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Sweep Your Way to Cleaner Water

Break out the broom and sweep your way to cleaner drinking water.

Gardening creates beautiful landscapes and productive gardens, but it can get a bit messy. Grass clippings, chemicals, soil, and fertilizer often spill onto walks, driveways, and other hard surfaces.

Save a few minutes at the end of each garden session for a bit of cleanup.  Move large plant debris into the compost bin.  Sweep any remaining garden debris off walks and back into the garden or lawn where they belong. This extra step in your landscape care prevents debris from washing into storm sewers and polluting our water.

It also saves you time and problems down the road.  Leaves and other landscape waste often block sewers, leading to local flooding after heavy rains. When these materials enter our waterways they can kill fish, cause algal blooms, increase aquatic weeds, harm natural habitats, and create unsightly views.

So sweep away the debris as you burn a few calories, and be kind to the environment.

A bit more information: Save yourself a bit of cleanup time by planning ahead.  Use a drop spreader in small areas to reduce the amount of fertilizer that ends up on nearby walks and drives.  Make sure side discharge shoots are aimed into the lawn and away from walks and drives.  And have your soil tested so you apply the right amount of the right type of fertilizer to your lawn and garden.

Related

Upcoming Webinars & Appearances


March 25, 2023
OCMGA Annual Garden Conference
Appleton, Wisconsin

March 26, 2023
REALTORS Home & Garden Show
West Allis, Wisconsin

March 29, 2023
FREE WEBINAR: 
Gardening Basics to Boost Your Success
Register now

April 1, 2023

REALTORS Home & Garden Show
West Allis, Wisconsin

April 5, 2023
FREE WEBINAR: 
What's New - Discover
New & Unique Plants!
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April 11, 2023

Southwestern Indiana Master Gardener Association's 2023 Speaker Series
Darmstadt, Indiana
 

April 18, 2023
FREE WEBINAR: 
Growing a Bountiful Harvest even when Time, Space & Budget are Limited

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April 20, 2023
SC Johnson Golden Rondelle Theater Speaker Series
Racine, WI
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April 22, 2023
Pasquesi Home & Gardens
Lake Bluff, IL

April 25, 2023
Frederik Meijer Gardens
Grand Rapids, MI

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