Yard Maintenance and Gardening. This section deals with the normal yard maintenance activities we all perform at our homes. Over watering, over fertilizing, improper herbicide application, and improper disposal of trimmings and clippings can all contribute to serious water pollution problems. Following the BMPs listed below will help alleviate pollutant runoff. Required BMPs • Follow the manufacturer's directions exactly for mixing and applying herbicides, fungicides, and pesticides, and use them sparingly. Never apply when it is windy or when rain is expected. Never apply over water, within 100 feet of a well-head, or adjacent to streams, wetlands, or other water bodies. Triple-rinse empty containers, using the rinsate for mixing your next batch of spray, and then double-bag and dispose of the empty container in your regular garbage. Never dispose of grass clippings or other vegetation in or near storm drains, streams, lakes, or Puget Sound. Suggested BMPs • Use natural, organic soil amendments when possible. The excellent soil conditioning properties of the organic matter aid water retention in lighter soils and help to break up and aerate heavier soils, so roots can grow better and less watering is needed. It contains both readily available and long term nitrogen and other nutrients commonly lacking in Northwest soils. The slow release of nitrogen better matches the needs of plants. Thus, there is much less potential for nitrates to xxxxx into surface or groundwater due both to less “excess nitrogen” and less water use. Better vegetative growth can also reduce erosion and runoff. • Follow manufacturer's directions when applying fertilizers. Consider using only organic, slow release, or 50% water insoluble forms of fertilizers and no more than 4 pounds of nitrate as Nitrogen annually and no more than 1 pound per application for every 1,000 square feet of turf grass. (Water insoluble forms of nitrogen include sulfur and/or polymer-coated fertilizers, Isobutylidene Diurea (IBDU), Methylene Urea and Ureaform, and organic fertilizers.) More is not better, either for your lawn or for local water bodies. Never apply fertilizers over water or adjacent to ditches, streams, or other water bodies. Remember that organic fertilizers have a slow release of nitrogen, and less potential to pollute than synthetic fertilizers. • Save water and prevent pollution problems by watering your lawn sensibly. Lawns and gardens typically need the equivalent of 1 inch of rainfall per week. You can check on how y...
