Pesticides, herbicides and excess fertilizers are regularly washed from lawns into local watersheds, where they pollute and in some cases even create huge dead zones. To make sure you're not contributing to water pollution:
- If you fertilize, do it in the fall with a slow-release product, or sifted compost.
- To prevent runoff of stormwater, rain gardens, are the first line of defense, and rain barrels help, too.
From Rodale, How to Feed Your Lawn without Poisoning the Rivers.
From the U. of Michigan, research shows that water quality goes up after bans on phosphorus-containing lawn fertilizers.
From the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Bay-Friendly Lawn Care.
Florida-Friendly Yards tackles the run-off and pollution issues.
From Ginny Stibolt in Florida, articles about rain barrels and rain gardens.
