The Lake George Association (LGA) is reminding area residents that a new state law went into effect at the beginning of this year limiting the use of lawn fertilizers.
“The weather has been so mild that we know people are beginning to think about their spring gardening,” said LGA Education Director Emily DeBolt. “It’s important that people remember the new rules regarding lawn fertilizers, and to let people know that the staff here at the LGA is always available to help people plan for more lake-friendly gardening and landscaping.”
The new state law:
Prohibits the use of phosphorus-containing lawn fertilizer unless establishing a new lawn or a soil test shows that the lawn does not have enough phosphorus.
Prohibits the application of lawn fertilizer on impervious surfaces and requires pick up of fertilizer applied or spilled onto impervious surfaces.
Prohibits the application of lawn fertilizer within 20 feet of any surface water except: where there is a vegetative buffer of at least 10 feet; or where the fertilizer is applied by a device with a spreader guard, deflector shield or drop spreader at least three feet from surface water.
Prohibits the application of lawn fertilizer between December 1 and April 1.
Requires retailers to display phosphorus containing fertilizers separately from non-phosphorus fertilizers and to post an educational sign where the phosphorus-containing fertilizers are displayed.
“The new state law will not impact agricultural fertilizer or fertilizer for gardens,” DeBolt said. “However, local residents in the towns of Lake George and Queensbury are required to follow stricter standards,” she said. The town and village of Lake George have made it illegal to apply fertilizer containing phosphorus anywhere on property within town or village borders. Last April, Queensbury passed a law to ban the use of any fertilizer within 50 feet of the shoreline of Lake George. The Queensbury law also forbids the use of phosphorus fertilizer between 50 and 200 feet of the Lake George shoreline.
“Since phosphorous in stormwater runoff is a real threat to the water quality of Lake George, following the new state and local laws will make a big difference,” said DeBolt. “The LGA was instrumental in supporting and advocating for all of these laws when they were under development. While clearly some compromises had to be made, these laws are a huge step forward in protecting Lake George,” she said.
The LGA also reminds gardeners who may be chomping at the bit to get out into their yards, as well as area lawn maintenance companies, of additional ways they can protect the fresh waterbodies in our region:
Leaves and garden clippings are loaded with phosphorus, so they need to be raked away from lakes and streams, as well as storm drains.
Areas of lawn can be minimized by planting more native plants, which will ultimately help preserve water quality, while also providing benefits for wildlife.
For an existing lawn, keeping it dense and healthy is important, because a healthy lawn can reduce surface runoff and will filter and purify water before it enters the soil and groundwater.
Excess fertilizer in the early spring can promote top growth at the expense of root growth.
Most lawns do not need any fertilizer, and are best fertilized only in the fall, after Labor Day. Even then, nitrogen is usually all that grass needs to achieve dense vegetation. By leaving legumes, like white clover, in your lawn you can add nitrogen, naturally.