• When landscaping your yard, select plants that have low requirements for water, fertilizers, and pesticides and are native to the area.  

• Cultivate plants that discourage pests.

• Minimize grassed areas which require high maintenance.

• Preserve existing trees, and plant trees and shrubs to help prevent erosion and promote infiltration of water into the soil.

• Use landscaping techniques such as grass swales (low areas in the lawn) or porous walkways to increase infiltration and decrease runoff.          

• Install wood decking or bricks or interlocking stones instead of impervious cement walkways.

• Restore bare patches in your lawn as soon as possible to avoid erosion.

• Grade all areas away from your house at a slope of one percent or more.  

• Leave lawn clippings on your lawn so that nutrients in the clippings are recycled and less yard waste goes to landfills.

• If you elect to use a professional lawn care service, ask them to use organic products or to limit fertilizer and pesticide use.  Show them you care!

• Compost your yard trimmings.  Adding compost to your soil helps retain moisture in the soil and thus conserves water.

• Spread mulch on bare ground to help prevent erosion and runoff.

• Test your soil before applying fertilizers. Contact your county soil conservation district or Rutgers Cooperative Extension Service for details.  Many tests are free!

• Keep storm gutters and drains clean of leaves and yard trimmings.  

To learn more about planting native or drought tolerant gardens, go to: www.state.nj.us/dep/seeds/schhabs.htm

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