Guidelines to green up your lawn, and not our lake.
Improper and excessive fertilization is a major source of phosphorous and nitrogen run off into our lake. Phosphorus binds tightly to soil particles and soil and bank erosion is a major cause of phosphorus pollution in our lake. Excess nitrogen and phosphorus runoff causes algal blooms that reduce water clarity and decrease dissolved oxygen levels when the algae decomposes. Decreased levels of oxygen can stress and even kill aquatic life. Algal blooms tend to coincide with the most common times of lawn fertilization in spring and early fall.
So what can you do to make sure your lawn care does not harm our lake and health? Follow these basic guidelines to green up your lawn, and not our lake.
1) TEST YOUR SOIL. Lawns do not automatically need fertilizing, so it is important to get a soil test to tell you if you need to fertilize or lime your soil.
2) USE COMPOST TO FERTILIZE. Feed your soil to feed your lawn. Healthy soils are full of soil microorganisms that partner with plants to break down and release nutrients efficiently and create rich, humus-rich soil. A healthy soil reduces or even eliminates the need for external fertilizer. Compost and organic mulches enhance the soil web and break down slowly, so that the soil microorganisms can release nutrients just when plants need them, eliminating the threat of excess nutrient runoff. Compost improves soil tilth by lightening heavy clay soils and bulking up light, loose soils. Get in the habit of applying 1/2 to 1" of compost to your lawn each year.
3) MOW HIGH. Set your lawn mower at 2 ½ to 3" and keep your blades sharp. Taller grass crowds out weeds, and encourages deep roots, resulting in a healthier lawn that needs less water. Mow often and never remove more than 1/3 of the grass blade at one time. Reseed any bare areas for full coverage to prevent weeds and erosion and nutrient runoff.
4) LEAVE LAWN CLIPPINGS on the lawn. Consider using an electric, mulching mower. You will reduce noise and air pollution drastically. Mulching mowers will chop the grass clippings into tiny pieces that create little or no mess and readily break down into compost. You can reduce your lawn’s need for fertilizer by more than 30%, just by allowing grass clippings to decompose in place! NEVER throw lawn clippings or other yard waste in the lake.
5) WATER PROPERLY. Grass lawns naturally go dormant during the hot summer weeks, and will green up again naturally when rains return. If you must water, water deeply and infrequently to promote vigorous root growth that helps your lawn resist drought. This is much better for your trees and shrubs too.
6) Applications of iron can sometimes help “green” up a lawn without the use of nitrogen fertilizers.
7) FERTILIZE AT THE RIGHT TIME and only when the lawn is actively growing and able to take up nutrients. Best is to fertilize lawns in the fall, between September and early November. Lawns do not need more than 1 lb of nitrogen per 1,000 sq. ft in a single application, and no more than 3 lbs of nitrogen/year. If you miss the fall applications, you can apply .5 lbs/1000 sq ft in May after lawns have naturally greened up. Try and avoid fertilizing within 5 to 10 feet from lake. Be sure to remove all fertilizer from walkways and driveways before it can wash off into storm drains and our lake. In the case of fertilizer – LESS is better!
8) NEVER FERTILIZE WHEN THE GROUND IS FROZEN OR GRASS IS DORMANT. Many lawn companies give "a little boost" of fertilizer and weedkillers or pesticides for good measure in late winter/early spring and during summer when the lawn is dormant. Pre-emergent herbicide treatments are routinely combined with an application of fast release nitrogen and most of this will runoff straight into the lake.
9) AVOID FERTILIZERS WITH PHOSPHORUS. Phosphorus has become "persona nongrata" in landscaping, especially near streams and lakes because of its harmful effects. Now there is NO excuse for anyone to add to phosphorus runoff into the lake. If you choose to use fertilizer use slow release Nitrogen fertilizer.
10) USE A FERTILIZER WITH SLOW RELEASE NITROGEN (N) that is released gradually over time, instead of all at once. Slow release nitrogen is listed as WIN or water insoluble nitrogen. You want a fertilizer with a high percentage of WIN.
