Green Grass, Clear Water
Green Grass, Clear Water:Water Quality-Friendly Lawn CareNH LAKES Webinar SeriesMay 4, 2022Julia PetersonN.H. Sea Grant Extension Program Leader and Marine and WaterResources Specialist, UNH DurhamJulia.Peterson@unh.eduEmma ErlerHorticulturist at Squam Lakes Natural Science Center Garden(Former) UNH Extension Landscape and Greenhouse Field Specialist
Our goals today:1. Recognize the connection betweenlawn care and clean water2. Learn cultural practices thatencourage healthy turf and reducepollution from lawns.3. Promote or adopt at least one newor improved practice for yourhousehold.
CHAT: Who takes care of your lawn?
Outline – Comments and Questions Welcome at Any Time1. Land-water connection2. Lawn care recommendations without fertilizer3. Lawn care recommendations with fertilizer4. Wrap up
Water Cycle
Watershed the LAND AREA that drains into a particular waterbody6
Undeveloped Area40%50%soaks in10%runs off
Highly Developed Area30%15%soaksin55%runsoff
How does stormwater end up in waterbodies?9
Major Types of Water Pollutionin New England Sediment Pathogens Toxic contaminants Salt Excess nutrients
EXCESS NUTRIENTS – Nitrogen and Phosphorus Necessary for life, but Stimulate aquatic plant (algae)growth resulting in murkywater and low dissolvedoxygen levels. Can also trigger cyanobacteriablooms which can make petsand people sick when ingested. Nitrates are a health hazard indrinking water.
Where DoExcessNutrientsCome From?
Image: www.fiu.edu/ envstud/labs/nutrientanalysis.html.
Phosphorus andsediment
Nitrogen CycleImage: US EPA
Plants and healthy soils FILTER water
CHAT: Questions? Comments?
Changing Homeowner’s LawnCare Behavior to ReduceNutrient LossesUSDA/NIFA 2006-51130-03656
Water QualityFriendly Lawn CareRecommendationsCompiled and edited by Karl Guillard, PhD, University of Connecticut, Plant ScienceUSDA CSREES (now NIFA) project # 2006-51130-03565
Social ScienceResults andRecommendationsfor OutreachBrian Eisenhauer, PhDPlymouth State UniversityFrom Report of SocialScience findings fromChanging Homeowner’sLawn Care Behavior toReduce Nutrient Losses inNew England’s UrbanizingWatershedsUSDA CSREES (now NIFA) project# 2006-51130-03565
Poll: Which 3 of the following lawncharacteristics are most important to you?
543MeanWhatMatters toPeople inNewEnglandRegardingLawns?Respondents Mean Rating of the Importance of Each Lawn Issue4.123.22.92.92.62.311.80Importance Importance Importance Importance Importance Importance Importanceof Having a of Having a of Having of Having a of Having a of Having a of Having aWeed-Free Dark Green Thick Grass Clover-Free Pest-Free"GolfSafe LawnLawnLawmLawnLawnCoursefor theQuality"EnvironmentLawn
Recommendations, part 1Without fertilizer
Simple Recommendations for Every Lawn1. Right place, right plants2. Choose the right grass seed varieties3. Mow smart4. Don’t overwater5. Test your soil6. Dispose of yard waste properly
1. Limit lawn areas to play and picnic places
Expectations: turf seasonal cycleImage: University of Minnesota, Cornell University
2. Plant low maintenance grass varieties. Use recommended grass mixes Overseed when needed Plant new lawn in the early fall forbest results (less weeds)
Turf sColor and Best ConditionsTALL FESCUES(turf-type)Heat and drought tolerantSlow to establishFairly shade tolerantFair recovery potential“New” ones are finertextured and darker green.Best in well drained soils &sunFINE FESCUESVery tolerant of low pH and lowfertility, drought and shadeDon’t perform well underhot, humid conditions withhigh fertility(creeping red,chewings, hard, sheep)PERENNIALRYEGRASSBecome semi-dormant in heat& drought but recover quicklyGerminates rapidly and is quickto establish – good foroverseedingNarrow-leaf, medium todark greenIdeal for low maintenanceCan be competitiveNot tolerant of shade anddroughtTolerant of wear and heatFine to medium leaf textureand dark green colorBest on well drained soilswith moderate fertilitySusceptible to ice factsheets/selectiongrassesKENTUCKY BLUEGRASSHigh tolerance for cold andwearRequires higher amounts ofN fertilizerFine to medium leaf textureand dark green colorModerate tolerance for heatand droughtMay produce thatchBest in well drained, sunnyareasBecomes semi-dormant in heatand drought; can recover
Incorporate clover.Respondents Mean Rating of the Importance of Each Lawn Issue54Mean34.123.22.92.92.62.311.80Importance Importance Importance Importance Importance Importance Importanceof Having a of Having a of Having of Having a of Having a of Having a of Having aWeed-Free Dark Green Thick Grass Clover-Free Pest-Free"GolfSafe LawnLawnLawmLawnLawnCoursefor theQuality"EnvironmentLawnClover fixes nitrogen naturally in the soil. Keep clover 10% of seed mix.Disregard if there are allergies to bee stings in the household.
