Leaves, Leaves, Leaves … and Healthy Streams

Fall is a time for football, color, cooler days, brilliant skies, falling leaves and unfortunately …

the need for yard work to collect all those fallen leaves!

But, what do leaves have to do with the health of our streams?

It is not uncommon for leaves to be blown or swept into the street, drainage ditches or storm drains. They are then washed into local streams where bacteria cause the leaves to decay

and release phosphorus. This bacterial action and release of phosphorus can lead to a decrease in the water oxygen levels necessary to support the survival of fish & aquatic life.

What can I do to help?

Don’t blow or sweep leaves into the street, storm drains or drainage ditches. Instead, consider composting the old leaves. You’ll save our streams and your garden will benefit from all the rich compost you are able to produce!

See the reverse side of this flyer for more information on composting.

The Drain is Just for Rain!

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BEAUTIFUL LAWNS AND HEALTHY STREAMS

A regular fertilization program is important to maintain a healthy, attractive lawn. Proper fertilization is generally the most cost-effective practice to have a nice lawn. A soil test will tell you what nutrients are present in your soil and what you need to add. This includes what fertilizer to use, how much and when to apply. Soil testing is available through the Extension Service (678-377-4025) for a small fee. A rule of thumb for warm season grasses is to apply 10-10-10 fertilizer at a rate of 10 pounds per 1000 square feet after Spring green-up. Waiting until after your grass is green, increases the likelihood of the fertilizer going into the grass plants and not into our streams. This way you can have an award winning lawn and you will be doing your part to protect our streams.

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Compost: From Golden Leaves to Gardener’s Gold

Compost is often referred to as “Gardener’s Gold” because of its ability to help plants grow. If you’ve ever been in a forest and peeled away the top layers of leaf litter on the ground, you will have seen a rich layer of this black, earthy, sweet smelling, moist material called compost. Compost, when mixed in with soil, improves soil structure, adds a wide variety of minerals and nutrients, and improves the soil’s ability to retain moisture.

Composting is the earth’s way of naturally recycling old plant material and you too can use this process in your own back yard to manage your yard waste. So, this fall, why not try composting all those fallen leaves and by next spring you too could be mining “Gardener’s Gold” in your very own backyard.

For information on how to compost call “Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful” at 770-822-5187 or visit their website at www.gwinnettcb.org, click on the blue “Issues & Actions” button & select composting from the drop down list.

This insert was developed by Gwinnett County’s Storm Water Management Division. Questions or comments? Please call: 678-376-6929.

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