Choose plants that fit into the space available to avoid trimming. Using both winter and summer perennials can give year-round color without the cost and waste of replacing annual plants. Choose dwarf or other slow growing varieties of turf that require less water. Leaving grass clippings on a lawn can significantly reduce the waste volume while conserving soil nutrients and saving fertilizer costs. Use a mulching mower to cut grass into smaller pieces, thereby allowing the clippings to decompose faster.
Regular mowers can be retrofit with mulching blades to further cut new equipment costs.
Composting leaves and branches along with grass trimmings and other organic matter will create a high-nutrient soil additive used for landscaping. Use compost as a topsoil amendment or request that your landscaper use it. DEQ Online is the official web site for the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality. If you have questions or comments about the web site contact DEQ's webmaster .