Tips for Lawn & Garden
Ground Cover
Retain natural ground cover and existing trees and shrubs wherever possible. Removing vegetation or covering the ground with pavement and buildings prevents water from soaking into the soil. When clearing is necessary, stabilize areas of bare soil with vegetation as soon as possible after grading.
Trees & Shrubs
Plant additional trees and shrubs. They capture and hold a lot of rain, even before it reaches the ground.
Natural Yard Care
Practice natural yard care by limiting fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides. Pesticides are toxic to fish and can contaminate drinking water. Chemical and organic fertilizers can cause excessive plant growth in water. When these plants die, they rob the water of oxygen and this can kill fish. Never spray pesticides or fertilizers near ditches, lakes, or bays.
Compost
Compost your yard waste. Use compost to improve your soil, which will help absorb and filter stormwater. Keep grass clippings out of ravines and waterways, where they become unwanted fertilizer. Find information and guides on
backyard composting from Kitsap County Public Works.
Chemical Disposal
Dispose of lawn and garden chemicals carefully. Follow instructions on the container. Never dump them down drains or near water. They can "upset" the sewage treatment plant. Dispose of unused pesticides at the
Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility at:
5551 SW Imperial Way
Bremerton, WA
Ph: 360-337-5777
Use Native Plants
Garden with native plants. Native plants are especially adapted to rainy northwest winters and dry summers. Native plants require little additional water after they become established. They are more disease resistant, requiring less fertilizer and pesticides. Order native plants from the
Kitsap Conservation District's annual plant sale. Call 360-337-7171 for information.
Use Drought-Tolerant Plants
Garden with drought-tolerant plants. There are hundreds of beautiful plants that thrive in the Pacific Northwest on little or no additional water after they are established. Learn more from
Kitsap County Master Gardeners.