Category: Garden for Water & Life

Winter is a difficult season for wildlife, but some simple steps can keep your yard a healthy habitat.

Add native plants this fall

The cool temperatures and reliable rainfall mean the plants will be less stressed as they won’t lose as much water from their leaves. Plus, the plants have a chance to get settled and establish new roots giving them a head start on growth the following spring. Most trees, shrubs and perennials will thrive but avoid planting evergreens in late fall as harsh winds can make them more susceptible to drying out when the soil freezes.

If necessary, fertilize lawns in the fall

When the weather gets cool, lawns start to concentrate on growing new roots and grass plants. Fertilizing in the fall leads to a healthier lawn in the spring. Test your soil before fertilizing, though – most lawns won’t need any extra nutrients. Visit Delaware Livable Lawns for a free soil testing kit!

Leave the leaves!

You can keep the fallen leaves on your lawn if you pass over them once or twice with a mulching or rotary mower to shred them into smaller pieces. Leaves can be used as mulch in garden beds or under trees, or consider composting them with some grass clippings to make your own mulch for the spring. Many animals rely on fallen leaves for food and shelter, including turtles, toads, as well as the moths and butterfly caterpillars that overwinter in them.

Leave flower heads and stalks

The seeds found in grass and flower heads are important winter food supplies for songbirds. Plant stems provide cozy winter nesting locations for many beneficial insects – wait till spring to cut back.

Spring has sprung and for many people that means long afternoons mowing the lawn, pulling weeds, prepping your garden, and/or planting new flowers to brighten up the yard. Tending to our outdoor spaces can take a lot of maintenance, but luckily we have a few tricks and tips that can help make it easy to Garden for Water and Life.

Plant natives

Native plants – plants that originated in this area – support both water and life. These plants thrive in our climate and are easy to grow and care for without using extra water or chemicals. This takes some of the guesswork out of your plant care routine.

Not to mention, these plants also improve water quality by filtering pollutants, absorbing excess water with their deep roots, AND providing food for birds, butterflies, and pollinating insects. This spring add some low-maintenance and beautiful additions to your garden (hello cone-flowers!) and sit back and enjoy the show!

Fertilize in the fall

If necessary, fertilize lawns in the fall, not the spring! Lawns start to concentrate on growing new roots and grass plants when the weather gets cooler – not as the temperatures start to spike. When you fertilize in the fall, you’re setting yourself up for success in the spring. Still have questions? I did. Check out Delaware Livable Lawns for other tips and help understanding when, where, why, and how to fertilize.

Buy a rain barrel

Or, install the one you bought through New Castle County’s discount rain barrel program! Rain barrels are a great way to store rainwater and roof runoff to water your lawn and non-edible plants. They help reduce flooding and water pollution and help make you look like a gardening pro to all your friends, family, neighbors, and potential love interests.

If you don’t want a rain barrel, consider creating a downspout garden instead. Direct your downspout into a shallow depression planted with native plants. Reduce flooding and polluted runoff while supporting wildlife.

Reduce chemicals

Most yard chemicals, including herbicides, fertilizers, and pesticides, aren’t needed and the excess runs off your lawn and into the waters that we use for drinking and for recreation. (Who wants their pets or family splashing around in lawn chemicals when playing in the creek, right?)

Mosquitoes are a pain, but pesticides don’t have to be the answer. Installing natural solutions that attract predators (think birds, dragonflies, and toads) and manually removing pests is usually more effective, not to mention safer, than pesticides that harm bees, butterflies, and songbirds.

Pledge to be a Clean Stream Champion

Along with Gardening for Water and Life, there are just four other easy actions you can take to improve water quality in New Castle County:

1. Scoop the (Dog) Poop
2. Only Rain Down the Storm Drain
3. Reduce Household Chemicals (without pesticides and herbicides you’re already on your way!)
4. Cease the Grease

Pledge today and be entered into our quarterly prize drawing. You might even win some native plants!

Sit back, relax, and let nature work in your yard this spring.