Lawn Watering Tips

Lawn & garden watering make up a large portion of our summer water use.  Much of this water is wasted through overwatering; a practice which invites lawn disease.  Please use water wisely and help out your lawn, the fish and the environment.

• Water about 2.5 centimeters per week during July & August.
• Use less water in late spring or early fall - let the weather be your guide
• Water slowly or start and stop so the water penetrates rather than puddling or running off
• Sandy soils will need lighter, more frequent watering because they can't hold much water
• Water early in the morning as it reduces water loss to evaporation.

Water Conservation Tips

There are many ways to reduce the amount of water you use on a daily basis.  Please help us conserve our water supply.

• When washing a vehicle, use soap & water from a bucket.  Use a hose with a shut off nozzle for the final rinse only.
• don't waste water by hosing down your driveway or sidewalk, use a broom.
• Adjust sprinklers so only the lawn is being watered, not the house sidewalk or street.
• Landscape with plants that are native to your area & tolerant to drought conditions.
• Don't use your toilet as a waste basket and check regularly for leaks.
• Use a  high efficiency showerhead.
• Run dishwashers & washing machines only when full.

Waste Reduction

Lifecycles of Recyclables

Rather than sending waste to the landfill, many items can be recycled into new and useful products.  This diversion helps conserve scarce landfill space as well as reduce the need for virgin materials for the manufacturing process.  Here is a sampling of some products that can be made from your recycled materials. 

 Composting

Composting reduces waste.  The more kitchen & yard waste we compost, the less waste goes into our landfills.  Less waste means smaller landfills and less landfill maintenance.  Composting helps our environment by improving the soil in our gardens and lawns.

Leaves & yard waste can be disposed of the following ways:  compost them, take them to the MacFarlane St. Transfer Station free of charge or put them out at the curb in biodegradable bags (plastic bags will not be picked up) at the beginning of November for pick up.  Watch your local listing for dates.

When disposing of your leaves, please keep in mind that raking them onto the boulevard, road allowance, road or ditches is a direct contravention of the Town of Parry Sound by-law 2004-4681.  Burning is not an environmentally sound way to dispose of your leaves and is a health hazard - smoke from burning leaves can irritate the eyes, nose and throat of healthy adults and especially affects children, the elderly and asthmatics.

Tips to Reduce Waste

• Know which items can go into your recycling bins and recycle all possible items.
• Buy only what you need, use all that you buy
• Instead of buying commercial household cleaners, use less toxic alternatives
• Buy in bulk and try to eliminate excess packaging
• Take re-usable bins or canvas bags to the grocery store
• Kindly decline plastic bags when they are unnecessary
• Shop at used goods stores
• Instead of buying seldom used items, rent or borrow from a friend
• Consider repairing or reupholstering furniture before discarding
• Use a composter to reduce the amount of organic waste going to the landfill
• Use reusable gift bags rather than paper wrap
• "Lug a Mug!" Take a travel mug with you to the coffee shop
• Take a litter-less lunch to school or work or eat at restaurants with reusable dishes
• Use cloth table napkins rather than paper napkins
• A reusable coffee filter can replace many paper filters
• Use cloth rags and mops rather than one-time-use disposable products
• Donate magazines to seniors residences or doctor's offices
• Choose quality products that are durable
• Think about the entire life cycle of a product - from manufacturing to use to disposal