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What is Bay-Wise Landscape Management?
"Better water quality through smarter gardening"
Most Maryland residents live within a half-mile of a storm drain, stream or river. Most of those waterways eventually drain into the Chesapeake Bay. What we do to maintain our own landscapes can affect the health of our local waterways (drainage ditches, streams and rivers), the Chesapeake Bay and our environment. We all need to do our part to take care of our waterways and environment. By changing a few simple landscape practices, you and your family can help keep Maryland communities healthy.
The MD Bay-Wise Program is a homeowner education program conducted by Maryland Master GardenersSM in several counties.
If you are interested in learning more about how you can create and maintain a healthy landscape visit these links:
- 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
- HG 62 IPM: A Common Sense Approach
- HG 65 Help the Chesapeake Bay
- Drought Tolerant Annuals (print on 81/2" X 14" paper)
- HG 25 Xeriscaping and Conserving Water in the Home Landscape
- HG 306 How to Measure Your Yard
- How Much Fertilizer Do I Need to Fertilize My Lawn?
Click here for general gardening information: HGIC’s Publications page
Take the Bay-Wise Challenge
Visit one of these links to test yourself on how many Bay-Wise actions you are currently doing to maintain your landscape and protect our environment:
- Bay-Wise Maryland Yardstick - for Landscapes With Lawns
- Bay-Wise Maryland Yardstick - for Vegetable Gardens
- Bay-Wise Maryland Yardstick Application
If you scored well on the Bay-Wise MD Yardstick and you want to Show Your Bay-Wise Pride to all your neighbors this certification program might be for you.
If you need information on Water, Wells and Contamination, Well Records and Maintenance Guidelines, or Septic Records and Maintenance Guidelines click on appropriate links.
Area Educator, Residential and Landscape Management
Central Maryland Research and Education Center
11975 Homewood Road
Ellicott City, MD 21042
Phone 410-531-5973
For more information, contact Wanda MacLachlan
Last updated: 07/21/2009