LaGrange County Lakes Council
To promote, protect and preserve the quality of the lakes and watersheds of LaGrange County
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One big culprit in lake pollution and weed growth is runoff from lawn fertilizer. Here are some tips on how lake lawn care can play a role in maintaining clean water.
Tips: 1. Use native plants – they don’t need fertilizer! 2. Test your soil to determine whether fertilizer is needed. 3. When buying fertilizer: Say Yes to nitrogen-only, say No to phosphorus and potassium. Look for organic or controlled/slow-release nitrogen-only fertilizers. 4. Incorporate a buffer strip on your lawn to prevent nutrients leaching into the lake (and deter geese as well!).
The Purdue University Turfgrass Program has turf tips for home lawn management ranging from fertilizing to soil testing to buffer strips. There is also a handy Turf Fertilizer Calculator.
You'll learn why September is the best month for fertilizing, why it's important to avoid fertilizing before or after a rain which can cause leaching and the importance of using no more than 4 pounds of fertilizer annually.
Make a difference: use your lake association newsletter and mailings to get the word out on lake-friendly fertilizing and landscaping. Read and download the full article. For
more tips on lake-friendly lawns and landscaping, |
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