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Ten Tips for Fish-Friendly Living

Ten Tips for Gardeners

These suggestions are practical changes we can consider making in our daily lives to help salmon. This information does not substitute for any local, state or federal legal regulations. Reprinted with permission from the Oregon Governor’s Natural Resources Office at 503-378-3589.

1. Native plant placement
Seek landscaping advice to help prevent erosion and reduce water and chemical needs when planting or redesigning a garden. Strategic placement of native plants can reduce both the maintenance required and the impact of your garden on the environment.

2. Fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides
Avoid overuse of fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides. If you are using commercial products, follow label instructions completely. When used in excess, these nutrients and chemicals are more likely to runoff into streams or sewers where they significantly impact watersheds. Fertilizers can stimulate growth, causing harmful blooms of aquatic algae and plants, while herbicides and pesticides can poison both plant and animal life.

3. Weed management
Pull weeds when they first appear to keep them from spreading. By preventing weeds before they become established, the need for herbicides can be significantly reduced. If herbicides are used, practice spot-spraying to target specific plants, instead of broad chemical application.

4. Soil pH
Monitor the pH of your soil with a simple test kit. Maintaining an ideal pH reduces the need to fertilize by improving the efficiency of your plants to absorb nutrients.

5. Lawn watering
Water lawns about one inch, once per week to avoid over-watering which can wash essential nutrients from the soil, cause shallow root growth and increase runoff of sediment and pollutants to waterways or storm drains. Place a tuna can on the lawn when watering to measure one inch of water. For most efficient water use, water lawns in the early morning or late evening to avoid excessive evaporation. A handy way to measure one inch of watering.

6. Mulch
Mulch between garden rows and around trees and shrubs. Mulch can reduce watering needs by helping the soil retain water and discouraging weeds that can compete for moisture.

7. Automatic or drip watering systems
Use automatic or drip watering systems or use sprinkler heads that most efficiently meet your watering needs. By using tools to help conserve water, more water can be reserved instream to improve water quality and support fish and other aquatic life.

8. Mowing
Select plants and grasses that require less mowing and choose alternatives to gas mowers. Reducing the need for gas-powered mowers, which contribute significantly to air pollution problems, can help improve air quality that in turn improves watershed health.

9. Grass length
Keep grass one to three inches long. Grass this length shades the roots, requires less water and mowing, and allows the root system to become deeper and more efficient in water storage.

10. Organic formulas
Consider trying an organic, homemade formula for fertilizing and pest control needs. Organic recipes can work as well as chemicals, at less cost to you and to the environment.

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