New Laws for Lawns

Kevin Brown, Ag Resource Specialist, BCCD
I don’t think we are in an area where the majority of homeowners go nuts about fertilizing their lawns, but we all know there are places that do.  For those of you that do, listen up.  For those who are in competition with your neighbors on who has the nicest lawn, “they” are finally starting to crack down on you for applying too much fertilizer.  

First off, I have never understood the need to fertilize a lawn.  If you don’t remove the lawn clippings, and there is a whole different subject to talk about (I mean, why would you?), then you are never removing any nutrients. If you are never removing nutrients, then you never need to add more. It is just a continuous circle of nutrients being taken up by the grass, and then released by it after it is cut and starts decaying- kind of like water in the water cycle.   We don’t really gain or lose them, they are just in different forms as it goes through the cycle.  Adding fertilizer here is just an overapplication of nutrients.  Now, if you are removing the lawn clippings (and filling up landfills for no reason, making more waste by using all those bags, etc., etc.), then yes, you have removed nutrients and will need to replace them at some point.  But why would you do that?  More waste, more work, spend way more money, make the soil in your lawn less healthy, and the list goes on.

My job here at the District is to help prevent nutrients and sediment from getting into the Chesapeake Bay.  For anyone that knows me, you know that I think that we are completely misguided as to where the real problem lies.  However, homeowners that continually fertilize their lawns, especially when they are not taking off the clippings, are certainly a place where there are excess nutrients; and they have the ability, from there, to get into the local streams and into the Bay.  This is an area that needs to have some oversight.

What are the new regulations?  First off, unless you have a soil sample that says differently, phosphorous must be completely eliminated from any and all lawn fertilizer applications.  Secondly, nitrogen and phosphorous fertilizers may not be applied between December 15th and March 1st, or when the ground is frozen or snow-covered.  Also, fertilizer may not be applied within 15 feet of the top of bank for any surface water (to paraphrase); it should not be applied before a heavy rain; and it must be applied using calibrated equipment and done correctly.  Lastly, nitrogen fertilizer is limited to total nitrogen of .9# per 1000 sq. ft. per application.  Contact the District if you have questions on this.  This is a great first step in addressing excess nutrients in the ‘burbs.
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The Bradford County Conservation District is committed to helping people manage resources wisely.  You can visit the Bradford County Conservation District at 200 Lake Rd in Wysox across from the Wysox Fire Hall. Contact us at (570) 485-3144 or visit our web page at www.bccdpa.com.