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Py ,. HOME, LAWN & GARDEN How to have a healthy lawn without fertilizers, and keep nutrients out of our local rivers and lakes (Lindsay, April 20, 2011) Much of the fertilizer we put on our lawns ends up in our local rivers and lakes during a rain storm or from watering the Tawn. If you live in town, nutrient-rich runoff flows through a series of stormwater drains and ditches, eventually emptying into your local lake or river. If you have a shoreline property, the runoff flows directly into the water . In the Kawarthas and Scugog, this is contributing to the excessive growth of TREErif fic Tree Service JAMES PAPIA Certified Arborist #S0-42040 * Tree Trimming & Pruning ° Tree & Stump Removal ¢ Arbor Consultation 905-982-1998 treeriffic@ gmail.com aquatic plants. It takes only 1kilogram of fertilizer to promote the growth of 500 kilograms of aquatic plants! Here are some ways to keep your lawn healthy without using fertilizer this spring: ELLiINS .3% ells Itself ANDSCAPE SERVICE * Interlocking Brick * Natural Stone © Retaining Walls Tree Removal * Decks/Fences _* Foundation Repair look for us on LOCALLY facebook OWNED AND OPERATED -982-2758 905. alinslendscaping@gmail. com 1, Thatching - Remove dead grass from your lawn. Thatching is a great way to help aerate your lawn and can easily be done using a standard leaf rake. 2, Aeration - Aerating every couple of years is a great way to loosen soil to allow for more water and nutrients to enter the earth. This involves the use of an aerator that removes small plugs of earth from the topsoil layer. 3. Apply compost to your lawn - thin layer of compost (or a top-dresser containing compost) will contribute to a healthy lawn by nourishing the grass and increasing the organic matter in your soil. Be sure to prevent any compost from getting into the storm drain by keeping it off of the road, driveway and sidewalk, or from washing into the ditch. Compost can also add nutrients to water. 4. Over seeding - Over seeding will help create a thick and lush lawn and will also help choke out weeds. The thicker the grass, the less chance the weeds have to survive. Over seeding can also A BETTER BACKYARD | BRING IT ON™ Garden Decor Furniture ¢ Planters Storage « Pools Gazebos ¢ Awnings BBQ’s « Smokers Parts & Accessories 26 FOCUS - JUNE 2011 JUNE FOCUS. 40 pages.indd 26 Landscape Materials Mulch ¢ Bagged Stone Lol6) Cofoto) ma Mle laidiarey Heaters ¢ Fireplaces Gardening Tools Carts * Lawn mowers Plants: Annuals rennials * Vegetables Lawn Fertilizers Soil ¢ Grass Seed be done mid to late August. Have your soil tested for nutrients if you feel that you must fertilize your lawn. You can get a soil test for less than $30, and it will determine how much, and if, fertilizer i is required. Contact Shalin Abbott com or 705.328.2271 ext. 223 for more information. If you decide to use fertilizer, be sure to apply it accurately. Fertilizer particles on roads, sidewalks and driveways end up in the lake through the storm sewers. Along a shoreline, fertilizer particles should be prevented from going into the water. Grass clippings also contain nutrients and should be kept out of the water and off the road, sidewalk and driveway. For more information on green lawn care, including environmentally friendly weed and pest control, download the fact sheet Green Lawns, The Green Way at kawarthaconservation.com. More about keeping nutrients out of lakes and rivers is available at kawarthaconservation. com/livingintown 14325 Simcoe Street 905-985-7341 Why shop anywhere else? 5/24/11 8:55:59 AM DESIGN, INSTALLATION AND REPAIRS. * Steps * Sodding & Planting