Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

Contact: Erin Jordahl-Redlin, 651-297-5518 Toll-free: 1-800-657-3864 Saint Paul, Minn. Beauty is pain, some say, but it should not be at the expense of the earth. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) offers several tips on green gardening - from planting a rain garden to growing a healthy lawn, free of toxic chemicals. · Creating a rain garden is an easy way to reduce the amount of pollutants that flow from rooftops, lawns and driveways into the storm sewers and eventually nearby lakes and streams. And once established, rain gardens typically require less maintenance than turf or flower beds. · Another eco-friendly gardening tip is to integrate the use of a rain barrel that can be used for storing rain water for later use on gardens and elsewhere around the yard. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, a rain barrel can save homeowners up to 1,300 gallons of water during the peak summer months. · When it comes to lawn maintenance, less can be more. Fertilizers, leaves and grass clippings from lawns can add to phosphorus problems in our lakes and rivers. If you decide that you need to fertilize your lawn, be sure to apply it carefully. There are many yard and garden expos, resource fairs and workshops to attend this time of year. The MPCA is hosting several yard and garden workshops and exhibitors at its annual Living Green Expo on May 5-6, 2007. Now is the perfect time to investigate green gardening options! For more tips and ideas, sign up to receive the Living Green 365 e-newsletter at www.livinggreen.org. The mission of the MPCA is to work with Minnesotans to protect, conserve and improve our environment and enhance our quality of life. Find out more at www.pca.state.mn.us.