Lawncare Tips in Tribute to Earth Day

The following tips are being provided by the Candlewood Watershed Initiative in honor of Earth Day to help ensure our beautifully blue, healthy lakes and streams are not transformed by lackadaisical lawncare into nutrient-laden, green water bodies, inhospitable to plant, animal and even human life.

The Candlewood Lake Watershed is home to one of the premier water bodies in the Northeast – designated a ‘Connecticut Crown Jewel.’ It is ringed with mountains, roads, storm drains and streams that ‘shed’ runoff into our Lake, and because of its natural beauty and recreational blessings, it is host to thousands of lucky residents, Lake enthusiasts, and envious visitors.

As a consequence, our Watershed is fragile and Candlewood Lake is at increasing risk – unless we are smart, sensitive, safe and sparing in what we apply to these lands and allow in our waters. Prevention is key to protection. As the Watershed’s custodians, please apply these lawncare tips to sustain a healthy and vibrant Candlewood environment to benefit this and future generations:

- Understand your property’s & neighborhood’s topography and the inherent runoff risks
- Take advantage of available landscaping options as lawn replacements or supplements
- Carefully consider the need and merits of fertilizing vs. the potential consequences
- Realize that our waters and lands can be forever damaged by insensitive application
- Test your soil first to see if fertilizing is indeed necessary; if so, comply with guidance
- To protect our waters, avoid applying phosphorus which is now restricted in CT
- Limit fertilizer applications to the minimum required to avoid environmental damage
- Realize that excess fertilizer can make your lawn susceptible to diseases and pests
- When mowing, avoid 'scalping'; longer grass is more insect-, weed-, an drought-resistant
- Leaving short grass clippings during mowing can help alleviate the need for lawn fertilizer
- Use drop vs. broadcast spreaders to manage and control the dispersion of fertilizers
- Avoid fertilizing when rain and wind storms are forecast that could carry off nutrients
- If applying fertilizers and pesticides, stay clear of water bodies, pavements and drains
- Sweep up any excess fertilizer that falls on pavements and other impervious surfaces
- Reassess the merits of expansive lawns; consider adding buffers and natural plantings
- Avoid multi-step lawn care programs that risk over-application of fertilizers and pesticides
- Introduce lake-friendly landscaping, bushes & trees to retard water flows and form a canopy
- Look for smart ways to retain and utilize rain water and to prevent runoff and erosion.

Serve as a steward of this special, magical place called the Candlewood Lake Watershed. In tribute to Earth Day, live to enjoy, respect, and protect these priceless lakes, ponds, streams and lands that are now our responsibility. How we care for them matters … and determines their and our destiny.