Montgomery Promotes Healthy Lawns and Healthy Water

From Montgomery Township: Preventing water pollution from entering storm drains and waterways is everyone’s responsibility. Montgomery Township would like to help area residents and business owners be more informed on this subject and know the actions to take or not take when maintaining lawns which can make a huge difference to our environment.

Townships across New Jersey work under the State’s stormwater management program, overseen by the NJ Department of Environmental Protection, to combat what is known as ‘non-point source’ pollution, whether its litter or motor oil or fertilizers or pet waste. This type of pollution comes from many sources, usually crossing over land during rain to enter storm drains/waterways, and is therefore more difficult to track. Point-source pollution originates with a single, identifiable source. Fertilizers are a particularly preventable pollution type. If properly applied and absorbed into the land areas where they are placed, fertilizers can do their job and do not become a pollutant at all. Their efficient use also cuts waste and saves the user money, whether a landscaper, farmer, or homeowner. Avoiding the accidental overuse or misuse of fertilizers can keep our streams healthier and prevent the destruction of microorganisms, fish, frogs, turtles, and other creatures living in or feeding from our streams and other surface waterways.

There are a number of simple things which homeowners and lawn services/landscapers can do to maintain healthy turf and healthy streams and even save money:
1. Choose a no phosphorus and slow-release nitrogen fertilizer. Check the first and second number on the package for nitrogen and phosphate content. Formula 26-0-3, for example, means no phosphate.
2. Apply fertilizer at the spreader setting shown on the bag, to avoid overuse or underuse of product.
3. Return any unused product to the original container for future use.
4. Do not apply fertilizer products if a heavy rain is predicted.
5. Use a drop spreader or a rotary spreader with a side guard to keep fertilizer on the lawn and off driveways, roadways and walkways. Sweep up excess fertilizer from paved surfaces.
6. For a healthier, greener lawn, fertilize after the first lawn cutting in the spring and again in the fall when weather conditions are best for grass to absorb nutrients.

7. Soil testing can help identify what nutrients your lawn needs. Contact your County Extension Agent at http://njaes.rutgers.edu/count... for details and other helpful lawn and garden information.
8. For more information and other ways to prevent stormwater pollution, go to: www.CleanWaterNJ.org

Preventative or corrective municipal actions include everything from labeling storm drains to sweeping streets to sharing messages like this. Montgomery has its own employee ‘Stormwater Pollution Prevention Team’ which works on this issue. The Township also has a Stormwater Pollution Prevention hotline. If you see Stormwater Pollution happening, please call 908-281-6525.

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