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What goes into the STORM DRAINS Comes out in our OCEAN Comes out into the OCEAN ---PAGE BREAK--- www.greenscapes.org This flyer is provided to Nahant by the Massachusetts GreenscapesTM coalition and by SWIM. Consider Greenscaping instead of landscaping Greenscapes are beautiful landscapes that protect our water. Our lawns: Did you know? Watering lawns consumes huge amounts of expensive water which carries expensive herbicides, pesticides and fertilizers to the world’s water supplies, rivers and oceans. Our children and pets pick up these poisons on their little bare feet. Here’s how you can help: • Keep your grass at least 3” tall • Sharpen mower blades • Leave grass clippings on the lawn as natural mulch and fertilizer. • Save money and water only when your lawn is thirsty. Frequent, light watering discourages root growth. Encourage deep root growth by watering weekly or use a rain gauge. Water only in the morning to reduce evaporation. • Switch from a chemically-treated lawn to natural turf. Approximately 80% of lawn products wash into our rivers, lakes and ocean. Is your landscaper a Greenscaper? You’ll know your landscaping company is a Greenscaper if it… aTests soil to determine best lawn treatments and schedules aGives you its list of products safe for your lawn, family & pets aApplies products when needed and not on a fixed schedule aSets your sprinkler system to run only when needed Then.. aYour family and pets will be safer from dangerous chemicals aYour lawn will be healthier aYour beaches and ocean will be less polluted from runoff of chemicals and wasted water. aYOU WILL SAVE MONEY on chemicals, products and water! TALL GRASS DEEP ROOTS Stormwater: Why should we care? Because it runs down into the ocean where we swim or go fishing. It is full of bacteria from organic waste, including pet waste, which causes our beaches to be closed after big rain storms. It carries trash out onto our beaches, including dangerous syringes. It carries poisonous chemicals from our lawns and gas and oil from our vehicles.