Lawns around lakes have become a somewhat controversial topic. There is no disputing the fact that there has been phosphorus and to a lesser extent nitrogen pollution in the United States. This type of pollution ends up showing up as algae blooms, fish kills, and unsafe drinking water. It’s a complex issue that whole textbooks are dedicated to. I was fortunate enough to learn from a few great professors about how our agronomic practices can avoid this environmental crisis.
I can’t overstate how important our lakes and ecosystems are to me. I was lucky enough to grow up here in the beautiful Lakes Region of New Hampshire. I continue to spend every free minute in the spring, summer, and fall enjoying all of our many pristine lakes. Keeping these bodies of water and the rest of our environment healthy is our number one priority.
Now that we’ve gone over that, let’s talk about why even bother having a lawn in a watershed. Benefits of a lawn include but are definitely not limited to:
- Erosion Control
- Produces Oxygen
- Cooling Effect
- Recreation
- Aesthetics
How We Do It
We follow all the regulations stated by the Shoreline Water Quality Protection Act (25-foot setback, 50% Slow Release Nitrogen, less than 2% phosphorus). We view those laws as a minimum and try to take even more precautions around our lakes.
Here are a few of our practices.
Site Assessment & Soil Sample
Our first step on every new property is to do a walkthrough noting any bodies of water, slopes, the type of soil, setbacks, etc. At that initial meeting, we pull a soil sample to figure out what your lawn actually needs. This allows us to only apply what your lawn needs and prevents leaching or runoff.
pH Adjustments
Soil pH affects the availability of every nutrient in your soil. Keeping it in the 6-6.5 range can ensure that your turf is getting all its nutrients. We use the soil test to figure out how much lime or sulfur your soil needs to get to the optimal pH.
Lighter, More Frequent Applications
Lighter applications can be absorbed/adsorbed quicker to prevent leaching and runoff.
Aeration/Seeding
Aeration helps air, water, and nutrients to get into the root zone. This is a great time to overseed to promote a lusher, healthier lawn. We’ll use the best cultivars for your unique property.
Compost
Composting can be a great way to add nutrients and organic material to your soil. Our sandy soils in the Wakefield, Ossipee, and Shapleigh areas are severely lacking in organic material. OM can help soils hold on to water and nutrients which drastically reduces the chance of runoff and leaching.
Proprietary Blend of Biostimulants
We have an arsenal of around a dozen products that help with plant stress, root growth, disease resistance, nutrient uptake, and much more. Humic acid and help are just a few of the many we apply on every lawn.
Overall, with the proper precautions, turf around our lakes can be a very positive element of a healthy landscape. We tailor every plan to each property to give you the best products for your lawn and environment. Schedule a consultation today to learn more about how we can help your property.