3Mean53. Mow SmartRespondents' Mean Levels of Wllingness to Engage in Practices to ReduceNutrient Leaching and Runoff from Their Lawn (1 Not willing; 5 Very Willing)43.93.8Willingness to Use a Test toMeasure Need for Fertilizerbefore Application.Willingness to Include Cloverin Lawn.Willingness to Apply LessFertilizer More Often.Willingness to Plant a HardierSpecies of Grass.Willingness to Leave GrassClippings on the Lawn.Mow high 3” and leave clippings on the lawn.Willingness to Plant or MaintainVegetated Buffers AlongStreams and Lakes.Willingness to Use PhosphateFree Fertilizers.3.9Willingness to Cut the Grassat a Slightly Higher Height.3.9Willingness to Switch to aType of Fertilizer Found to beBetter for Water Quality.Willingness to Sweep upFertilizers that got ontoSidewalks/Driveways/Curbs.04.1Willingness to Reduce the Useof Fertilizers.14.13.94.04.24.34.32
4. Water wisely1 inch1 inch of waterper weekWater deeply, notfrequently –.
5. Test SoilNote pHand OrganicMatter
Soil pHIdeal 6.0-6.5
Soil Organic Matter: For NEW turfIncorporate compost or anotherorganic matter source to raise theorganic matter content to at least3%-5%.*(NOTE: compost can have highphosphorus levels.)
Soil Organic Matter: For EXISTING lawnBuild up soil organicmatter by top dressingwith compost.¼ inch layer, gentlyraked in
6. Manage yard waste properly LEAVE clippings on the lawn ORCOMPOST them if very heavy COMPOST leaves OR SHRED formulch NEVER rake grass clippings,leaves, or plant material into awaterbody, drainage area orstormdrain catch basin
Is Your Unfertilized Lawn Acceptable To You?
CHAT: Questions? Comments?
Recommendations, part 2With fertilizer use
Recommendations for Lawns That Need Fertilizer1.2.3.4.Know what is needed and what is notDetermine how much to applyKnow when and where to applyChoose the right fertilizer for the situation
1. Know the soil nutrientsN nitrogen for growthand greeningP phosphorus fornew roots and shootsK potassium forstress resistance
What’s in a bag of fertilizer (in our region)? Mostly nitrogen (N) Low or no phosphorus (P) “starter” formulations will have P Some potassium (K)N-P-K
Soil TestResults NutrientsWhere’s theNitrogen result?
Reading a Fertilizer Label:N-P-K
2. Determine How Much to ApplyA. Measure the dimensionsto calculate AREA in square feet.B. Read label. It states how many pounds of product to putdown for each 1000ft2 of lawn. It assumes a rate of .9 pounds of N perapplication (in NH).C. Anticipate how many times you will applythis year (1-4).
Water Quality Friendly Recommendation:Apply NO MORE than 2 pounds N per year** For lawns greater than 10 years old where clippings are left.1. Apply one-half to one-third of amount recommended on fertilizer bag.2. Look for results quick release - within a couple weeks slow release - over many weeks3. Reapply at reduced rate only if lawn response is unacceptable.
