During fall and winter, rain is just part of living in Seattle. When it falls on our gardens, driveways, and patios, it picks up whatever it finds along the way: soil, fertilizer, fallen leaves and oils. All of that flows into drains that often lead to our lakes and Puget Sound.
The good news is that keeping our waterways clean usually starts right in our own yards. By combining a few regular habits with a well-designed drainage system, you can control where water goes and keep pollutants away from our local waterways.
In this article, we share a few practical ways to prevent stormwater pollution in your Seattle yard.
Stop Runoff in Its Tracks: 5 Garden Habits for a Healthier Yard
Adopting a few habits during our rainy season goes a long way. Here are some of them:
1. Know Where Stormwater Flows
Start by looking at how water moves across your yard. Once you know where it flows, you can keep soil, mulch and anything that could leak oils or chemicals away from those paths. If you are planning an outdoor project, placing simple barriers like filter socks around the drains can help catch any pollutants before they get in.
2. Cover Bare Soil
Exposed soil washes away easily, especially in our wet season. Adding a layer of mulch to your garden beds helps prevent erosion and keep it in place. It’s also a good idea to avoid tracking mud onto the street when moving soil or using outdoor equipment.
3. Water Wisely
Overwatering your garden can cause soil erosion and sweep sediment and potential chemicals straight toward drains. If you use an irrigation system, installing a smart sprinkler controller helps automatically adjust your watering schedule to avoid this.
4. Avoid Chemicals
Chemical fertilizers and herbicides dissolve quickly in rainwater and wash into storm drains, especially if they’re overused. That’s why we always recommend using organic fertilizers that feed your soil naturally.
If you're looking for sustainable, eco-friendly ongoing maintenance, explore our service page.
5. Keep Debris and Spills Away from Drains
When cleaning up your yard, avoid piling soil, leaves or debris near drains because they can end up in our waterways. Oils, chemicals and detergents should be kept far away from anywhere that leads into a storm drain.
If a chemical or oil spill does happen, make sure you report it following local regulations. The City of Seattle has a Spill Response Program that offers resources for situations like these.
Keep Your Runoff Clean
Small habits add up. Covering bare soil, watering wisely and keeping yard debris to a minimum all help keep Puget Sound clean.
Prevention is the first step. The next is designing a landscape with rain in mind. Rain gardens, permeable hardscapes and healthy soil also help take care of runoff before it ever reaches the street.
If you are struggling with runoff or pooling water, schedule a drainage inspection with our team.