| The peak season for lawn care is upon us.
You may ask, what does lawn care have to do with water quality? The fact is, improperly applied fertilizers can compromise water quality by finding their way into drinking water wells and polluting nearby creeks and streams. According to scientists, homeowners use more fertilizers on their lawn per acre than farmers do on their agricultural fields.
Although the contribution to pollution from one home may seem small, the effects of chemicals and excessive water runoff from thousands of homes in an area have a significant cumulative impact on water quality.
A lawn that is properly maintained can actually help reduce soil erosion, increase soil fertility, and minimize impacts on local water quality. Furthermore, proper maintenance decreases the amount of time, money, and effort spent to keep your lawn looking green and healthy.
Unfortunately, many people are unaware of the simple steps they can take to improve their yards and water quality. Below are several suggestions for caring for your lawn.
- Use native plants instead of just turf grass. If you want to save more money, effort, AND not fertilize, consider replacing traditional turf grass with native plants. Native plants are well adapted to the climate and soil type of your area. They can readily use current nutrients from soil to grow and have comparatively deeper roots than turf grass. Beginners may want to start with small plots of land.
Suggestion: Native plant sales are happening throughout the state at local greenhouses and through local clubs. Visit our River Calendar to see where plant sales are occurring in your area.
- Adjust Your Watering. Most homeowners water their lawns too often and with too little water. Water only when the lawn really needs it, and then water slowly and deeply. Grass roots will then be trained to grow down and deep. Shallow and frequent watering trains roots to grow at the surface. No well established home lawn should require daily watering.
Suggestion: Water early in the morning to avoid evaporation. Water your lawn so that it imitates a slow, soaking rain using trickle irrigation, soaker hoses, or other water-conserving methods.
- Reduce Fertilizer Use. Again, the average household uses more fertilizer per acre than farmers on farmland. Fertilizers are then picked up by stormwater and contributes nitrates and phosphates into streams. These chemicals impair aquatic life. Over use of fertilizer also creates a heavy layer of thatch and smothers your grass. To avoid over fertilization, know your soil. Every area has different types of soil and require different amounts of nutrients.
Suggestion: Get a soil test of your lawn to know what your lawn first needs before contributing fertilizers. Soil tests are recommended to be conducted yearly. An analysis by a local lab costs $8-$15. Also, make sure you fertilize the right time of the year. More information on testing and fertilizer scheduling can be found at your local University of Illinois Extension office.
- Don't Cut Your Lawn Too Short. Cutting grass too short actually weakens the health of grass and compromises its ability to fend off diseases and tolerate insect damage. Longer grass has a more developed root system and retains moisture. Weeds also have a harder time germinating and growing in longer grass.
Suggestion: Keep your grass between 2.5-3.5 inches.
- Don't Bag Those Grass Clippings. Many homeowners bag their grass clippings, thinking it will tidy up their lawn. Actually, they are robbing the lawn of nutrients when bagging it.
Suggestion: Leave grass clippings on your lawn after you have mowed it. The grass clippings will decompose slowly and add nutrients to your soil to help grass grow better. Sweep grass off of pavements back on to lawns to avoid clippings from entering storm drains. which will deposit them in your local river.
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