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•Watershed and Flood Control
•Groundwater
_____- Keys to Clean Water
•Cost-Share
•Conservation Trees
•Regulations to Protect Soil and
Water
 We
All Hold the Key To Clean Water
Lawn and Garden Best Management Practices:
Fertilizing
Here are some suggestions from the University of Nebraska Cooperative
Extension for fertilizing lawns to protect water quality:
Apply the right amount: Apply fertilizers at rates and
times that meet, but do not exceed, the nutritional needs of the
turf. Since grass regularly loses its leaves to mowing, it needs
a high nitrogen fertilizer such as 25-6-4 (percentages of nitrogen,
phosphorous and potassium, respectively). Use lower nitrogen levels
on turfs grown in clay soils, shaded sites, unirrigated areas,
or areas where a mulching mower is used. Use higher nitrogen levels
on sandy soils, frequently irrigated turfs, and intensively used
sites where grass clippings are removed.
Split applications: An average lawn needs 3 to 4 pounds
of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet each year. The nitrogen should
be applied in 1-pound applications three to four times per year:
a main feeding in early autumn, a booster just before winter,
and a light feeding in mid-spring. (A light feeding in June also
is an option.) In the fall, a higher phosphorous formulation will
help the roots. A bag of 25-6-4 contains 25 percent nitrogen,
or 5 pounds. For a 5,000-square-foot lawn, this bag would provide
1 pound per 1,000 square feet.
Follow directions: Proper fertilizer application is crucial
to prevent groundwater and surface water pollution, both in town
and rural areas. Always read and follow label directions.
More details:
Contact the Cooperative Extension or local lawn and garden center.
More information on-line:
[
Kentucky Bluegrass Lawn Calendar ] (Extension NebGuide)
[ University
of Nebraska IANR Extension Publications on Horticulture ]
Other Lawn and Garden Best Management Practices:
[ Watering ]
[ Using Pesticides ]
Developed for the Dutch Flats Groundwater Quality Project. The
project is partially funded by a Section 319 Clean Water Grant
from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency through the Nebraska
Department of Environmental Quality.
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