Be an Informed User

Overusing herbicides & pesticides can be toxic to your health, local ecosystems, and our waterways. If you aren’t careful, it can kill good insects and healthy soil organisms, weaken plant root systems, and reduce important nutrients like nitrogen & phosphorous.

Don’t Expose Yourself!

If exposure to these chemicals can cause humans to get sick, imagine what they could do to smaller critters and the environment! You could get sick from eating, breathing, or touching some yard chemicals.

Don’t Pollute Our Waters

The quality of our water can become unhealthy by overusing yard chemicals like pesticides and herbicides. Since more and more people are using these chemicals, it’s important to make sure that they’re used correctly.

Your Soil Is Unique

Before Buying Fertilizer

• A soil test will help determine the right amount of  fertilizer to apply by testing the soil’s nutrient levels.
• Fertilizer is commonly sold in concentrations of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K). Before buying, read the label to ensure that you are buying the correct amounts. Pro tip: Slow release fertilizer offers a controlled release of nitrogen, which can help reduce nutrients leaching into our groundwater.

Applying Fertilizer

• Always read and follow label directions.
• Avoid using fertilizer on slopes or near bodies of water. If you must, make sure to leave a buffer zone, like an unfertilized strip of land near water. This will help prevent nutrient runoff.

Take Precautions

• Avoid applying fertilizer before heavy rainfall, during winter, and early spring. This could lead to excess runoff.
• Never apply fertilizer directly to lakes or streams.
• Never wash fertilizer onto hard surfaces, like streets or sidewalks.