4. Choosing fertilizer ( positives / - negatives) SLOW RELEASE – is generally preferable for water quality considerations. look for 50% water insoluble nitrogen (win). comes in synthetic and organic forms. nutrient releases based on moisture levels or microbial activity depending on type. ORGANIC – is a slow release option -non-petroleum based, is from natural sources in a plant or animal-based carriergood source of micronutrientsfeeds microbesadds organic mattermay lead to over-applying P in order to get adequate levels of N for turfBE AWARE: Excess nitrogen is excess nitrogen, REGARDLESS of the source!
Choosing Fertilizer, continued: NORMAL RELEASE SYNTHETIC - may be preferable under very specific conditions -Temperature is getting too low for slow release and supplement is neededNeed to push growth quickly to prevent erosionIs typically less expensiveIs more prone to salt burnIs more susceptible to leaching AVOID – combination products (often herbicide and fertilizer, aka weed and feed)unless you are certain it’s needed.
Reading a Fertilizer Label – % slow release (WIN)
Poll: Do you know the square footage of yourlawn?
Do people know the square footage of theirlawns?Does Respondent Know the Square Footage of their Lawn?ValidMissingTotalFrequency399Percent52.9Valid .0NoNot Applicable
For Help:Determining square area and calibrating ting-lawn-fertilizer-rates-fact-sheet
Is everybody applying? About half of survey respondentsindicate that they apply fertilizerto their lawns. Almost 10% apply less than oncea year About 56% apply once or twice. Only 31% apply three or fourtimes.
Poll: If you apply fertilizer, what do you dowith leftover fertilizer?
Use Only What You Need - Store or Give Away ExtraWhat Does Respondent do with Left-Over 1.9%1.1%Use up allThrow AwayFertilizer toAvoid SurplusStore it forLater UseLawn ServiceAppliesFertilizerOther
3. Know When to ApplyIf needed, fertilize after spring green-up and no later than mid September.Avoid fertilizing in the mid-summer.
What is this soil test result telling you about P and K?
Poll – choose the best fertilizer based on soil test results (Pand K) AND water quality goals (hint: 50% WIN)
The New Hampshire Shoreland Water QualityProtection Act (SWQPA)Investment in the s/water/wetlands/cspa/categories/faq.htm
Fertilizers within Waterfront Buffer: Lime may be used within 25’ Slow release nitrogen and low phosphorus fertilizermay be used beyond 25’ from the reference lineLeave a strip of unfertilized grassesand vegetation around waterbodies and drainage areas.
Additional Information: uality - includesvideo clips, manuals, fact sheets https://extension.unh.edu/resource - search by any lawn orgardening topic – Videos, blogs, fact sheets, manual, etc.
https://seagrant.unh.edu/managing-stormwater
uality
http://soaknh.org/603-419-0322
CHAT: Any final Questions or Comments?
Thank you!
Thick Grass Importance of Having a Dark Green Lawm Importance of Having a Weed-Free Lawn 4.1 1.8 3.2 2.3 2.9 2.6 2.9 Respondents Mean Rating of the Importance of Each Lawn Issue. Mow high 3" and leave clippings on the lawn. 3. Mow Smart in g . ier rs. y. o . Use rs. e . s n. er wn. er ss t. wn. Mean 5 4 3 2 1 0 3.9
A mixture of water and Grass Clippings (5) are collected in the Wash Catch Pit (2). The Sump Pump (1) pumps the water and Grass Clippings (5) to the Grass Cart (3). As the mixture makes contact with the Separator Screen (4), the Grass Clippings (5) ride along the top of the Separator Screen (4) and into the bottom of the Grass Cart (3) where
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remove the activation key before emptying the grass box. Removing and emptying the grass box Lift the flap at the rear of the mower and hold onto the green handle attached to the grass box. Empty the grass cuttings from the grass box. Whilst still lifting the flap, pull the grass box towards you to remove it from the mower.
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