The Grass Doctor

Is fertilizing my lawn thats on a lake really bad?

I live on a lake... My lawn looks like crap. Tons of other people that live on the lake fertilize theyre lawns. How bad is it for the lake? The lake isnt too big and its spring fed (which i heard is kinda like a self-cleaning lake)

Public Comments

1. Yes the fertalizer will go into the lake
2. all lakes are "self-cleaning" if humans stop polluting them. Fertilizer will create high levels of phosphates, nitrates and other chems in the water, which may promote algae growth.
3. if you want algae in the lake keep fertilizing. if you don't want algae and you do want a lawn, i suggest you minimise your fertilizer. use a little not a whole lot over a period of time. this will make it grow but it may be a bit slower. btw algae smells like absolute crap! try to avoid it
4. Yes, the phosphates are the bad part of the fertilizer. It will create tremendous algae growth in the lake which depletes the oxygen in the water, which eventually kills any life in the lake (fish, etc.). More chemicals must be used, along with good old weeding of the lake, to reduce the algae. Phosphates are also bad for ground water, that is why some fertilizer companies are now making it without the Phosphates. You will always have those who don't care about their environment. A city can be in a drought with water restrictions and you still have the nut who must water his lawn every morning and night. They think it does not pertain to them.