Staff Report
SAN MARCOS — Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service‘s Healthy Lawns and Healthy Waters Program, in collaboration with the Plum Creek Watershed Partnership, will host a residential rainwater harvesting and turf management training from 1-5 p.m. Aug. 10 at the San Marcos Public Library.
“The Healthy Lawns and Healthy Waters Program aims to improve and protect surface water quality by enhancing awareness and knowledge of best management practices for residential landscapes,” said John Smith, AgriLife Extension specialist, College Station.
Attendees will learn about the design and installation of residential rainwater harvesting systems, as well as appropriate turf and landscape species based on local conditions and other practices, according to Smith.
“Management practices, such as using irrigation delivery equipment, interpreting soil test results and understanding nutrient applications, can help reduce runoff and make efficient use of applied landscape irrigation water,” Smith said.
Dean Minchillo, Texas Water Resources Institute program specialist in Dallas, added: “Proper fertilizer application and efficient lawn irrigation can protect and improve water quality in area creeks and collecting rainwater for lawn and landscape needs reduces stormwater runoff.”
Participants can also have their soil tested as part of the training. The soil sample bag and analysis are free to Healthy Lawns and Healthy Waters Program participants.
Residents can pick up a soil sample bag with sampling instructions and the Urban and Homeowner Soil Sample Information Form at the AgriLife Extension office at 200 Stillwater Road Suite 102, Wimberley. Bags containing residents’ soil samples should be returned to the location where they were obtained prior to or by one week after the training; soil samples may also be brought to the training, where they will have soil bags to transfer the sample into, but should not be mailed to the lab.
Samples will be grouped into one submission and sent to the AgriLife Extension Soil, Water and Forage Testing Lab in College Station for routine analysis, including micronutrients, pH, conductivity, nitrate-nitrogen and other parameters.
The training will include information on how to understand soil test results and nutrient recommendations, so residents can interpret results once the analysis is mailed to them.
Attendees who RSVP to the event will receive updates and materials related to the training via email. RSVP online at www.hlhw.tamu.edu/workshops or contact Smith at at [email protected] or 979-204-0573 with any questions.
