Sustainable Lawn Care Resources

URI Cooperative Extension Gardening Resources

The URI Master Gardener Program was established in 1977 to support environmentally-sound gardening practices. Today, the program has over 800 trained volunteers and has published a variety of gardening resources that are available to the community online.




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URI How-To Guide for Native Plant Solutions for Backyard Habitat

URI Native Plant Solutions for Backyard Habitats Guide

The University of Rhode Island Outreach Center and the RI Coastal Resources Management Council partnered to develop a how-to guide for designers and homeowners interested in enhancing wildlife habitat value in urban and suburban areas. This guide highlights site assessments and model building for those interested in replacing impervious surfaces and lawn areas with native wildlife.
 

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Guide: Roll Back your Turf - How to reduce your lawn and choose native plants that work.

Replacing Turf with Native Plants

A homeowner’s guide to removing turf and replanting their lawn with native plants. Read through this booklet to understand why turf lawns are harmful and how a homeowner should evaluate their lawn for replanting.  


Find out how to reduce the lawn on your property
RI Native Plant Guide (interactive database)

URI Rhode Island Native Plant Guide

The University of Rhode Island has developed an interactive database of native plants and the plants’ individual growing conditions and benefits provided by the plant. Brief instructions are provided for navigating the guide as well as a glossary which defines key abbreviations used throughout the guide.  Homeowners can use this guide to familiarize themselves with the flora of their local ecosystem.



Explore the interactive database

Charlestown Recommended Landscapers List

Scroll down to the bottom of the webpage for a list of local landscapers who have been trained on best practices in lawn care and landscaping to protect sensitive ground and surface waters in our coastal zone.

Find a local trained landscaper

US EPA Healthy Lawn Brochure

Guidance document from the US EPA to help homeowners care for their lawn in ways to improve its appearance while minimizing any negative environmental impacts.

Get Tips on environmentally-friendly lawn care

US EPA Pesticides and Consumers

The EPA provides a collection of resources about pesticide safety and sustainable lawn care. On this website there are pamphlets about sustainable lawn care, pesticides basics and safety. There is also information about keeping children safe when using pesticides and how to reduce exposure to different pesticides and toxic substances.



environmentally friendly pest control resources
A 5-step guide to Gardening for Pollinators (planning, creating and maintaining a pollinator garden)

Native Plant Trust’s Guide to Gardening for Pollinators

The Native Plant Trust works to conserve and promote New England’s native plants in an effort to ensure healthy and biologically diverse landscapes. The Native Plant Trust has developed a five-step guide to planning, creating, and maintaining a pollinator garden. Browse through the steps and diagrams provided to learn more about growing pollinator gardens on your own property.  

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URI Bee Lab Webpage showing images of different native pollinators and the Bee Lab's Mission Statement.

URI Bee Lab – Resources to Support Pollinators

The University of Rhode Island Bee Lab works to understand the biology and behavior of native bees and managed bees to support population, explore plant-pollinator interactions, and promote the conservation of pollinator habitat. Find news articles, research projects, publications, and resources related to bees in the local ecosystem. A breif video can also be watched to learn more about the URI Bee Lab and their mission.  

learn more about native bees
RI Invasive Species Council - 2020 Invasive Plants in RI (Report).

RI Invasive Species Council List of Invasive Plants

The Rhode Island Invasive Species Council aims to protect native biodiversity in Rhode Island. The RIISC has developed a list of invasive plant species that specifically impair the intended function of constructed, vegetated features. Read through the overview of the project to better understand the organization of the list as well as its intended purpose.  

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