Green lawn, healthy lake

By  Richard D. Gainar, CEBS – Lake Management Committee

Nutrients, primarily nitrogen and phosphorus, are key ingredients in lawn fertilizer.  When it rains, fertilizer applied to lawns can wash into nearby storm culverts and streams that flow into our lake.  Nutrients contribute to algae blooms, excess weeds, rob the water of oxygen, and threaten underwater life.

Best management practices for the health of your lawn and Lake Roaming Rock:

• Skip the spring fertilizer, especially if your lawn is healthy.  Fertilizing lawns in spring promotes excessive top growth at the expense of roots.
• Sharpen lawnmower blades.  A dull blade tears and weakens the grass, opening it up to disease.  Many local hardware stores or garden shops can sharpen your blade for you.
• Raise the cutting height of the mower.  Taller grass shades out weeds and needs less water.  A three-inch cut length is ideal for most lawns.
• Leave grass clippings on the lawn.  They provide free fertilizer all season long.

If fertilizer is necessary:

• Follow the directions on the fertilizer bag.
• Learn about soil testing.
• Do not apply phosphorus to lawns unless a soil test indicates that it is needed.
• Clean up any fertilizer on driveways or other impervious surfaces.
• Keep fertilizer applications 10 to 15 feet away from waterways.
• Do not apply fertilizer if heavy rain is expected.

Love the Lake and be lake responsible.