Three Tips When Fertilizing the Lawn

As your citizens seek sunlight by working on their lawns this spring, you may want to let them know that more than half of all water pollution now comes from residential yards. Here are three reduction tips to pass along:

• If you spread granular weed-and-feed type fertilizer, keep it on the lawn. If granules accidentally land on paved areas, sweep them onto the grass.
• If you use a liquid herbicide, be careful not to overspray the lawn, and do not spray it on a windy day. The herbicides may land on the street or sidewalk and wash into the storm sewer. They may also drift onto shrubs and sensitive garden plants, or across your property line.
• When cleaning your fertilizer or herbicide application equipment, the rinse water will contain small concentrations of chemicals. Therefore, do not wash the equipment on the driveway and do not dump any water into the gutter or storm sewer grate. Apply the rinse water to the lawn.