CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) – As spring approaches in the Lowcountry, gardeners across the region are preparing their yards for longer days, warmer temperatures, and the vibrant blooms.
The way those gardens are planted and maintained can have consequences far beyond the backyard, reaching all the way to the coast.
According to the Surfrider Foundation, the choices gardeners make at home can help protect the ocean, beaches, and coastal waterways. From reducing chemical use to capturing rainwater, small adjustments in landscaping practices can play a meaningful role in protecting marine ecosystems.
The nonprofit encourages residents to create “ocean-friendly gardens,” landscapes designed to support healthy soil, filter runoff, and reduce pollution before it reaches nearby waterways.
Here are six tips from the Surfrider Foundation to help make gardens more ocean-friendly this spring.
Tip 1: Use compost instead of chemical fertilizers
According to the Surfrider Foundation, chemical fertilizers wash into our waterways, fueling harmful algal blooms. Instead, compost nourishes your soil naturally, keeping your plants and ocean healthier.
Tip 2: Plant native flowers and shrubs
Native plants require less water, create a habitat for wildlife, and help soak up stormwater before it carries polluted runoff to the coast.
Tip 3: Switch to electric or hand tools
According to the Surfrider Foundation, 30 million tons of CO2 are emitted annually by gas-powered lawn and garden tools in the U.S., equivalent to the emissions of 6.6 million cars. Electric and manual tools are quieter, cleaner, and better for the planet, Surfrider says.
Tip 4: Ditch pesticides and herbicides
The foundation says these chemicals don’t just stay in your yard; they wash into waterways, harming marine life. There are many natural alternatives to let nature do the work.
Tip 5: Soak up rain with nature-based solutions
Stormwater runoff is a major source of water pollution and beach closures, but we can create spaces for it to slow down and sink into the soil. Rain gardens, bioswales, and native plants naturally soak up and filter pollutants.
Tip 6: Save rain before it goes down the drain
Rain barrels and cisterns are ideal for smaller yards or paved patios where water can’t be easily directed into the soil. Collected rainwater can then be used to water your plants during dry, sunny periods.
Learn more about Surfrider’s Ocean Friendly Gardens program
Surfrider’s Ocean Friendly Gardens (OFG) program provides effective nature-based solutions to safeguard clean water and promote resilient coasts and communities.
Surfrider says OFGs help restore the natural functions of healthy watersheds by shaping the landscape to retain rainwater. This approach directs water back into the ground instead of into storm drains. The extensive root systems of native plants naturally filter pollutants and absorb excess water, while also enhancing biodiversity in our urban environments.
By returning nature to our urban spaces, Surfrider says OFGs provide an opportunity to build equitable access to nature within neighborhoods and communities that lack green space while empowering volunteers with the skills to grow a more resilient future.
Want to be an ambassador for Surfrider’s OFG program?
If your yard or community space meets the Ocean Friendly Gardens standards, you can be an ambassador for ocean-friendly gardening with an OFG yard sign and a spot on our OFG map.
Visit here to learn how to meet the criteria, and go to their website here.
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