Jump To:
Before You Apply Fertilizers
Follow these tips before fertilizing to protect our waterways.
- Read the fertilizer label.
- It will tell you how many square feet can be covered by one bag.
- Look for a “slow-release” or “controlled release” fertilizer if possible.
- Sweep any fertilizer spills from paved surfaces and place back into the container.
- Sweep or blow grass clippings from your walkways or driveways back onto your yard after you cut your lawn.
- Don’t fertilize near creeks, streams, or storm drains, a good practice is to keep fertilizer about 10 feet from these waterways.
- Pay attention to the weather!
- Apply fertilizer on dry soil, avoid fertilizing during or before a rainstorm. Instead, use a sprinkler or irrigation system to apply a small amount of water on fertilizer.
- Use mulch or natural fertilizers to reduce your need.
- If you are establishing a new lawn or plantings, consider stormwater practices (straw wattles, silt fences, etc.) on the perimeter of your property that can contains erosion and stops fertilizers from entering our storm system.
Nutrient Sensitive Waters
A pond with green algae, grass clippings, and other vegetation floating on top of the water.
The City of Raleigh participates in the Neuse Nutrient Strategy, also known as the "Neuse Rules". This effort aims to reduce the amount of nutrient pollution (like fertilizer) that flows into the Neuse River Basin.
All the waters within Raleigh flow into the Neuse River and into the Pamlico Sound, which is the largest lagoon along the East Coast of the United States and has excess concentrations of nutrient pollution from wastewater, stormwater, and agricultural sources.
The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality manages this initiative and more information can be found on their Neuse River Strategy web page.