FALL LAWN CARE

Fall Lawn Care tips



FALL LEAVES
A Citizen's Guide to Fall Lawn Care

When rain falls and snow melts, the runoff produced picks up a variety of contaminants such as oil, metals, salts, pet waste, fertilizer, and grass clippings as it flows over roofs, roadways, sidewalks and lawns.
Stormwater runoff ultimately flows into storm drains.
Remember: storm drains lead directly to our local rivers and streams.

Using responsible lawn care practices is one step toward cleaner rivers and lakes — even if you don’t have waterfront property.

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START WITH SOIL:

Perform a soil test to determine what your lawn needs. When necessary, use earth friendly fertilizers, which use low or no phosphorus, and fertilize in fall to build strong grass roots.
Additional fertilizer before May is usually unnecessary. Raking ½ inch of compost onto your lawn is a natural alternative to fertilizer.

WHAT YOUR LAWN NEEDS:

Cut your grass high (2 ½ to 3 inches) to promote root growth and shade out weeds. Let grass clippings fall onto the lawn for extra nutrients, and be sure to sweep them off of paved surfaces and back onto the lawn. Light frequent watering prevents overwatering and allows root absorption.

YOUR LAWN’S ECOSYSTEM:

Avoid weed-and-feed combination fertilizer and weed control. These products can harm the beneficial insects and plants in your lawn. In addition, sweep fertilizer back onto the lawn, as excess fertilizer beads will wash down storm drains and into our rivers and lakes. Lastly, be sure to leave a “no fertilizer” buffer of at least 15 feet near lakes and rivers to maintain the natural balance of our freshwater ecosystems.

More information available at CRWC.org