Residential Guide to Lawn Maintenance

Rainscaping Iowa: Landscapes for Clean Water

Plant Trees: Plant trees in your yard; the canopies intercept rain and evaporate water back into the atmosphere.

Native Plants: Use deep-rooted native grasses and flowers in your gardens. Minimize the amount of turf in your yard, especially if you have a lot of open area, by planting a “Patch of Prairie.”

Native Turf: Plant your yard with low-growing, deep rooted native turf grasses. Try Buffalo, Blue Gramma and Side Oats Gramma grasses. Then mow as usual or less often with no need to water or fertilize.

Rain Gardens: Create a rain garden to capture downspout water or runoff from your lawn. Dig a depressional area in a well drained area where soils will soak up water. Amend soil before planting with compost, if needed. Plant natives or your favorite perennials.

Fertilizers: Use fertilizers sparingly. Follow all directions on bag and sweep up any excess that spills onto the driveway or sidewalk.

No “P” Fertilizers: There are three numbers on a fertilizer bag for N, P and K. Use the no “P” or very low “P” fertilizers, as there is already plenty of phosphorous in our soils.

Mow High: If you want less watering, wait to mow your grass when it is 4-5 inches high. Roots will grow longer, which then requires less watering.

Restore Healthy Soil: Reduce compaction and increase organic matter content. Aerate your lawn, and then apply a thin layer of compost (1/4-1/2 inch) and additional seed if desired.

~ This information courtesy www.RainscapingIowa.org and www.IowaStormWater.org.