11) TREAT LAWN PROBLEMS SAFELY by hand pulling weeds or spot treating pests or weeds. Natural products like corn gluten or vinegar can help eliminate weeds without toxic side effects. You can even use a torch to spot burn troublesome weeds.
So what can you do to make sure your lawn care does not harm our lake and health? Follow these basic guidelines to green up your lawn, and not our lake.
1) TEST YOUR SOIL. Lawns do not automatically need fertilizing, so it is important to get a soil test to tell you if you need to fertilize or lime your soil.
2) USE COMPOST TO FERTILIZE. Feed your soil to feed your lawn. Healthy soils are full of soil microorganisms that partner with plants to break down and release nutrients efficiently and create rich, humus-rich soil. A healthy soil reduces or even eliminates the need for external fertilizer. Compost and organic mulches enhance the soil web and break down slowly, so that the soil microorganisms can release nutrients just when plants need them, eliminating the threat of excess nutrient runoff. Compost improves soil tilth by lightening heavy clay soils and bulking up light, loose soils. Get in the habit of applying 1/2 to 1" of compost to your lawn each year.
3) MOW HIGH. Set your lawn mower at 2 ½ to 3" and keep your blades sharp. Taller grass crowds out weeds, and encourages deep roots, resulting in a healthier lawn that needs less water. Mow often and never remove more than 1/3 of the grass blade at one time. Reseed any bare areas for full coverage to prevent weeds and erosion and nutrient runoff.
4) LEAVE LAWN CLIPPINGS on the lawn. Consider using an electric, mulching mower. You will reduce noise and air pollution drastically. Mulching mowers will chop the grass clippings into tiny pieces that create little or no mess and readily break down into compost. You can reduce your lawn’s need for fertilizer by more than 30%, just by allowing grass clippings to decompose in place! NEVER throw lawn clippings or other yard waste in the lake.
5) WATER PROPERLY. Grass lawns naturally go dormant during the hot summer weeks, and will green up again naturally when rains return. If you must water, water deeply and infrequently to promote vigorous root growth that helps your lawn resist drought. This is much better for your trees and shrubs too.
6) Applications of iron can sometimes help “green” up a lawn without the use of nitrogen fertilizers.
7) FERTILIZE AT THE RIGHT TIME and only when the lawn is actively growing and able to take up nutrients. Best is to fertilize lawns in the fall, between September and early November. Lawns do not need more than 1 lb of nitrogen per 1,000 sq. ft in a single application, and no more than 3 lbs of nitrogen/year. If you miss the fall applications, you can apply .5 lbs/1000 sq ft in May after lawns have naturally greened up. Try and avoid fertilizing within 5 to 10 feet from lake. Be sure to remove all fertilizer from walkways and driveways before it can wash off into storm drains and our lake. In the case of fertilizer – LESS is better!
8) NEVER FERTILIZE WHEN THE GROUND IS FROZEN OR GRASS IS DORMANT. Many lawn companies give "a little boost" of fertilizer and weedkillers or pesticides for good measure in late winter/early spring and during summer when the lawn is dormant. Pre-emergent herbicide treatments are routinely combined with an application of fast release nitrogen and most of this will runoff straight into the lake.
9) AVOID FERTILIZERS WITH PHOSPHORUS. Phosphorus has become "persona nongrata" in landscaping, especially near streams and lakes because of its harmful effects. Now there is NO excuse for anyone to add to phosphorus runoff into the lake. If you choose to use fertilizer use slow release Nitrogen fertilizer.
10) USE A FERTILIZER WITH SLOW RELEASE NITROGEN (N) that is released gradually over time, instead of all at once. Slow release nitrogen is listed as WIN or water insoluble nitrogen. You want a fertilizer with a high percentage of WIN.
11) TREAT LAWN PROBLEMS SAFELY by hand pulling weeds or spot treating pests or weeds. Natural products like corn gluten or vinegar can help eliminate weeds without toxic side effects. You can even use a torch to spot burn troublesome weeds.