Commercial

Landscape and garden maintenance activities can be major contributors to water pollution. Soils, yard wastes, uncovered materials, over watering and garden chemicals become the part of the "urban stormwater runoff" combination that splashes onto roofs into gutters, across streets, and into storm drains before entering lakes and streams. Protecting the waters of the metropolitan area is important. Your customers' yards can be a hot spot or high-risk area for polluting stormwater.

Are you a commercial landscaper that also applies pesticides?  Need to keep up your professional credits? Attend a Commercial Landscaping workshop.  Contact the Gwinnett Cooperative Extension Service for details at 678-377-4010.

Landscape Design

• Use native vegetation (suited to soil type, slope, available light and climate).
• Select grass that needs fewer nutrients and less water.
• Group plants with similar water needs together.
• Practice xeriscaping, which combines water conservation and conventional landscaping techniques.

Landscape Cleanup Practices

• Don’t blow or dump leaves and yard debris down the storm drain or into creeks and streams.
• Don’t hose down an area after applying fertilizer.
• Sweep up any spilled fertilizer. (Don’t let it get on sidewalks, streets or in storm drains.)
• Compost all yard clippings.
• Swales and berms can help divert runoff from rushing into a yard.

Maintaining Soil and Fertility
Thinking of non-traditional practices or alternative products to use in your business? Try some of the following ideas:

• Test soil compaction and aerate when needed. Aeration and the use of slow, time-released or organic fertilizers will improve infiltration into the soil.
• Add organic matter such as compost to the soil to improve infiltration.

As the manager of a landscape company...

• It is important to train your employees on careful handling and storage practices for chemicals.
• Suggest using mulch, bricks, flagstone, gravel or other porous surfaces for walkways, patios and driveways.
• Minimize the use of chemicals. (It’s also a great way to cut costs.)
• Offer fact sheets and brochures in Spanish to workers.
• Inspect and calibrate application equipment frequently to prevent spills and leaks.

Innovative Techniques

• To prevent harmful air emissions, use electric powered equipment rather gasoline powered.
• Learn about and use Integrated Pest Management (IPM) to reduce toxic pesticide use.
• Check lawn and plant beds regularly for pest problems.
• Direct gutter downspouts to landscaped areas instead of onto pavement. Be sure that the soil where you point the downspout can absorb large amounts of water.

Chemicals and Equipment

• Store similar chemicals together.
• Mix chemicals where any spills can be cleaned up before they reach a waterway or street.
• Keep a spill kit on all vehicles hauling equipment to clean up any spills.
• Have a designated area for equipment away from streams.
• When cleaning equipment at a work site, avoid letting contaminated water run into streams or streets.

Be A Solution to Water Pollution
If you practice pollution prevention techniques, you’ll not only be preserving the environment but saving overhead expenses. Return to this web site in the future for more information.