Keep Your Lawn Green and Your Water Clean
Timing -- Wait until the lawn is actively growing before applying fertilizer. Fertilizer applied when grass is not growing wastes your money and time, and can contaminate our water. If you choose to fertilize only once a year the best time is late summer or early fall.
Timed-Release Fertilizers -- Including manure, sulfur-coated pellets or IBDU, may seem more expensive, but actually they are more efficient; more fertilizer goes to the plants instead of being washed away by rain.
Water Quality can be affected by runoff -- Use a fertilizer with no phosphorous to protect your water quality.
Measure -- Don't guess! Know the amount of fertilizer your lawn needs by calculating the size of your lawn and reading directions on the bag before applying the product.
Timed-Release Fertilizers -- Including manure, sulfur-coated pellets or IBDU, may seem more expensive, but actually they are more efficient; more fertilizer goes to the plants instead of being washed away by rain.
Water Quality can be affected by runoff -- Use a fertilizer with no phosphorous to protect your water quality.
Measure -- Don't guess! Know the amount of fertilizer your lawn needs by calculating the size of your lawn and reading directions on the bag before applying the product.
Do your part to protect water quality. Handle and use fertilizers with care!
What does 30-3-15 on a bag of Fertilizer mean? -- Those numbers on the bag represent the percent of nitrogen (in this case 30 percent) phosphorus (3 percent) and potassium (15 percent) contained in the fertilizer. The rest of the bag (52 percent) contains inactive ingredients.
Nitrogen is an essential nutrient for plant growth. Because nitrogen makes grass green, it is often used in excess of what the grass needs. Nitrogen not used by the plants leaches through the soil into the ground water. Do not apply more than one pound of nitrogen to 1,000 square feet of lawn at each application.
Phosphorus is a primary water quality concern in Michigan. An excess of fertilizer on lawns, sidewalks and driveways makes its way to lakes and streams when it rains. As phosphorus adheres to soil particles, erosion carries it directly into surface waters. This causes aquatic weed growth and algae blooms, effectively choking area waters. DO NOT APPLY PHOSPHORUS ON LAWNS ADJACENT TO LAKES, RIVERS, STREAMS OR WETLANDS. Just one pound of phosphorus can support the growth of 750 pounds of algae.
Potassium is important for root development and resistance of your lawn to wear and climatic stress. Applied from one-half to the full rate of nitrogen, it does not typically cause water quality concerns.
Nitrogen is an essential nutrient for plant growth. Because nitrogen makes grass green, it is often used in excess of what the grass needs. Nitrogen not used by the plants leaches through the soil into the ground water. Do not apply more than one pound of nitrogen to 1,000 square feet of lawn at each application.
Phosphorus is a primary water quality concern in Michigan. An excess of fertilizer on lawns, sidewalks and driveways makes its way to lakes and streams when it rains. As phosphorus adheres to soil particles, erosion carries it directly into surface waters. This causes aquatic weed growth and algae blooms, effectively choking area waters. DO NOT APPLY PHOSPHORUS ON LAWNS ADJACENT TO LAKES, RIVERS, STREAMS OR WETLANDS. Just one pound of phosphorus can support the growth of 750 pounds of algae.
Potassium is important for root development and resistance of your lawn to wear and climatic stress. Applied from one-half to the full rate of nitrogen, it does not typically cause water quality concerns.
Lakefront Owners
Plant a buffer strip of native or hardy pest resistant plants between the water and yard. This protects against erosion and filters out contaminants.
Never burn yard waste along the shoreline -- ashes contain phosphorus.
Use landscape plants that minimize the need for pesticides and fertilizers and that are well adapted to water frontage.
Consider reducing the amount of turf that needs to be heavily maintained.
Never burn yard waste along the shoreline -- ashes contain phosphorus.
Use landscape plants that minimize the need for pesticides and fertilizers and that are well adapted to water frontage.
Consider reducing the amount of turf that needs to be heavily maintained.
General Lawn Care Tips
When mowing, return the grass clippings to your lawn through mulching (this reduces the need for fertilizer).
To maximize root growth, mow grass no shorter than three inches.
Do not fertilize if there is a chance of heavy rain.
Sweep or blow excess fertilizer from paved surfaces back into your lawn.
BEFORE YOU APPLY FERTILIZIER TO YOUR LAWN MAKE SURE YOU KNOW WHAT NUTRIENTS IT NEEDS TO BE HEALTHY.
TAKE A SOIL SAMPLE TO DARLING'S HARDWARE FOR TESTING.
To maximize root growth, mow grass no shorter than three inches.
Do not fertilize if there is a chance of heavy rain.
Sweep or blow excess fertilizer from paved surfaces back into your lawn.
BEFORE YOU APPLY FERTILIZIER TO YOUR LAWN MAKE SURE YOU KNOW WHAT NUTRIENTS IT NEEDS TO BE HEALTHY.
TAKE A SOIL SAMPLE TO DARLING'S HARDWARE FOR TESTING.
