leaves – East Metro Water

Fall yard & garden – no it’s not too late to plant!

By: angiehongmn October 3, 2025

Yards and Landscapingfall, featured, gardening, leaves, native plantsLeave a Comment

In the coming weeks, there are several steps you can take to prep your yard and gardens for winter and continue to support pollinators, birds and other wildlife. But, you might be surprised to learn that fall is also a really great time to plant a native garden!

The Science of Leaves

By: angiehongmn November 21, 2024November 21, 2024

Keeping water clean, Uncategorizedfeatured, leaves, pohsphorus, stormwater, street sweeping1 Comment

Leaves are the primary source of organic matter in a woodland ecosystem and release essential nutrients like phosphorus and nitrogen as they decompose. In urban and suburban environments, however, fall leaves can also be a major source of stormwater pollution.

Studies show street sweeping can reduce phosphorus concentrations in stormwater by up to 80%.

La, la, la, leaves!

By: angiehongmn September 29, 2022

Yards and Landscapingfall, fall colors, featured, leavesLeave a Comment

To plan your leaf-peeping adventures this fall, check out the Minnesota DNR Fall Color Finder or Travel Wisconsin Fall Color Report.

On the forest and the trees

By: angiehongmn October 11, 2021

Yards and Landscapingfall, featured, forest, leaves, woodlands1 Comment

Take a break from raking leaves and get involved in efforts to create more resilient woodlands this fall.

Wildlife-friendly fall gardens

By: angiehongmn September 23, 2021September 21, 2021

Yards and Landscapingbees, birds, fall, featured, gardening, leavesLeave a Comment

In the coming weeks, there are several steps you can take to prep your yard and gardens for winter and continue to support pollinators, birds and other wildlife.

Fall yard care reminders and tips

By: angiehongmn September 28, 2020

Yards and Landscapingfall, featured, gardening, lawns, leaves, pollinatorsLeave a Comment

Harvest the last of your tomatoes and herbs now before they’re killed by an overnight freeze. Wait to cut down old stems and seed heads until the late spring. Instead of raking leaves, mow your lawn a few times to mulch up the leaves and return nutrients to the soil. If you live on a lake, be sure that you hire a DNR certified contractor to remove your dock this fall.

So long sweet summer! Prepping lawns and gardens for the winter

By: angiehongmn October 2, 2018October 2, 2018

Buckthorn, Yards and Landscapingbees, buckthorn, fall, featured, gardening, lawn care, lawns, leaves, vegetable gardensLeave a Comment

By now, you’ve probably picked the last of the tomatoes, peppers and eggplants growing in your vegetable gardens. The predicted frost never quite made it to my house last weekend, but I know it’s only a matter of time before the winter temps will settle in for good. As you begin to prepare your lawn…

Caring for Local Wetlands and What Not to Do With Your Leaves

By: angiehongmn December 19, 2017

Keeping water clean, Yards and Landscapingleaves, Wetlands, yard wasteLeave a Comment

As wetlands become over-saturated with nutrients, they lose their ability to filter water and sometimes even become a source of pollution for downstream lakes and rivers.

Forest Lake Considers a New Plan for Cleaner Streets and Cleaner Lakes

By: angiehongmn October 27, 2017

Keeping water clean, Partners and Updatesclean water, comfort lake - forest lake watershed district, Forest Lake, leaves, street sweepingLeave a Comment

Analysis conducted by Emmons & Olivier Resources, Inc. (EOR) for the Comfort Lake – Forest Lake Watershed District indicates that the City of Forest Lake could keep an additional 137 pounds of phosphorus and 169,793 pounds of solids out of local lakes if it began sweeping twice a month with a regenerative air sweeper.