\n\tWe greet spring as buds swell on the trees and days get warmer. These changes can reassure us in the midst of such uncertain times.<\/p>\n
\n\tLawn and garden care become an appealing activity for many of us\u2014a way to get outdoors and welcome new life. Lake Champlain Sea Grant<\/a>\u00a0and our many partners promote\u00a0easy ways to help minimize stormwater runoff, protect water quality, and keep soils healthy, all while we enjoy mowing, digging in the dirt, and planting.<\/p>\n \n\tReports of polluted water, algal blooms, and beach closures fill the news in recent years. Maybe you have had to cancel plans to spend the day at the beach because of a bloom or boil water for a time. Stormwater runoff that starts as rain and snowmelt on our yards is the source of some of this pollution.\u00a0<\/p>\n \n\tDo you know that something as simple as how we mow our grass can help prevent <\/em>this pollution from getting into our lakes and streams? That\u2019s right: cutting the grass at three inches (instead of one or two inches) and leaving the clippings on the lawn can help the grass absorb and filter stormwater. It\u2019s like a natural water treatment system!<\/p>\n \n\tHere\u2019s how it works:\u00a0 the longer the grass, the longer the roots. The longer the roots, the more air spaces in the soil to absorb water. Longer roots reach deeper during dry spells, so lawns are less vulnerable to drought. Watering our lawns uses a lot of water, and much of it evaporates instead of sinking into the ground. In fact, lawn irrigation in the United States accounts for almost 30% of total water use!*<\/p>\n \n\tLonger grass provides another benefit: the grass blades capture more energy from the sun. That helps make the grass stronger and creates more shade for the soil, which helps reduce evaporation.<\/p>\n \n\tWhen we leave grass clippings instead of bagging them, we actually create healthier soil. The clippings break down into organic matter and become fertilizer that feeds the grass with the same ingredients as the chemicals you buy in the store: nitrogen and phosphorus. Only, it\u2019s natural!<\/p>\n \n\tThe organic matter makes the soil act like a sponge, absorbing and filtering stormwater. Healthy soils increase the lawn\u2019s resistance to disease and pests. Not only does your lawn need less chemical fertilizer<\/em>; it also needs less chemical insecticide and fungicide.<\/em><\/p>\n \n\tThere are more ways you can help reduce stormwater runoff, attract pollinators like bees, butterflies and moths, and feed the birds, all at the same time. Use native plants in your garden and replace some of your lawn with native bushes, trees, and groundcover.<\/p>\n \n\tNative plants have longer roots, absorbing more stormwater than grass and protecting the land from erosion. Native plants also support insects and seeds specifically evolved to feed our local birds.<\/p>\n \n\tLearn more about Lake Champlain Sea Grant, our partners, and\u00a0campaigns to promote these lawn practices<\/a>. You will find links to articles, local resources, and programs such as Lawn to Lake<\/em>, Raise the Blade<\/em>, and Don\u2019t \u201cP\u201d On Your Lawn<\/em>, all of which will help you manage your lawn and garden in ways that protect water quality and support our ecosystems. You can also visit our Facebook page<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n \n\tLake Champlain Sea Grants’ partners on these campaigns include: Composting Association of Vermont<\/a>, Cornell Cooperative Extension<\/a>, Lake Champlain Basin Program<\/a>, Lake Champlain Committee<\/a>, UVM Extension<\/a>, Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation<\/a>, and Vermont Natural Resources Conservation Service<\/a>.<\/p>\n \n\t\u00a0<\/p>\n