07/18/2013AP - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

• EPA Chesapeake Bay Program-Report 2013 i Hot Topics I Turfgrass Producers International 7/8/13 10:56 AM was one thing,the EPA saying it quite another matter. "The conventional'wisdom'up to this point and the attitude around EPA was that fertilizing your lawn was bad for water quality.In fact,the opposite is true.The research shows that a responsible program of lawn fertilization will actually improve water quality in the Bay. "The report's data show that,on the whole,lawns in the Chesapeake Bay watershed are under fertilized,with 50 percent receiving no fertilizer at all.Do-it-yourself 2 homeowners fertilize only an average of 1.7 times per season, while the report recommends three to four applications per year. Ninety-one percent of those who apply any fertilizer are do-it- yourselfers." Robertson went on to add,"...the good news for our industry is the report's first recommendation for Bay-friendly lawn care practices is for homeowners to"Consult with the local extension service office,certified plan writer or applicator to get technical assistance to develop an effective urban nutrient management plan for the property,based on soil test analysis. "Let me translate that:EPA is recommending that homeowners consult our industry to develop a plan to care for their lawns.Its second recommendation is what I believe is the summation of all the research on the topic of lawn care and water quality:Maintain a dense vegetative cover of turfgrass to reduce runoff,prevent erosion and retain nutrients. "The research demonstrates that dense vegetative cover helps to reduce surface runoff,which can be responsible for significant nutrient export from the lawn,regardless of whether it is fertilized or not.If a lawn does not have a dense cover,it has an elevated risk for nutrient export,especially if soils are compacted or slopes are steep.In these situations,the primary nutrient management practice is to identify the factors responsible for the poor turf cover,and implement practices to improve it(e.g.,tilling,soil amendments,fertilization or conservation landscaping)." Robertson when on to add,"To put this in clearer language, healthier lawns mean a healthier Chesapeake Bay.And if this isn't enough,the report recommends that fertilizer be applied in small doses over the season in three to four applications.The report then cites research that confirms that it's the practice of lawn care companies to apply fertilizer in four to five smaller applications over the course of the season." The report contains several common-sense recommendations under the title of Con:Urban Nutrient Management Practices for the Chesapeake Bay.They include the following: . Consult with the local extension service,master gardener or certified applicator to get technical assistance to develop an effective urban nutrient management plan for the property. . Maintain a dense vegetative cover of turf grass to reduce runoff,prevent erosion,and retain nutrients. . Choose not to fertilize,OR adopt a reduce rate/monitor approach OR the small fertilizer dose approach. . Retain clippings and mulched leaves on the yard and keep them out of streets and storm drains. 3 . Do not apply fertilizers before spring green up or after grass becomes dormant. . Maximize use of slow release N fertilizer during the active growing season. http://www.turfgrasssod.org/publisher/hot-topics/2013/6/18/epa-chesapeake-bay-program--report-2013 Page 3 of 4 �31