Stormwater Stormwater Stormwater and Your Lawn- and Your Lawn- and Your Lawn- Issue 1: Issue 1: Issue 1: Fertilizer Fertilizer Fertilizer

When it rains, the water washes fertiliz- When it rains, the water washes fertiliz- When it rains, the water washes fertiliz- er and other pollutants from our lawns er and other pollutants from our lawns er and other pollutants from our lawns over our driveways, sidewalks, and over our driveways, sidewalks, and over our driveways, sidewalks, and roads, into our storm drains where it roads, into our storm drains where it roads, into our storm drains where it flows directly – and untreated – into our flows directly – and untreated – into our flows directly – and untreated – into our rivers, lakes, and streams. rivers, lakes, and streams. rivers, lakes, and streams.

City of Woburn City of Woburn City of Woburn Engineering Department Engineering Department Engineering Department

1o Common St Woburn, MA 01801 1o Common St Woburn, MA 01801 1o Common St Woburn, MA 01801 (781) 897-5880 (781) 897-5880 (781) 897-5880 Fertilizer Fertilizer Fertilizer

Phosphorus – commonly found in fertilizers – Phosphorus – commonly found in fertilizers – Phosphorus – commonly found in fertilizers – can cause toxic algae blooms and fish kill. Under can cause toxic algae blooms and fish kill. Under can cause toxic algae blooms and fish kill. Under Massachusetts law, you can only apply fertilizer Massachusetts law, you can only apply fertilizer Massachusetts law, you can only apply fertilizer with phosphorus if a soil test shows that with phosphorus if a soil test shows that with phosphorus if a soil test shows that phosphorus is needed or during the first phosphorus is needed or during the first phosphorus is needed or during the first growing season for a newly established lawn. All growing season for a newly established lawn. All growing season for a newly established lawn. All stormwater runoff in Woburn eventually flows stormwater runoff in Woburn eventually flows stormwater runoff in Woburn eventually flows to the Mystic River, which is listed as impaired to the Mystic River, which is listed as impaired to the Mystic River, which is listed as impaired for phosphorus. In addition, the use of organic for phosphorus. In addition, the use of organic for phosphorus. In addition, the use of organic fertilizers can have better, longer-term benefits fertilizers can have better, longer-term benefits fertilizers can have better, longer-term benefits for your lawn and garden. Organic fertilizers for your lawn and garden. Organic fertilizers for your lawn and garden. Organic fertilizers feed the soil, not just the plant. If everyone used feed the soil, not just the plant. If everyone used feed the soil, not just the plant. If everyone used phosphorous-free fertilizers it would help make phosphorous-free fertilizers it would help make phosphorous-free fertilizers it would help make the river cleaner! the river cleaner! the river cleaner!

Trying to figure out how to take care of your Trying to figure out how to take care of your Trying to figure out how to take care of your plants while also protecting our water? Consider plants while also protecting our water? Consider plants while also protecting our water? Consider the following tips: the following tips: the following tips:

• Test your soil and apply fertilizers only as • Test your soil and apply fertilizers only as • Test your soil and apply fertilizers only as needed needed needed • Use Phosphorus-free fertilizers (the middle • Use Phosphorus-free fertilizers (the middle • Use Phosphorus-free fertilizers (the middle number is “0”) number is “0”) number is “0”) • Use slow-acting fertilizersFollow • Use slow-acting fertilizersFollow • Use slow-acting fertilizersFollow instructions and do not over-fertilize instructions and do not over-fertilize instructions and do not over-fertilize • Do not apply fertilizer before a rainstorm • Do not apply fertilizer before a rainstorm • Do not apply fertilizer before a rainstorm • Leave grass clippings and add compost to • Leave grass clippings and add compost to • Leave grass clippings and add compost to your garden and lawn your garden and lawn your garden and lawn

www.woburnma.gov/engineering/stormwater www.woburnma.gov/engineering/stormwater www.woburnma.gov/engineering/stormwater