Bay-Safe Garden and Lawn Care - Fertilizer
You can be mindful of the bays while keeping your yard green!
Lawn fertilizer is often overused or used when it’s not really needed. Excess nutrients from misused fertilizer can take a heavy toll on local waterways when it washes away with the rain. Phosphorous and nitrogen in particular have the capacity to upend entire aquatic ecosystems and make bodies of water unsafe for recreation or drinking.
In New York, it’s even against the law to apply phosphorous to lawns that don’t need it (New York State Environmental Conservation Law, article 17, title 21 and Agriculture and Markets Law § 17-2103). Nassau County also banned the use of lawn fertilizer between November 15th and April 1st every year to prevent excessive runoff into local waterways.
So what can I do?
1 - Test your soil
Find out what your soil actually needs to thrive before buying fertilizer. A soil test will indicate which nutrients already exist in your lawn, and help you decide which fertilizer you need – if you need any at all. Taking the guesswork out of soil care prevents excess nutrients from washing their way into local waterways and might even save you a little money!
Nassau County’s Cornell Cooperative Extension offers local soil testing services and provides information about other available options on their website. Learn more here.
2 - Choose the right fertilizer for your lawn, and use it sparingly
Take a look at your fertilizer – is it phosphorous-free? You can tell from a set of three numbers on the bag that indicate the percentage of nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium in the product. A zero in the middle means zero phosphorous. Under the Nutrient Runoff Law, stores are required to keep fertilizers with phosphorus separate from those without – so it’s easy to make sure you’re using the right stuff! Use only what’s needed and keep it off of sidewalks and pavement to prevent unnecessary runoff.
3 - Consider the alternatives
Team up with nature to cut back on fertilizer!
- Show your lawn some love. Leave grass clippings as a nitrogen-rich fertilizer and cut your lawn to 3″ to prevent weeds and promote healthy root growth.
- Introduce native plants to your yard. Native plants thrive without the need for excess nutrients or water because they are already adapted to local conditions. This means you won’t need to spend money on unnecessary fertilizers or pesticides because native plants are generally low maintenance and get what they need from the existing soil. What’s more, these plants also provide food and protection for local wildlife.
Did You Know?
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) website has plenty of helpful information that can help you choose the best fertilizer for your yard!
