Lawn Care

A Green Lawn without a Green Pond

Many homeowners use fertilizers and pesticides on their lawns. Just as fertilizers promote vigorous growth of turf grass, they also promote the growth of aquatic algae and weeds when they wash into nearby water bodies. But with proper care, you can have a healthy green lawn without a green pond. Algae are especially responsive to fertilizer since most rely entirely on nutrients extracted from the water.

One tenth of a pound of fertilizer reaching your lake can grow about 2.5 pounds of algae.

Lawn areas also have a high potential to deliver pesticides to the water. Some common lawn-care pesticides are known to be toxic to fish, aquatic insects and/or waterfowl.

What YOU can do:

• Avoid application of fertilizers or pesticides near the shoreline area.
• Avoid application of fertilizers or pesticides before a rainstorm.
• Avoid application during the summer; use as needed during spring and fall.
• Apply fertilizers and pesticides according to manufacture’s directions – more is not always better.
• Water lawns in morning or evening to reduce loss to evaporation.
• Cut grass fairly long (2-2.5”) to encourage deeper roots.