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Tertiary Menu
Fertilizing Your Lawn
Remember, you’re not just fertilizing your lawn…
Storm drains found in our streets and yards empty into our lakes
and streams. So, when we fertilize our lawn we could also be
fertilizing our lakes and streams! While fertilizer is good for our
lawn, it’s bad for our water. Fertilizer that enters our lakes and
streams can cause algae to grow and use up oxygen that fish need to
survive. So what can you do to help? Simple.
Sweep it. Sweep excess fertilizer and grass clippings from
pavement back onto your lawn so that they don’t wash into storm
drains.
Buy low and go slow. First, find out if you even need fertilizer!
Contact your Michigan State University Extension office to get a
soil test. If you do need it, choose a fertilizer with no or low
phosphorus--phosphorus causes algae growth. You can also use an
organic or slow-release nitrogen fertilizer, which causes less harm
to water.
Hire smart. Select a lawn care service that follows the practices
noted above.
Mow high. Keep your lawn at three inches in height. Taller grass
strengthens roots and shades out weeds. Also, remember that the
nutrients from grass clippings left on your lawn act as a great
fertilizer.
Make fertilizer-free zones. Keep fertilizer at least 20 feet away
from the edge of any lakes, streams, or storm drains.
For more easy steps on protecting our lakes and streams, visit
www.semcog.org.
Remember, our water is our future – and it’s ours to protect!
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