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Fertilizing Lawns and the Lake
By Steve Tonn, Douglas/Sarpy Extension Educator

Fall is a common time to fertilize cool season grasses such as blue grass and fescue. Before you or your lawn care professional applies any fertilizer, have you done a soil test to determine what nutrients are needed and in what amount? If your soil is high in phosphate, consider using a no phosphate or low phosphate fertilizer. Applying excess nutrients, especially phosphorus, can result in the extra nutrients being washed off the lawn and eventually into the lake. Extra phosphorus in a lake causes algae growth or green scum to appear on the lake.

Also if excess fertilizer gets on the sidewalk or driveway, sweep or blow it back onto the lawn. This will keep the fertilizer from reaching the streets and eventually getting into the storm drains and finally into the lake.

The fall will mean improved growing conditions and therefore more frequent mowing. If possible, recycle your grass clippings. They can be a source of food for your lawn. Avoid letting grass clippings lay on the sidewalks and driveways or in the street gutters. They can also be a source of excess nutrients for the lake.