost as a soil amendment, natural fertilizeror top-dressing around plants. Compost used in the homelandscape holds water and helps filter pollutants. Forhow-to-do-it tips, see www.socwa.org.

• Mulch your leaves – Chop or shred leaves with yourmower. Leaf mulch can be used around ornamental plants,

shrubs, and trees. Mulchreduces the need for watering andweeding and gradually contributes organic matter to thesoil. In the fall, mow dry leaves and let the fragmentsremain on the lawn where they will contribute organicmatter and nutrients to the soil.

• “Bag It” – If you have extra leaves and grass clippings,place at curb for yard waste pickup. Contact your localDPW Office for pickup requirements.

Yard Waste Management Tips

Rouge River Main 1-2 Subwatershed communities are working together to promote earth-friendlylandscape practices to protect the Rouge River Watershed and local waterways.

Earth-FriendlyLawnCare Tips

Brochure prepared by SOCWA, Southeastern Oakland County Water Authority, 3910 W. Webster, Royal Oak, MI. 248-288-5150; www.socwa.org.Funded through a grant from the Rouge River National Wet Weather Demonstration Program, under U.S. EPA Grant #XP995743-09.

Benefits of Compost ForSoil Health and WaterQuality• Increases the ability of sandy soils to hold water.• Enhances the permeability of clay soil.• Slowly releases nutrients.• Prevents soil erosion.• Helps curtail some plant diseasesand pests.

• Degrades petroleum products andother pollutants.

MUNICIPAL WEB SITESMAIN 1-2 SUBWATERSHED, ROUGE RIVER

Auburn Hills – www.auburnhills.orgBeverly Hills – www.villagebeverlyhills.comBingham Farms – www.binghamfarms.orgBirmingham – www.ci.birmingham.mi.usBloomfield Hills – www.bloomfieldhills.mi.netBloomfield Township – www.bloomfieldtwp.orgFarmington Hills – www.fhgov.comFranklin – www.franklin.mi.usLathrup Village – www.lathrupvillage.orgPontiac – www.pontiac.mi.usRochester Hills – www.rochesterhills.orgSouthfield – www.cityofsouthfield.comTroy – www.troymi.govWest Bloomfield – www.twp.west-bloomfield.mi.us

• Don’t guess…soil test! – Contact MSU OaklandCounty Extension and purchase a soil test box. Askfor the organic matter test as well as the test forbasic nutrients. For information, contact the OaklandCounty Garden Hotline: 248-858-0902.

• Mow high and letthe clippings lie –Set the mower bladeat the highest setting,leaving 2-1/2 to 3inches on the grassblade. Tall grassencourages deeproots and shadesout some weeds.If you mulch yourgrass, you can reduce fertilizer quantities by 25%or more each year.

• Select earth-friendly fertilizers – Fertilizers withslow-release nitrogen and low or no phosphorus arerecommended.

• Sweep fertilizer from paved surfaces back ontothe lawn – Fertilizer left on sidewalks and drivewayscan easily wash into storm drains, the Rouge River,and nearby lakes.

• Avoid weed-and-feed combination products –Combination products often add unnecessary herbi-cides to the landscape. A better approach is to iden-tify the weed and selectively spot treat – or digweeds by hand.

Look for the bright green label at local retailers.For a list of recommended fertilizers and participating

retailers, see www.socwa.org.

Web SitesFOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

LD-1279

SE Oakland County Water Authority (SOCWA)www.socwa.org/lawn_and_garden.htm

SOCWA website topics: healthy lawns, rain gardens,naturescaping, tree care, composting, and more

Oakland County Water Resources Officewww.oakgov.com/water

Alliance of Rouge Communitieswww.allianceofrougecommunities.com

(includes map of subwatersheds and Rouge video)

Friends of the Rougewww.therouge.org

Rouge River National Wet Weather Demonstration Projectwww.rougeriver.com

PLAN YOUR HOME LANDSCAPE IN HARMONY WITH NATURE

TIPS FOR USINGCOMPOST

Compost is called gardener’sgold because it enhances theproductivity and fertility of soil.

When used on a sustainedbasis over several years, com-post provides a reservoirof nutrients for plants.

•SOIL ENRICHMENTDig 2 to 4 inches ofcompost into the soilbefore planting. If only asmall amount is available,place a handful of compostin each planting hole.

•FLOWER ANDVEGETABLE GARDENSSpread compost in a 2 to3 inch layer around plants.Compost helps conservemoisture in sandy soils,enhances the permeabilityof clay soils, suppressessome soil-borne diseases,prevents soil erosion, andreduces pollutants carriedby stormwater.

•TREES AND SHRUBSUse compost as a mulcharound the base of treesand shrubs (2 to 4 inchdepth), extending outbeyond the tree branches.When used in this way,compost provides essentialnutrients to small roots nearthe surface of the ground.

•LAWNSpread 1/2 inch of compostover an established lawnin the Fall or Spring. Rakethe compost into the lawn,leaving half of the grassblade exposed to sunlight.Before installing a new lawn,mix compost into the soilto a depth of six inches.

•CONTAINERSMix compost with pottingsoil in a 50 – 50 ratio.

Backyardcompost pilemade bylayering andmixing grass

clippings (“green”,nitrogen material),

chopped leaves (“brown”,carbon material), soil, and water.

Earth-friendly fertilizerused to build a thickgreen lawn.

Rain barrel collectsrainwater for gardens,reducing peakflow runoff tostorm drains.

Weeds pulled by hand,eliminating the needfor herbicides.

Mower set highto promote rootgrowth and shadeout weeds.

Diverse native treesand shrubs selected toenhance biodiversityand reduce

maintenance.

Vegetables, herbs, and flowers interplantedand rotated to discourage garden pestsand diseases. Soil tested for nutrients andorganic matter before selecting a fertilizer.

Rain garden withnative wildflowersplanted in low-lyingarea to trap runoffand filter pollutants.

Compost raked intothe lawn to promotethick, green grass.

Trees selectedwhich are suitedto site conditions.

Natural organic mulchapplied in a 2-3 inch layerenhances tree health.

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Grass smothered andnew garden createdby puttingcomposton top ofnewspaper.

Compostadded to gardensoil as a source oforganic matter andnutrients.

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Butterfly gardenplanted with

sun-loving nativewildflowers.

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Compost used asa top-dressing andslow-releasefertilizer in flowerbeds. Shredded

leaves, shredded bark, and othernatural mulches used to conservemoisture and reduce weeds.

Mulching mower used to returnfine-cut clippings to the lawn,reducing the need for fertilizer

and yard waste collection.

14Mulching mower used to shredFall leaves. Small pieces sift intothe lawn, minimizing bagging andcontributing nutrients to the soil.

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Plants with similar wateringneeds clustered together —conserving water andsaving time.

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10Lawn aerated toencourage a thick,

healthy lawn.

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