Resources for Green Living in the Chesapeake Bay Area

Topics covered in this Resource List:
• Bay Friendly Landscaping
• Composting
• Forest Buffers
• Lawns
• Meadows and Warm Season Grasses
• Native Plant Information
• Non Native Invasive Plants
• Pesticide/Herbicide Alternatives (Websites)
• Phragmites
• Rain Gardens and Rain Barrels
• Shorelines (“Living Shorelines”)
• Stormwater Information
• Tree Identification Websites
• Underwater Grasses
• Watersheds and Waterkeepers (Riverkeepers)
• Wetlands
• Wildlife Habitat
• Websites and phone #s
• Demonstration Sites for Living Shoreline and Native Plant Landscaping
(Maryland, Virginia, Washington DC)
• General Reference Books and Field Guides

*** Highly Recommended

BayFriendly Landscaping (BayScaping):

*** Chesapeake Bay Foundation, 410-268-8816, BayFriendly Landscaping
(lawns, habitats, forests, wetlands, meadows, shorelines, native plants, wildlife habitat,
city or suburban gardens, etc.) www.cbf.org/landscaping

*** Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, BayScapes program, DC 202-466-4633,
VA 804-775-0951, PA 717-737-8622, MD 410-377-6270, (410) 267-5700 www.acbonline.org/project.cfm?vid=85

Chesapeake Bay Program, “Better Backyard: a Citizen’s Resource Guide to Beneficial
Landscaping and HabitatRestoration in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.” PDF file to download: http://www.chesapeakebay.net/pubs/781.pdf or call 800-YOUR-BAY.

Chesapeake Conservation Landscaping Council. A network of individuals and organizations
dedicated toresearching, promoting, and educating the public about conservationbased
landscaping practices to benefit the Chesapeake Bay Watershed., join their ListServ:
(410)-634-2847, ext 24, www.chesapeakelandscape.org

University of Maryland Cooperative Extension, Home and Garden Information Center,
1-800-342-2507 (in Maryland), outside Maryland 410-531-1757, www.hgic.umd.edu.

USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, 1888LANDCARE, for free booklet on
Backyard Conservation; tips on tree planting, wildlife habitat, backyard wetlands, etc.
can be downloaded from the website: www.nrcs.usda.gov/feature/backyard,
email: backyard@swcs.org.

US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Dan Welker, US EPA, Region 3,
215-814-5000 (Main Number) or 1-800-438-2474 (when within Region 3), information, slide show, photos on “Green Landscaping,” www.epa.gov/greenacres/

US Fish and Wildlife Service, BayScapes Program, 410-573-4500
www.fws.gov/chesapeakebay/bayscapes.htm

Composting:

Maryland: Maryland Department of the Environment, (410) 537-3000, 1-800-633-6101,
1800 Washington Blvd Baltimore, MD 21230, www.mde.state.md.us/assets/document/factsheets/composting.pdf

Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, (717) 705-4927,
www.dep.state.pa.us/dep/deputate/airwaste/wm/recycle/compost/home1.htm

Forest Buffers:
*** Chesapeake Bay Foundation, 410-268-8816, BayFriendly Landscaping (lawns, habitats, forests, wetlands, meadows, shorelines, native plants, wildlife habitat, city or suburban gardens, etc.) www.cbf.org/landscaping

Plant Trees for the Bay, www.cbf.org/site/PageServer?pagename=action_outdoors_trees
Chesapeake Bay Program (EPA, Annapolis, MD)
1-800-YOURBAY, http://www.chesapeakebay.net/habitats.htm

Maryland Department of Natural Resources, information for landowners, communities,
schools and businesses.
www.dnr.state.md.us/forests/publications/buffers.html and
www.dnr.state.md.us/forests/programs/urban/newfapguide.asp

“Riparian Forest Buffer Design and Maintenance," 51 page booklet has practical advice on
design, planting, invasive control, costs, etc. Available at no charge from Maryland
Department of Natural Resources, Forest Service. To request a copy email Anne
HairstonStrang at astrang@dnr.state.md.us.

Riparian Forest Handbook I: Appreciating and Evaluating Stream Side Forests by
Samuel H. Austin, Virginia Department of Forestry, 900 Natural Resources Drive,
Charlottesville, VA 22903, 434-977-6555. http://state.vipnet.org/dof/

Virginia Department of Forestry on the value of riparian forest buffers:
“Riparian Forest Buffers.” http://www.chesapeakebay.net/pubs/subcommittee/nsc/forest/sect14.pdf

Wye Research and Education Center, 410-827-8056,
www.riparianbuffers.umd.edu/slide.html.

Lawns:
*** Chesapeake Bay Foundation, 410-268-8816, BayFriendly Landscaping (lawns, habitats, forests, wetlands, meadows, shorelines, native plants, wildlife habitat, city or suburban gardens, etc.) www.cbf.org/landscaping

In Maryland, to order free publications on lawn care, lawn renovation, “Lawns and the
Chesapeake Bay,” contact University of Maryland Cooperative Extension (Home and
Garden Information Center), 8003422507, http://www.hgic.umd.edu/

To order soil test kits:
University of Maryland Cooperative Extension (Home and Garden Information Center)
has a list of regional laboratories who will do soil tests at cost, 800-342-2507,
www.agnr.umd.edu/SoilTesting

Pennsylvania Cooperative Extension Services, contact your local county extension office
or search the directory www.extension.psu.edu/extmap.html

Virginia Cooperative Extension Services, contact your local county extension office or
search the directory www.ext.vt.edu/offices

Meadows and Warm Season Grasses:

***Chesapeake Bay Foundation, 410-268-8816,
BayFriendly Landscaping (lawns, habitats, forests, wetlands, meadows, shorelines, native plants, wildlife habitat, city or suburban gardens, etc.)www.cbf.org/landscaping