Seal of ApprovalThe Macatawa Watershed Project launched its Seal of Approval program ¡V a program aimed at encouraging local businesses and stakeholders in the watershed to use Best Management Practices that serve to protect our environment.
The first group that applied for the Seal of Approval are lawn care and landscaping professionals. Businesses that applied for the program and completed the criteria received a special ¡§seal¡¨ logo that they can display at their place of business and on their company materials. This designation will encourage the use of approved companies that are knowledgeable of watershed friendly practices.
Lawn CareWe all want our lawns to be green and healthy.
Our lawn care practices have a direct impact on the quality of water in our area. One of the main ingredients in lawn fertilizer is phosphorus, a nutrient that makes grass and other plants grow quickly. Fertilizer that gets into our lakes and streams causes aquatic weeds to grow at a rapid rate¡X making it harder to swim, boat and fish. Every year residents in the Macatawa Watershed contribute thousands of pounds of phosphorus into our water resources as a result of fertilizing lawns.
There are three simple steps you can take to improve our water quality:
- Fertilize Fairly
- Mow Masterfully
- Watch Watering
Click here to view our lawn care brochure.
Fertilize FairlySoil testing
The first step to fertilizing without impacting the watershed is to find out which nutrients your lawn needs, soil testing is recommended. Soil testing takes the guesswork out of fertilizer use, saving you time and money, and allowing you to feed your lawn fairly. Soil test kits are available at the Ottawa County office of the Michigan State University Extension at (616) 846-8250.
Choose wisely
Once you determine if you need to purchase fertilizer, look for bags with no- or slow-release nitrogen for established lawns. These release nutrients slowly over time, reducing the number of times you have to fertilize. Click here for a list of area retailers who carry no or low phosphorus fertilizer.
Know the Numbers
A series of three important numbers is displayed on fertilizer bags:
- The first number tells how much nitrogen (N) is in that fertilizer. Nitrogen helps top growth. It makes the grass to grow green and lush. To get the most for your money and your fertilizer, purchase mixtures with slow-release nitrogen for a steady, controlled feeding. And in shady areas, reduce recommended nitrogen by 25 percent.
- The second number tells how much phosphorus (P) is in that fertilizer, phosphorus stimulates roots and seedling development. The majority of soil in the Macatawa Watershed area is already phosphorous-rich, so you don¡¦t want to apply more than is needed. It may be that no additional phosphorus is needed. If you already have an established lawn, look for a low-or-no phosphorus fertilizer.
Follow directions Too much fertilizer is not a good thing. Runoff from bare soil or paved surfaces such as sidewalks or driveways can be a major source of pollution to our lakes and rivers. Do no fertilize until three weeks after green-up in the spring. If you fertilize only once each year, late summer or fall is the best time.
Mow MasterfullyMastering proper mowing techniques will encourage your lawn to make its own food, control lawn pests like crabgrass and insects, and reduce the number of times you have to mow.
Keep your grass at least three inches high to promote healthier roots and a healthier lawn overall. Cutting the grass too short will invite weeds to invade. Taller grass gets more sun and is better able to make its own food (needing less fertilizer).
Mowing frequency rule of thumb: Mow twice a week in the spring, every two weeks in the summer and once a week in he fall. And, make sure to leave your grass clippings on the lawn.
Watch WateringWhen you water your lawn properly, it can tolerate more pest damage without the use of pesticides. Watering too much wastes clean drinking water and increases the possibility of polluting our surface and groundwater.
If you have mastered mowing, you may not need to water your lawn at all because it should have a healthy root system that reaches deep into the soil for water. You should water your lawn deeply to moisten the roots, but infrequently.
Lawns typically need one inch of water per week from rain or manual sprinkling. To measure how much water you are putting on your lawn, use an empty tuna can to collect the water. When the can is full, stop watering.
Watering in the morning or evening is best to avoid rapid evaporation from sunlight. Never apply more than a half-inch of water to your lawn after applying fertilizer
For more information on lawn care in the watershed, please .
For more information:
Michigan State University Extension - Document Center
University of Missouri - Home Lawn Care
Cornell Cooperative Extension Cayuga County - Green Thumbs for Blue Water, Landscaping for Healthy Streams and Lakes
MU Extension University of Missouri at Columbia - Horticulture Publications
Native LandscapingEveryone can include native plants in their landscaping; from homeowners with acres of land (e.g. corporations, universities), to those with small urban lots, to those protecting a pristine ecosystem during a construction project.
What is natural landscaping?
Natural landscaping is the design, construction, and maintenance of landscapes which provide the beneficial natural functions that are lost through cultivation of conventional lawns. Natural landscaping stresses the preservation and reintroduction of plants native to our area. The native plants used in natural landscaping are hardy and attractive. They can be used to stabilize soil, reduce flooding, absorb pollutants, and sustain wildlife. Conventional turf, composed of cool season grasses (e.g. Kentucky blue grass), is costly to maintain; dependent upon environmentally damaging chemicals; non-supportive of the diversity of organisms that are characteristic of a healthy environment; and lacking in visual interest.
What can I do in my community to promote the use of natural landscaping?
As a property owner you can install natural landscaping on your own land and encourage other property owners to do likewise.
As a public official you can install natural landscaping on new and existing public sites. You can adopt or amend the local weed ordinances and development regulations so as to encourage natural landscaping. You can provide information about natural landscaping to residents, developers, and civic organizations. You can identify natural areas within the community that need to be preserved or restored. You can sponsor demonstration projects and award creative efforts. As a volunteer you can assist in the installation and monitoring of natural landscaping projects. You can work with local officials and conservation organizations to promote natural landscaping.
As a developer you can include natural landscaping as a component of new development projects.
Click here to view the EPA¡¦s Water Efficient Landscaping brochure.
Benefits of Landscaping With Native Plants
If you haven't worked with native plants before, you may be wondering how natives are different than daylilies or hostas. The following information answers these questions and will help you begin to see why using at least some natives in your garden can be beneficial to the environment.
Using native plants in your landscape will bring you many benefits, including the following:
- Native plants are beautiful, providing an entirely new palate of plants to a traditional landscape.
- ƒnThey are well-adapted to local conditions, therefore requiring little maintenance once established. They eliminate or significantly reduce the need for fertilizers, pesticides, water and lawn maintenance equipment. They also often attract beneficial insects, which prey upon pests, decreasing the need for pesticides.
- Most native species are perennial or self-seeding biennial plants.
- Native plants attract our native songbirds and butterflies.
To view a list of native plants click here.
Click here for Native Plants for Landscaping and Conservation
Where can I go for additional information?
The Wild Ones
This non-profit organization has "a mission to educate and share information with members and communities at the 'plant-roots' level and to promote biodiversity and environmentally sound practices." Wild Ones has a diverse membership interested in landscaping using native species in developing plant communities. The Wild Ones website ( www.for-wild.org ) has a section called "Hot Links for Native Plant Landscaping" with dozens of useful links. There are 7 Wild Ones chapters in Michigan.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Click the “Ecopage” button, and then the “Green Landscaping” button.
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
Michigan Green Industry Association
Professional association for the landscape industry in southeast Michigan. Directory of members and services is available.
Phone: 248-646-4992
Wildflower Association of Michigan
Promotes, coordinates and participates in education, enjoyment, science and stewardship of wildflowers and their habitat. Links to dozens of sites.
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