All Season Yard Tips

Don't throw away organic wastes to already full landfills, use them to improve your lawn, garden and ultimately the Illinois River Watershed.

Use leaves and pine needles as mulch for landscaping beds.

In Fall, mow over leaves and leave them in your yard for extra fertilization.

Establish your own home compost pile.

Don’t put yard waste and yard clippings into landfills, it’s illegal.

Use community composting/yard waste collection programs.

Direct downspouts away from paved surfaces and onto vegetated surfaces so water is not wasted.

Set up rain barrels to collect water to use for watering plants, lawns and gardens.

Build a rain garden. Water is collected in the garden so the water has a chance to filter into the ground rather than run off into sewers.

Reduce the amount of impermeable surfaces so water filters into the ground.

In winter properly dispose of de-icers & use non-toxic/environmentally safe salt.

Pet Waste & The Watershed

Pet waste may contain bacteria that can be a health risk to other animals, our water supply and people, especially children. By picking up after Fido or Snowball you can take care of your four-legged friend and the Illinois River Watershed.

Be aware. If your pet is using a vacant lot, trail, sidewalk or the neighbors’ lawn as an outhouse, it can wash into our watershed with storm water runoff.

Take a scoop and baggie on your walks to ensure watershed safety and avoid the ire of your neighbors.

Flush the waste at home, bury it away from water sources with nine inches of soil on top, or if composting, don’t use the mixture/fertilizer where kids will be playing or where you will be growing food.

Get Your Soil Tested. Save $$ & Protect the Watershed
Too much fertilizer causes the Illinois River Watershed problems and costs you extra money. Get your soil tested for free so you know exactly how much to use. For more information click here.

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