TARRANT COUNTY, TX
Public Health
March 6, 2024
Get "Smart" with your yard
At last, March is finally here and that means it’s time to start planting gardens and improving our yards.
One of the many things Public Health has been concerned about is water from rain and sprinkler systems on residential and commercial properties that runs off into street and storm drains. Unfortunately, some of this runoff can carry pesticides and other chemicals that get into the groundwater in our soil. This groundwater can seep through porous rock or sediment and resurfaces into wells and springs, which supply water to reservoirs. Many, but not all, of these chemicals can be removed by water treatment plants.
This is why Public Health has long been an advocate of smartscaping, which is the practice of using native and adaptive plants and grasses for residential and commercial landscaping. These types of plants and grasses don't need as much water or fertilizer as others. In addition to adaptive grasses, there are a variety of attractive plants that can handle harsh Texas summers and don't require a great deal of watering or pesticides, which is another benefit for residents.
If this interests you and you would like some ideas about what plants to put in or around your home, the Texas Smartscape website is worth checking out.
In other news, the flu season is still widespread in Tarrant County
Many flu-like illnesses are common this time of year, and it looks like we may be entering the allergy season a little early as well. My advice would be to stay alert to any flu-like symptoms you or your loved ones may develop; get tested if those symptoms persist for a couple days; stay home and away from work or school if those symptoms aren't going away; get treated, if needed, and drink plenty of liquids.
Keep up-to-date on any health issues or public health information, through our social media sites:
Stay happy, stay healthy and enjoy the early spring.
Tom Stallings
Interim Director, Tarrant County Public Health