DIY Checklist for a Livable, Healthy Lawn
Follow this LIVABLE checklist to maintain a healthy lawn with minimal impact on your watershed. Looking for more guidance? Check out our lawn care guide, fall tips, spring tips, and lawn care resources.
LEARN the nutrients your lawn needs by testing the soil.
A soil test will indicate whether your lawn needs fertilizer. Get a free soil test kit!
INTEND to fertilize in the fall.
Fall is the best time to fertilize because it’s when your lawn grows new roots and grass plants.
VERIFY how much fertilizer you need and how to apply it.
Make sure you know what you’ve purchased and how and when to apply it.
AVOID leaving fertilizer and lawn clippings on sidewalks or driveways.
Stormwater carries excess fertilizer, eventually ending up in our waterways.
BOOST grass health by leaving lawn clippings.
Lawn clippings are a natural fertilizer that makes your grass more disease and drought-tolerant.
LEAVE a no-mow buffer around waterways.
Allow for a strip of native grasses or natural vegetation around shorelines to prevent soil erosion.
EXPAND your landscape beyond the lawn with native vegetation.
Reducing the size of your lawn supports biodiversity, reduces runoff, and saves you time and money.