The MD Bay-Wise Certification Program

Bay-Wise Landscape Management

"Better water quality through smarter gardening"

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The MD Bay-Wise Program focuses on water quality. It comprises a comprehensive set of environmental topics that affect the quality and quantity of water here in Maryland. Most of these topics relate to landscape management, however, a few, like hydrology, wells & septic systems, hazardous household products and water conservation, address household issues. For more information on "safe" household issues, visit the Home*A*Syst/Healthy Home Program

How the Bay-Wise Program Works

In Maryland, county Master Gardeners, who have taken the 9 to 12 hours of advanced training in Bay-Wise Landscape Management, form a committee to plan Bay-Wise activities in and around their county such as:

one-on-one site visits to help county residents qualify to have their landscapes certified as Bay-Wise using the MD Yardstick,
classes and lectures to community groups,
teaching youth in schools/community projects,
staffing information booths at community fairs.

How Do I Get My Home Landscape Certified as Bay-Wise?

Interested in making your landscape more environmentally sound? Follow these three steps:

Download the appropriate MD Yardstick (for landscapes with lawns, for landscapes without lawns or for vegetable gardens),
Complete the MD Yardstick,
Contact the Master Gardener program in your county to sign up for a site visit. (See next three sections)

Once the Master Gardeners certify your home landscape you may receive a small sign to display in your landscape and a certificate. Even if you do not have your landscape certified, you can still do plenty to reduce pollutants going into the Chesapeake Bay by following the suggestions in the MD Yardstick.

Counties with Bay-Wise Certification Program:

Is your county not listed above?

Since the Bay-Wise program is conducted in MD on the county level by Master Gardeners, not all counties have an active and complete program. Check with your local county Master Gardener Coordinator (click here then click on the link to Local MG Programs) for availability. If your county does not have an active program, contact Wanda MacLachlan at 410-531-5973 or 301-596-9478 or wtm@umd.edu

Publications associated with the Bay-Wise program include*:

FS 701 – Landscapes that Help the Chesapeake Bay
FS 702 – Lawns and the Chesapeake Bay
FS 703 – Pet Waste and Water Quality
FS 704 – Saving Your Soil and the Chesapeake Bay
FS 707 – Melting Ice Safely
BW 1 – Bay-Wise Maryland Yardstick – for Landscapes Without Lawns
BW 2 – Bay-Wise Maryland Yardstick – for Landscapes With Lawns
BW 3 – Bay-Wise Maryland Yardstick – for Vegetable Gardens
BW 4 – Bay-Wise Maryland Yardstick Application
HG 62 – IPM: A Common Sense Approach
HG 65 – Help the Chesapeake Bay
HG 306 – How to Measure Your Yard
HomeWork Notebook
Home*A*Syst/Healthy Home Program

Take the Bay-Wise Challenge

Check these links to test yourself on how many Bay-Wise action you are currently doing....

Bay-Wise Maryland Yardstick – for Landscapes With Lawns
Bay-Wise Maryland Yardstick – for Landscapes Without Lawns
Bay-Wise Maryland Yardstick – for Vegetable Gardens
Bay-Wise Maryland Yardstick Application

* These are Portable Document Files (.pdf's). You will need to have the Adobe Acrobat Reader to view them. If you need that software click here to be transferred to the Adobe site to download the free software.

Contact the Home and Garden Information Center, 800-342-2507 to order publication by phone or click here to order on line.The MD Bay-Wise Program is adapted from both the Florida Yard & Gardens Program and the Virginia Water-Wise Program.

Return to Bay-Wise Program Homepage

For more information, contact Wanda MacLachlan

Last updated: 04/29/2009

Upcoming Advanced Training Sessions

Baltimore, Carroll Counties & Baltimore City

When: Saturday, March 6 and Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Anne Arundel & Calvert Counties

When: Saturdays, March 13 and 27, 2010

Click link in left menu for more details

The MD Bay-Wise Certification Program

Bay-Wise Landscape Management

"Better water quality through smarter gardening"

How the Bay-Wise Program Works

How Do I Get My Home Landscape Certified as Bay-Wise?

Counties with Bay-Wise Certification Program:

Anne Arundel County

Baltimore City

Baltimore County

Calvert County

Carroll County

Charles County

Frederick County

Harford County

Howard County

Montgomery County

Prince George's County

Queen Anne’s County

St. Mary’s County

Talbot County

Washington County