Like pesticides and fertilizers, soil washed away by rain can also pollute streams and lakes. Even if you do not live near water, stormwater runoff picks up exposed soil, carries it through the storm drain system, and deposits in regional water resources.

Gardens, lawns and construction areas with patches of bare soil, especially on sloped land, are prone to soil erosion. You can retain topsoil and reduce erosion by planting ground-cover vegetation or using woodchip mulch or landscape fabric. On steep slopes, plant a vigorous ground cover but avoid turf grass that requires mowing. Building terraces or retaining walls on slopes also can help prevent soil loss. Berms (raised earthen areas) and swales (small dips in the ground) can help retain runoff that might otherwise rush from your yard and enhance infiltration into the ground.

From an environmental point of view, yard trash accounts for up to 20 percent of the total municipal waste produced year-round. Composting is a cost-effective, natural way to transform fruit and vegetable peelings, leaves, clippings, and other yard wastes into a high-quality, soil-enhancing material. If possible, take advantage of community yard waste collection and composting programs. You can also create compost at home with one of the many compact, efficient bins on the market or you can build your own. Either way, the final product will be dark brown and crumbly with a clean, earthy scent. The smaller the particle size, the faster materials will compost, so it’s a great idea to mow, chip or shred yard and garden wastes before adding them to your compost pile. The finished compost can be mixed into garden soil or spread on lawns to help soils absorb and retain moisture and enhance nutrient availability.

A composting demonstration park is located at the Washington County Cooperative Extension Service office at 2536 N. McConnell Ave. in Fayetteville. This public facility hosts ten different types of composting bins and allows people to see for themselves how composting can work for them (call (479) 444-1755 for directions).