Winni Water Quality A Concern

[mg2107]

Sure lawn fertlizers play a role ,abeit a small one. Its the tons of sewage infiltrating thats the major culprit.

[NoRegrets]

We have the opinion that we want to be proud of where we live. We do not live in a "back to earth" natural granola landscape. I want a beautiful lush and semi formal lawn but may have done more damage to the earth until I saw what Lawn Pyscho has achieved in knowledge (and as his hobby!). When I see salt trucks in Mass. laying or spreading salt before storms I wonder how much damage that creates.

I will not denounce technology, advances in science, or being able to afford some luxuries. We do need to be concious about what we do and I am impressed and thankful LP has been a consistant and constructive contributor to the forum in many topics including this most current grass topic.

[lawn psycho]

Originally Posted by NoRegrets

We have the opinion that we want to be proud of where we live. We do not live in a "back to earth" natural granola landscape. I want a beautiful lush and semi formal lawn but may have done more damage to the earth until I saw what Lawn Pyscho has achieved in knowledge (and as his hobby!). When I see salt trucks in Mass. laying or spreading salt before storms I wonder how much damage that creates.

I will not denounce technology, advances in science, or being able to afford some luxuries. We do need to be concious about what we do and I am impressed and thankful LP has been a consistant and constructive contributor to the forum in many topics including this most current grass topic.

Folks may find this book an intersting read: http://www.amazon.com/American-Green...0435096&sr=8-1

[MAXUM]

I'm a little curious as to how an organic fertilizer is any better than a chemical one for waterfront property? Although the makeup may be different, the purpose is the same so would not the result be the same as well?

[lawn psycho]

Originally Posted by MAXUM

I'm a little curious as to how an organic fertilizer is any better than a chemical one for waterfront property? Although the makeup may be different, the purpose is the same so would not the result be the same as well?

A chemical fertilizer contains highly (relative term) soluble compounds. In fact, next time you see a fertilizer bag when you flip it over, you will usually see several different types of nitrogen based compounds as they offer a range of solubility. This plays into the marketing of slow-release, fast release fertilizers. If you put it down and then get heavy rains you then have run-off and the excess N-P-K eventually ends up in streams, etc.

With organic fertilizers think of them more like a compost pile. The existing soil microbes break down the fertilizer into the nutrients used by the grass plants. Think of it as eating slowly. Another bonus is that organic fertilizers secondarily serve as a soil conditioner by improving the organic matter that grass roots thrive in. You don't have to be concerned about run-off from organic fertilizers.

When you use something like soybean meal the concentration of N-P-K is many times lower than the chemical fertilizer. This is why I have to feed 5 times per year.

Not all "organic" fertilizers are given a free pass. Cow manure can contain a lot of nitrogen and whatever else left the back-end undigested and that run-off can create problems.