Extension Communications
3614 Administrative Services Building
Ames, Iowa 50011-3614
(515) 294-9915
4/13/01
Contacts:
John Creswell, ISU Extension Nutrient Management Project,
(515) 727-0656, creswell@iastate.edu
Elaine Edwards, Continuing Education and Communication
Services, (515) 294-5168, eedwards@iastate.edu
Homeowners -- Lawn and Garden Nutrient Alert
AMES, Iowa -- The warmer weather tells us that spring has finally arrived. Many homeowners are anxious to begin yard and garden work, including putting on fertilizer. But before you apply fertilizer, how about doing a soil test?
"Some homeowners just go to the nearest lawn and garden shop and pick up a bag of fertilizer. But, buying fertilizer for your yard or garden without knowing what is needed by soil testing is just a crap shoot," said John Creswell, coordinator of the Iowa State University Extension Nutrient Management Project. "The nutritional needs of your lawn and garden are probably unique. You won't know for sure unless you first test your soil."
For example, 90 percent of existing lawns and gardens in Iowa already have sufficient phosphorus (P). For new lawns, the figure only drops to 87 percent.
"Buying and applying more P than your lawn and garden can use is like flushing money down the drain," Creswell said. "Phosphorus is a major pollutant of Iowa's surface waters. Over-application can end up going into storm drains where it can contribute to poor water quality in Iowa's rivers, streams and lakes."
Contact your ISU county Extension office for more information on lawn and garden testing and application. You can get a soil test kit at most lawn and garden centers or at your ISU county Extension office. Also, ask for help in interpreting the nutrient ratios on a bag of fertilizer to make sure it matches the soil test recommendation.
"Remember, test your soil and apply fertilizer according to the demonstrated needs of your lawn and garden," Creswell said. "It's the environmentally-responsible thing to do."
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