Bay-Wise Gardening (Water Quality Issues in the Landscape: What Can I Do to Solve the Problem?)

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Bay-Wise Gardening (Water Quality Issues in the
LandscapeWhat Can I Do to Solve the Problem?)
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The University of Maryland is equal opportunity.
The Universitys policies, programs, and
activities are in conformance with pertinent
Federal and State laws and regulations on
nondiscrimination regarding race, color,
religion, age, national origin, sex, and
disability. Inquiries regarding compliance with
Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as
amended Title IX of the Educational Amendments
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
and the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990
or related legal requirements should be directed
to the Director of Personnel/Human Relations,
Office of the Dean, College of Agriculture and
Natural Resources, Symons Hall, College Park, MD
20742.
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University of Maryland Extension (UME)

• The College of Agriculture Natural Resources is
  part of UMCP and UMES
• Our college has three parts
• Undergraduate and Graduate Instruction
• Agricultural Experiment Station (AES)
• University of Maryland Extension (UME)
• UME has offices in all 23 Maryland counties and
  Baltimore City and at 4 Research and Education
  Centers

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Major UME Programs

• Agriculture and Natural Resources
• Production Ag/Commercial Horticulture
• Home Horticulture (HGIC)
• Maryland Master Gardener Bay-Wise Program
• Natural Resources Water Quality
• Maryland Master Naturalist
• Family and Consumer Science
• Food, Nutrition Health education
• Financial education
• 4-H Youth Development

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Gardening Questions?

• Contact the
• Maryland residents call
• [phone] M-F, 8-1 or 24/7
• www.hgic.umd.edu
• Out of state call 410-531-1757

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Bay-Wise Landscape Care

• Why should I care?
• What should I do?
• How do I do it?

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WHY SHOULD I CARE?
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The Bay is Economically Important
Economy

• Photo of harvest scene
• (webpage electronic photo image, Kate Naughten,
  CBPO
• 35 mm slide, CBPO)

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The Bay is Important for Recreation and Tourism
Recreation

• photo of recreational use scene
• (webpage electronic photo image, EPA
• 35 mm slide, Steve Delaney, for EPA)

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The Bay Provides Important Habitat for Wildlife
Natural Habitat

• photo of habitat scene with wildlife
• (webpage electronic photo image, EPA
• 35 mm slide, USFWS)

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Where Does the Bay Start?

• photo of person near creek or culvert in
  residential area
• (photo, CBPO)

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What Are the Pollutants That We Are Concerned
About?

• Nutrients
• Phosphorus
• Nitrogen
• Sediments
• Toxics/contaminants

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Nutrients

• Organic material such as manure, pet waste,
  leaves and grass clippings
• Over-fertilized water
• Decaying algae water weeds

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Nutrients

• ORGANIC MATERIAL
• manure
• pet waste
• leaves
• grass clippings
• fertilizer

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Sources of Nitrogen

• Agriculture
• Sewage treatment plants
• Electric power plants
• Lawns
• Bathrooms kitchens
• Automobiles

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Phosphorus

• Occurs in soil as dissolved or solid
• Strongly bound to soil
• Most lost through erosion
• Can leach from P-saturated soils

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Sediments

• Fill in lakes streams
• Trigger flooding
• Obstruct light to aquatic plants animals
• Bury sedentary aquatic plants animals
• Each year, farmers lose 3 to 4 tons
• of soil per acre to erosion.

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Toxics
Atrazine Cadmium
Diazinon Chromium
Malathion Lead
Chlordane Zinc
Deildrin
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WHAT SHOULD I DO?HOW DO I DO IT?

• To prevent problems in my local water system?

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In the Neighborhood

• Obey pooper-scooper laws
• Pick up litter, remind others to do the same
• Learn where your storm drain goes
• Report spills other stream problems to proper
  authorities

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Around the House

• Dispose of hazardous products properly
• Use environmentally-friendly cleansers
• Buy only quantities you need
• Avoid wasteful packaging
• Turn lights off when not in use
• Use high efficiency light bulbs

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Concerning Cars

• If possible, wash car where suds cannot enter
  storm drains, i.e., on your lawn
• Recycle used oil antifreeze
• Walk or bike, when possible
• Take public transportation or carpool

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On Lawns

• Select the proper type of grass
• Cultivate a thick, healthy turf
• Allow established turf to go dormant during
  summer
• Mow at the proper height
• Grass-cycle
• Use groundcovers where grass is hard to grow

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Fertilizing Lawns

• Test soil for pH and phosphorus
• Fertilizers
• use slow release / organic types
• apply in the Fall 1.8-2.7 lbs. N per year
• keep off hard surfaces
• Replace turf with low maintenance groundcover

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In the Landscape

• Compost yard waste
• Keep paved surfaces to a minimum
• Rethink/reduce your lawn
• Maintain dense, healthy plant cover over your
  entire yard
• Group plants in mulched beds
• Terrace steep slopes

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In the Landscape, cont.

• Plant drought-tolerant plants
• Use soaker hose or drip irrigation instead of
  sprinkler
• Direct downspouts away from paved surfaces and
  onto grass or mulched areas
• After seeding and planting, use mulch
• Control pests sensibly
• Conserve energy

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In the Vegetable Garden

• Water with soaker hose or drip irrigation
• Use raised beds with solid sides
• Use mulch cover between rows
• Plant a cover crop
• Control pests sensibly
• Add organic matter regularly via compost

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FollowBay-WiseBest Management Practices

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FollowBay-WiseBest Management Practices Using
the MD Yardstick
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Bay-Wise Actions

• Fertilize Wisely
• Water Efficiently
• Control Stormwater Runoff
• Mulch Appropriately
• Recycle Yard Waste

• Manage Yard Pests with IPM
• Plant Wisely
• Encourage Wildlife
• Protect the Waterfront

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How does your landscape measure up?
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The End
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Bay-WiseMaryland Yardstick Program

• Wanda MacLachlan
• Area Educator Environmental Management
• 11975 Homewood Road
• Ellicott City, MD 21042-1545
• 410-531-5973
• wtm_at_umd.edu
• www.baywise.umd.edu