Fall is almost here and once again the airwaves are filled with commercials extolling the virtues of Scottish lawn care practices and the right seed for your lawn. Fertilizer is pitched right along with the newest seed that promises to make the neighbors jealous in spring. Many homeowners want a green, healthy lawn. But did you know that green lawns can come at a high price?
In Hampton Roads, we also pay a high price when it comes to sacrificing the water quality of the Chesapeake Bay. You do not have to live directly on a Bay shoreline to affect the Bay. Nutrients and chemicals deposited on lawns often end up washing into the Bay via storm sewer systems. These systems receive no treatment and run directly into our local water bodies. The leading threat to the health of the Chesapeake Bay is excess nitrogen and phosphorus pollution, which are frequently applied to lawns in the form of fertilizer.
This graphic highlights some things to think about as we prepare our lawns for the winter and the coming year.
