Scott Soil Water Conservation District

Urban/Blue Thumb

If you live in the city, your yard can be your own personal haven for recreation, rest and relaxation. By adopting a few basic principles, your yard, no matter the size, can help clean our waters while providing habitat for birds, butterflies and other important pollinators.

Rain gardens reduce stormwater (rain water) runoff and recharge groundwater.
A shoreline stabilized with native plants help hold soil in place, filter pollutants and provide critical near-shore wildlife habitat.
Rain barrels capture rainfall for reuse on gardens and flower beds.
Water-friendly lawn care keeps grass clippings on your lawn and uses phosphorus-free fertilizer.
Trees, shrubs and native gardens with deep roots help hold soil in place and reduce runoff.

We offer assistance on a number of backyard conservation topics and activities to help you keep our waters clean! Learn more about getting started below!

Create a Raingarden	Raingardens are shallow, bowl-shaped landscape beds planted with native perennial flowers and grasses. They only hold water for up to two days after a rain storm as the water slowly soaks into the soil. Raingardens capture water from your roof, driveway or the street and help filter pollutants before they get to nearby lakes, rivers and wetlands. How can I get involved? Before and After Photos of Rain Gardens
Stabilize your shoreline with native plants	If your lakeshore is eroding, stabilizing the shoreline with native plants can help repair the erosion and provide wildlife habitat in the near-shore area. Establishing native plants along the lakeshore reduces soil erosion, filters runoff from your lawn before it gets to the lake and discourages geese from congregating on your lawn. Native wildflowers and grasses will also provide a beautiful view of the lake year-round. Fix your eroding shoreline
Plant a Native Garden	Not sure if a raingarden will work in your yard? Try a native garden, which will reduce runoff, soak up stormwater (rain water) and provide important habitat for pollinators like birds, butterflies and bees. Native gardens have a variety of perennial native plants that have extensive root systems and beautiful blooms year-round to help hold soil in place. Funding and technical advice is available
Add a rain barrel to your landscape	Rain barrels are back by popular demand! Smaller versions of the farmhouse cisterns, rain barrels are great ways to help clean our waters by reducing runoff from your property. These attractive barrels capture water from your roof through your downspouts and can be used later for carwashing, window washing, gardens and flower beds. Order your rain barrel today!
Planting trees and shrubs	The Scott Soil and Water Conservation District sells high-quality, low-cost tree and shrub seedlings every year. The seedlings (6" to 3' tall) are of the finest stock from local nurseries. Planting trees and shrubs on your property reduces runoff and soaks up water during rain storms. Click here if you'd like to be added to the tree customer mailing list. Order your bare-root seedlings and native seed mixes
Water-Friendly Lawn Care	A healthy lawn can help keep our waters clean. Use phosphorus-free fertilizer, it's the law; keep grass clippings on the lawn, it's free fertilizer; sweep up fertilizer and grass clippings from your driveway and the street, they will eventually end up in the nearest lake, river or wetland, creating algae blooms and reducing wildlife habitat. For more water-friendly lawn care tips, contact Dan Miller, Scott Clean Water Education Program, (952) 492-5424. Tips for healthy lawns and clean water
Living near a pond or wetland	Wetlands and ponds offer important clean water functions. They capture runoff and hold it back to reduce erosion on nearby lakes and rivers. Wetlands and ponds also provide wildlife habitat for waterfowl, birds and other animals. Keep an area of perennial vegetation along the wetland or pond to discourage geese from congregating and to help soak up runoff from your lawn.