The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States. Surrounded by a human population growing by more than 100,000 people each year, multiple sources of pollution threaten the Bay, its sea life, and the livelihood of tens of thousands of people who depend on it for employment.
Nutrients from agricultural waste, sewage treatment plants, lawn fertilizer and other sources are either deposited into the Bay directly, or washed into the Bay via storm sewers and the region’s many rivers. Once in the Bay, nutrients (particularly nitrogen and phosphorous) upset the ecological balance by promoting the growth of algae.
These algae are a double-edged sword. They block out sunlight necessary for the growth of sea grasses, which are the primary breeding ground for many sea creatures. When these algae die and decompose, they deplete oxygen from the water, again depriving sea life of a necessary element for survival.
A Focus on Lawn Fertilization
Fertilizers contain high levels of algae-promoting nutrients that lead to a reduction in underwater grasses, the most critical habitat for blue crabs and other Bay creatures. Areas of the Bay covered in grasses are home to about 30 times more underwater life than barren areas. Without this habitat, there are fewer areas for juvenile sea creatures to live and grow.
Waiting until fall to fertilize lawns has a triple benefit:
1) It keeps more fertilizer on the lawn where it could do its job, due to less rain.
2) It promots grass root growth instead of blade growth, making the lawn stronger and healthier than with spring fertilization.
3) It’s less harmful to the Bay, as less fertilizer is washed into it, and fertilizer that does reach the Bay does so outside of peak algae bloom season.
We may think the actions we take in our yards are contained within our fences, but runoff from fertilizers, pesticides and pet waste collectively have a big impact on our local streams, creeks, rivers - and ultimately the Chesapeake.
A healthy Bay begins in your backyard. Follow these tips to help clean the Bay, one yard at a time.
Skip the Spring Fertilizer
While many of us think spring is the best time to start fertilizing our lawns, fall is actually the time of year when cool season grasses benefit most from fertilization. Heavy spring rains wash fertilizers off our lawns and into local waterways, where they can fuel the growth of algae that harms fish and blue crabs.
You can replace traditional springtime fertilizing with “grasscycling,“ or leaving leftover grass clippings on your lawn after mowing. Grass clippings are a natural fertilizer that can reduce 25 to 50 percent of your lawn's nitrogen needs. Leaving grass clippings on your lawn also reduces bags needed to collect yard waste.
When you do fertilize, follow these tips to keep it Bay-friendly:
Have your soil tested to determine how much fertilizer your lawn actually needs (if any at all) and the best time to apply it. Also, identifying your grass will help you understand how to properly care for it. For example, many cool season grasses, such as tall fescue and Kentucky bluegrass, do best with a light fertilizer application in early fall.
Follow manufacturer guidelines and only apply the amount of fertilizer that you need. Twice the product will not make your lawn twice as green!
Keep fertilizer off hard surfaces like walkways, driveways and streets, where it will easily wash into storm drains and streams. If fertilizer falls on these hard surfaces, sweep it onto the lawn or scoop it up for later use.
Do not apply fertilizer to swales or other drainage areas on your lawn.
Never apply fertilizer to dormant lawns or on frozen ground.
Do not use fertilizer as a de-icer.
If you use a professional lawn care service, consider using one that follows the Chesapeake Club standards for fertilizer application (available in the Richmond, Hampton Roads and Washington, D.C. metro areas).
Consider organic fertilizers, which typically release nutrients more slowly than synthetic fertilizers.
Reduce runoff
Most of the pollution to the Bay and its rivers comes from runoff: water that washes pollutants off the land and into storm drains and local water bodies. You can help reduce polluted runoff from your property by:
Picking up after your pet, whether in your yard, on the sidewalk or in a park. It's a dirty job, but pet waste can contribute nutrients and bacteria to local water bodies, many of which provide drinking water to local communities.
Fixing car leaks so engine fluids like oil and antifreeze don't run onto the ground.
Washing your car on grass or gravel, rather than on pavement. The grass or gravel will absorb and filter soapy, grimy water.
Planting a buffer or “fence“ of trees and shrubs that will absorb water before it runs off your property.
Installing rain barrels to catch gutter water that runs off your roof. This water can then be used to water plants and gardens.
Compost Fallen Leaves
Instead of spending painstaking hours raking, blowing and bagging fallen leaves, try composting them instead. Making mulch from fallen leaves helps reduce polluted runoff to the Bay, since soil covered by composted mulch is less likely to erode and applying compost to yards and gardens reduces the need to fertilize.
Here's some tips to help you compost your leaves each fall:
Shred leaves to reduce their volume and make them easier to mix when composting. Try raking leaves into small piles and shredding them into mulch with a regular lawn mower.
Spread whole leaves around vegetable gardens, flower beds, bushes and trees. The leaves will contribute nutrients, form an insulating barrier and minimize moisture loss and damage from severe winter weather.
Spread gathered leaves no more than 6 to 8 inches deep in a wooded area on your property.
Save some leaves to add to your compost bin throughout the year. Store some in a garbage bag next to your bin, so every time you add kitchen scraps to the bin you can also throw on a handful of leaves.
If you haven't composted before, begin by understanding the basics of decomposition, aeration, moisture and more. Or check out local leaf composting programs by farmers and municipalities.
There are, however, a number of beneficial yard activities you can do to replace the traditional springtime fertilizing regiment, such as:
Grasscycle your mower's leftovers - “recycled“ clippings replenish key nutrients in the soil. Plus there's no need to mess with piles and bags of yard waste!
Create a cool compost pile - compost is a brilliant alternative to fertilizing and excess watering. Everything from coffee grounds to newspaper, and weeds to manure, can be mixed together to create a lovely soil conditioner.
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