Topeka Town News
Springtime is officially upon us.
Soon attention will turn to feeding our
lawns and landscapes. Before you call a
landscaper or head to the local garden
store, take a minute to think about
how caring for your lawn may impact
our environment.
Phosphorus is found in some lawn
fertilizers. It is a valuable nutrient for
plants, including grass, when used
properly. However, if wrongly applied,
it can harm our water. Phosphorous
is often suggested when fertilizing
new or distressed lawns. However, for
most lawns, the recommendation is to
use 12-0-12 fertilizer for lawn maintenance - unless you have a soil test
telling you that your lawn needs phosphorous. Keep in mind that 12-12-12
fertilizer is for gardens NOT lawns.
Excess amounts of phosphorus
may contribute to poor water quality
and algal blooms, which will cost you
money as your water company has to
treat the water to remove excess nutrients like phosphorus. So, excess phosphorus you apply or pay to have applied
may be hurting your water supply.
Steps that you can take for a
healthy lawn and to protect the
environment:
by Ron Eash
vegetable waste) out of drainage
ditches, gutters, storm sewers,
streets and any surface waters. An
• Feed your lawn at least once each year
easy way to do this is to sweep or
and mow your lawn high (three
blow any fertilizer or clippings off
inches). Dense, healthy lawns hold
of hard surfaces (driveways, sidesoil and nutrients in place better
walks) back onto the lawn.
than thin, unhealthy grass. Less
If we all do a little and are attenfrequent mowing allows for deeper
tive, we can help our environment
roots and healthier, more drought
and have that great lawn!
tolerant grass.
In Topeka town news, the con• Do NOT apply fertilizers ( includstruction project will soon be starting
ing those containing phosphorus)
with paving on Morrow, Zook and Mill
to drought-stressed, dormant or
Streets. Also, the new tennis/basketfrozen grass/turf as it may run off. ball courts will be taking shape. Watch
That’s a double whammy: It wastes out for workers and road closures/deyour money and it may damage
tours as these projects are going on.
water quality.
The town will be placing a cloth• Choose “lawn fertilizers” not “general ing recycle bin a the recycling center
purpose fertilizer” and only apply
behind Fastlane. The clothing that is
phosphorus when needed - like
donated will be collected by a company
when planting new grass or when
and sorted with the good ones going
grass is in poor condition, yet still to third world countries, and the rest
actively growing.
will be shredded and sold to companies
to reuse. The money raised from this
• Recycle lawn clippings back to the
will go to the Special Olympics here in
turf during mowing; do not bag
Indiana. So, look for the hopper that
them. Keep lawn clippings, fertilhas the Special Olympics logo on it and
izer and other