By: Rachel Melvin, Horticulture Educator & Master Gardener Coordinator-University of Maryland Extension Queen Anne’s County
Like many long term residents of the Eastern Shore of Maryland, my earliest memory of the Chesapeake Bay starts with crabs. Every Saturday morning my parents would pack my brothers and me into the car at the crack of dawn to catch our Saturday night dinner. Upon arrival dad and my brothers would head to the shore and wade out to scoop crabs, while mom & I monitored the chicken necks off the pier. When I was old enough dad would let me wade out with my brothers, but this was few and far between because what big brother wants his annoying little sister tagging along? Like many things time offers change and before we knew it we were no longer “chicken necking” off the pier, but we were on the boat using a trout line. We often caught our limit by noon and we would pack up and head home to steam our wonderful bounty. At that age, I had no idea that enjoying this delicious essence of summer could become a threatened experience. Now as an adult, I realize the harm in over harvesting not only our crabs but our oysters and what implications this has on our wonderful estuary. But this is only a fragment of the equation. Our backyards also play a major role in the health and survival of our beloved Chesapeake Bay and its inhabitants.
So what can we do in our backyards to help the Bay? Creating a landscape that is beneficial to the bay is simple and easy. First, keep paved areas to a minimum. Hard surfaces such as drive ways and sidewalks do not allow water to soak into the ground. Consider using gravel, stepping stones, or bricks on sand if you are installing a new walkway or patio. Also, diverting the flow of water from your home is extremely important; direct downspouts to a grassy area or planting beds where water can soak in. Consider purchasing a rain barrel to collect rainwater, collected rainwater can be used to water plants during our summer droughts. Create planting beds along hard surfaces to help prevent water flow from entering the streets and eventually the Bay. Incorporate native plants in your landscape beds. Native plants are adapted to our area and are often drought tolerant and support many species of wildlife. These are only a few of the Bay-Wise friendly landscape techniques that can be implemented in your home landscape.
For more ways to create a Bay-Wise friendly landscape the Queen Anne’s County Master Gardener Volunteers are our local resource. These Master Gardeners Volunteers have been trained through the University of Maryland Extension system on Bay-Wise friendly landscape techniques and are available to conduct free Bay-Wise consultations for all residents.
For more information on the Bay-Wise program or to schedule a consultation contact, Rachel Melvin Horticulture Educator & Master Gardener Coordinator-University of Maryland Extension Queen Anne’s County, at rmelvin1@umd.edu or (410) 758-0166 or visit http://queenannes.umd.edu/QACMG/MGProjects/Bay%20Wise.cfm
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