Bay Friendly Yard Program
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Plant Bay Friendly!
Certify Your Yard Bay Friendly
- Habitat Restoration
- Stormwater Management
- Local Stewardship
Become a Certified Bay Friendly Yard and proudly display a yard sign.
Apply Now or email us [email protected] for more info!
Get A Free, Native Planting, E-Book To Help You Get Started!
- Step-by-step instructions to assess your yard
- Lists of LI native species
- Tips on how to arrange these plantings
Bay Friendly Yard Webinars
Bay Friendly Yards: Ocean Beach
Director of Habitat Restoration Frank Piccininni addresses the Village of Ocean Beach Civic Association on how to create Bay Friendly Yards in the Fire Island community.
Bay Friendly Yards: Recycling Stormwater
Bay Friendly Yards: Creating A Butterfly Garden
Bay Friendly Yards: Nature and Mindfulness
Bay Friendly Yards: Creating Wildlife Habitat
Bay Friendly Yards: Three Essential Elements
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More About Bay Friendly Yards
Bay Friendly Yards: The Three Essential Elements
Long Island invented the suburban lawn. Fields of green with ornamental bushes brought in from all over the world. All manner of care was required -- watering, fertilizing, pesticides -- so that these exotics and plants from other climates could survive here. But...
Bay Friendly Yard Tip #7: Addition by Subtraction
Invasive plants are taking over Long Island. Not only do they not support local wildlife, but they also “choke out” our necessary native flora. As invasive species are allowed to spread, our biodiversity takes a toll. Climbing plants such as wisteria and English ivy...
How to Build a Better Rain Garden
It is common knowledge that nitrogen is public enemy #1 when it comes to the Great South Bay. Stormwater runoff is a source of nitrogen pollution. As part of Save The Great South Bay's Bay Friendly Yards initiative, we welcome guest blogger Rachel Perez who reveals...
Bay Friendly Yard Tip #3
Bay Friendly Yard Tip #3 Tree Type Matters Choose trees that are hosts to the largest number of native species. Here's our fave 5! "Not all trees are created equal," says Frank Piccininni, Director of Habitat Restoration at Save The...
Bay Friendly Yard Tip #2
Bay Friendly Yard Tip #2 is to plant trees in clusters. The roots graft making them more storm-resistant. Trees are also stronger in groups. Cluster planting helps limit canopy size making them less vulnerable to winds. "Like people, trees need friends", says Frank...
Bay Friendly Yard Tip #1
Having a Bay Friendly Yard is one way you can help save the Great South Bay. Start by "leaving the leaves", says Frank Piccininni, Director of Habitat Restoration at Save The Great South Bay. Here are a few reasons to leave your rake in the shed: Leaves benefit...