A Clean Sweep of Lawn Care & the Environment

Fertilizer, applied at the right time and the right amount, can have a major impact on the health of your lawn, which in turn can benefit the environment.  While lawn and garden experts may offer a variety of advice on the types of products to use, there is one fact on which they all agree: No matter how much or what brand of fertilizer you spread, applying it properly is key to maximizing those environmental benefits.
  
Indeed, applying fertilizer to your driveway, sidewalk or patio is never going to cause these hard surfaces to turn lush and green.  It is obvious that fertilizer left behind on these surfaces is a waste of product and money. What some people forget, however, is that this type of misapplication can be detrimental to our waterways.

“Feeding your lawn is clearly important, but when fertilizer is left on driveways, sidewalks, or patios, rain or even watering your lawn can flush the excess fertilizer out into the street where it eventually makes its way into storm drains,” said Frank Rossi, associate professor of turfgrass science. Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y.  “By keeping the nutrients where they should be, consumers can protect the nearby waterways, while maintaining a beautiful lawn.”

The key, Rossi and other experts say, is simple: Individuals using any lawn care product should take an extra few minutes to clean up.

“The simple step of sweeping the driveway or blowing excess granules off the sidewalk and back into the yard is something any homeowner can do to help ensure a more healthy environment,” said Chris Schmenk, director of environmental stewardship, The Scotts Co., Marysville, Ohio. “University research shows healthy lawns are excellent at trapping and binding fertilizers. And the thicker and healthier the grass, the better it will perform at trapping fertilizers and putting them to good use.”

Schmenk offers simple tips for practicing responsible environmental stewardship while growing lush, healthy lawns:

• After fertilizing, use a broom or leaf blower to remove spilled fertilizer off hard surfaces like driveways, sidewalks, and patios and back onto your lawn.
• When applying fertilizer, consider using a drop spreader or a rotary spreader to help keep from dispersing fertilizer onto hard surfaces.
• Ensure that lawns are mowed regularly at a high height (2 to 3 inches) to encourage a deep root system and a thick lawn. There is no better trap for retaining fertilizer than a thick healthy lawn. A tall, vigorous lawn also is more tolerant to pests and drought

Friday, June 11, 2004