Summit has a new ordinance that restricts fertilizer use, with fines up to $1000. Rainwater washes chemicals off lawns and creates polluted drinking water. Be Proactive! Attend a workshop lead by Peter Grant, Director of Horticulture and Site Preservation at the Arboretum. Peter will explain how to make a beautiful lawn that complies with the new regulations.
Workshops will be offered twice: Wednesday, Sept 30th at 7:00 pm and Saturday, October 3rd at 10 am.
HOW MUCH? No charge for Summit residents. $20 for landscapers servicing Summit residents.
DO IT NOW! Pre-registration is required, call 908 273 8787 ext 1414
The NJ Department of Environmental Protection is requiring towns in the Passaic River watershed to regulate fertilizers because the Passaic River is out of compliance with clean water standards. The DEP has found that fertilizers are generally applied in excess of what is needed for a beautiful, healthy lawn. For example, most soils in New Jersey contain sufficient phosphorus to support adequate growth for established turf. In addition, fertilizer applied outside the growing season is likely to be carried away by runoff without supporting target vegetation growth.
The new ordinance mandates management of the type, amount and techniques for fertilizer application as one tool to protect water resources. Summit’s Reeves-Reed Arboretum is partnering with the Summit Environmental Commission to educate residents and commercial landscapers about fertilizer practices that support a beautiful lawn and also comply with the new regulations. The Arboretum has years of experience with zero-phosphate lawn care.
Reeves-Reed Arboretum, a non profit conservancy, is the only public garden and one of the largest green spaces in the City of Summit. Reeves-Reed Arboretum seeks to engage, educate and enrich its visitors so they may become better stewards of nature and the environment. This mission is achieved through the care and utilization of an historic estate and gardens.
The Environmental Commission is an all-volunteer arm of the City of Summit appointed by the Mayor to inform local government and residents on environmental issues, promote regional and long-range environmental planning; reach residents through educational programs, publications and meetings; work with neighboring commissions and other organizations to address regional and state-wide environmental problems; and play a coordinating role among the diverse actors in environmental protection.