Lawn and Garden Care

• Use fertilizers sparingly and only as really needed.  Inexpensive soil tests will help determine actual soil fertilizer needs.
• Consider using organic fertilizers; they release nutrients more slowly.
• Do not fertilize less than 24 hours before a rain is forecast to prevent excess runoff of fertilizer.
• Sweep up or back onto the lawn any overcast of fertilizer and pesticide pellets from paved surfaces.
• If possible, don’t bag  your grass clippings; try mulching grass.  There will be substantially less grass for disposal, and it returns nutrients and organic matter back to your lawn.
• Wash lawn equipment such as chemical spreaders on the lawn, to allow for absorption.
• Do not apply fertilizer to frozen ground or dormant lawns.
• Use bedding plants around the lawn perimeter as buffer strips to allow infiltration of rainfall runoff that contains excess fertilizers, pesticides, bacteria and sediment from lawns and gardens.
• Try growing an organic garden (no pesticides or fertilizers) or use minimal amounts.

Rev. October 10, 2007