Create An Ocean Friendly Garden

Paddling out to watch dolphins dance through see-forever water. Napping in sand listening to gleeful children being chased by waves. And standing on a pier at dusk, trying to pull dinner from emerald water. Our ocean is our life.

Little wonder why so many people are motivated to protect the Pacific. But what a majority do not know is that it is the small changes that make the biggest impacts. Simple shifts in maintenance practices can greatly influence the amount of type of pollutant entering our water systems.

Creating an Ocean Friendly garden is an entire process, from design and construction, to maintenance and rejuvenation. The maintenance suggestions below are a significant part of that process. Following the suggestions below will reduce the quantity of runoff, while increasing its quality.

Avoid Blowers:

Blowers push a property's debris into the air, nearby properties, and the street -- all of which eventually ends up in the ocean.

Sweep or Vacuum:

surfaces, like pavers and bricks, will decrease over time, as fine particles fill the gaps. These special surfaces need a thorough and annual cleaning, preferably with a broom or vacuum, but not a blower.

Rake Less Meticulously:

Never leave exposed soil. Leaf litter is as good for the plants and garden as it is for the watershed - it protects the soil from degradation and from being blown or swept off your property.

Aerate:

Aerating is done by pulling plugs of soil from areas that are compacted and quick to produce runoff. Aerating can either be done with a hand tool or a machine. Always aerate in late spring, which gives the area plenty of time to recover before winter.

Roof Gutters / Drain System:

Gutters and drain system need to be cleaned before the start of the rainy season, and depending on the intensity of rain, may have to be periodically cleaned throughout the wet season. Included in these yearly tasks are removing soil away from storm drain grates and protecting them with gravel or matting; examining drain pipes, looking for debris and breaks (flushing the debris and fixing the breaks).

Fix Rills and Gullies:

Rills are small indents in soils caused by running water and they represent the loss of soil. Fix rills immediately by finding the source of water and either diverting into planted, secure areas, or directing to a storm drain.