For many of us, this month has been the beginning of a new lawn care season.
It is a time to start fresh and #“Do only the best for your lawn.#”
However, what we think is the best for our lawns may be either damaging them or our environment.
Achieving a healthy environmentally friendly lawn will take some time and effort, but it is easy, and the rewards are priceless.
This time of year is the perfect time for spring cleaning, and believe it or not your lawn needs it as much as your house.
Break out the rake and remove all the leaves and winter debris that has accumulated over the past couple of months.
Place the leaves in your compost pile or in a yard tub for pick-up.
Remember that leaves are loaded with the nutrient phosphorus, and piling them along road ditches will damage your water quality.
When phosphorus enters a water way aquatic weed growth increases.
Spring is also a great time to focus on soil quality. Fertilizing is among the most popular ways to build up soil quality.
Yet, your lawn may not need fertilizer. To determine what nutrients your soil is or is not lacking, visit Cornell Cooperative Extension for a soil nutrient analysis.
If the soil analysis does recommend using fertilizer it is important to apply the right type and amount at the right time.
For example, applying any amount of fertilizer before a rain storm is not a good idea because the rain will wash the fertilizer off your lawn and into nearby waterways, which will impact your water quality.
Organic fertilizers, like compost, release nutrients slowly and are less likely to runoff into streams.
But once again, if you know it is going to rain do not apply it to your lawn. Organic material also supports micro organisms, like earthworms, that recycle plant material and increase soil aeration. Aeration is important for soil health.
If you are worried about weeds taking over your lawn this season, keep this in mind: mow high.
Mowing your lawn at a height of 2.5 or 3 inches will allow the grass to develop a deep root system and tolerate drought, heat, shade, disease and pests. Healthy grass, at this height, will push and shade weeds out. Also, recycle your grass clippings.
Leaving grass clippings on your lawn adds nutrients to your soil and keeps them out of landfills and road ditches.
With a healthy environmentally friendly lawn you will be protecting your children, pets, environment and water quality.
To learn more about water quality and lawn care, attend Cornell Cooperative Extension of Cayuga County's# Watershed friendly lawn care workshop from 6 to 7 p.m. Thursday, May 24. Participants will receive a free soil nutrient analysis ($15 value).
To register, call Cornell Cooperative Extension of Cayuga County at 255-1183.
Renee Jensen is a community educator of environmental issues at Cornell Cooperative Extension of Cayuga County.
However, what we think is the best for our lawns may be either damaging them or our environment.
Achieving a healthy environmentally friendly lawn will take some time and effort, but it is easy, and the rewards are priceless.
This time of year is the perfect time for spring cleaning, and believe it or not your lawn needs it as much as your house.
Break out the rake and remove all the leaves and winter debris that has accumulated over the past couple of months.
Place the leaves in your compost pile or in a yard tub for pick-up.
Remember that leaves are loaded with the nutrient phosphorus, and piling them along road ditches will damage your water quality.
When phosphorus enters a water way aquatic weed growth increases.
Spring is also a great time to focus on soil quality. Fertilizing is among the most popular ways to build up soil quality.
Yet, your lawn may not need fertilizer. To determine what nutrients your soil is or is not lacking, visit Cornell Cooperative Extension for a soil nutrient analysis.
If the soil analysis does recommend using fertilizer it is important to apply the right type and amount at the right time.
For example, applying any amount of fertilizer before a rain storm is not a good idea because the rain will wash the fertilizer off your lawn and into nearby waterways, which will impact your water quality.
Organic fertilizers, like compost, release nutrients slowly and are less likely to runoff into streams.
But once again, if you know it is going to rain do not apply it to your lawn. Organic material also supports micro organisms, like earthworms, that recycle plant material and increase soil aeration. Aeration is important for soil health.
If you are worried about weeds taking over your lawn this season, keep this in mind: mow high.
Mowing your lawn at a height of 2.5 or 3 inches will allow the grass to develop a deep root system and tolerate drought, heat, shade, disease and pests. Healthy grass, at this height, will push and shade weeds out. Also, recycle your grass clippings.
Leaving grass clippings on your lawn adds nutrients to your soil and keeps them out of landfills and road ditches.
With a healthy environmentally friendly lawn you will be protecting your children, pets, environment and water quality.
To learn more about water quality and lawn care, attend Cornell Cooperative Extension of Cayuga County's# Watershed friendly lawn care workshop from 6 to 7 p.m. Thursday, May 24. Participants will receive a free soil nutrient analysis ($15 value).
To register, call Cornell Cooperative Extension of Cayuga County at 255-1183.
Renee Jensen is a community educator of environmental issues at Cornell Cooperative Extension of Cayuga County.
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