MCMG Bay-Wise Program

The University of Maryland Bay-Wise Living Landscapes Program is available for residents of Montgomery County. Our Montgomery County Master Gardeners have taken 12 hours of advanced training in Bay-Wise Landscape Management. We perform site visits to certify county landscapes as Bay-Wise, and provide recommendations for a more sustainable landscape.

Every Marylander lives within a watershed and has a 

role to play in caring for the land, water, air, wildlife, and each other. Every action we take, every small positive change we make to improve water quality, soil health, and habitat counts in a big way. Many of the practices on the following checklist

can result in cost- and time-savings, as well! 

For over a quarter century, Maryland Extension’s Bay-Wise Program has led the way on improving water quality across Maryland’s residential landscapes by promoting ecologically-sound landscape and gardening practices that improve water quality, reduce pollution, cool ambient temperatures, and enhance habitat through voluntary actions. Bay-Wise Master Gardeners have certified 3,500+ landscapes in that time and maintain hundreds of demonstration sites across the state.

This checklist highlights eight essential habits that Maryland residents can adopt today to support healthy Maryland watersheds:

1. Recycle organic yard and kitchen waste on-site.

2. Capture and use precipitation where it falls.

3. Plant and conserve a wide variety of native plants.

4. Protect pollinators and beneficial insects.

5. Reduce hazards to fish & wildlife.

6. Shrink your lawn footprint.

7. Protect our waterways and shorelines.

8. Educate friends, family, and neighbors about MD Living Landscapes practices.