Environment Stormwater
Fertilizing
Keep Fertilizer from Reaching Ponds and Lakes
If you're fertilizing your lawn, please make sure to keep fertilizer off sidewalks, driveways and all other hard surfaces. Minnesota law prohibits the release of fertilizer on impervious surfaces such as sidewalks, driveways or the street. To learn more about what you can do, click here.
Don't Fertilize Unnecessarily
Have your soil tested once every five years to determine whether you need to fertilize. The University of Minnesota sells soil sample test kits for $15.00. For more information, call (612) 374-8400 or click here. The Minnesota Extension Service recommends fertilizing lawns no more than three times a year: mid-May, early September and mid-October.
Choose a Lawn Fertilizer without Phosphorous
To protect water quality, Minnesota State law prohibits the use of phosphorus fertilizers on lawns and turf in the seven county Twin Cities metropolitan area.
Most soil in St. Louis Park has ample amounts of phosphorus and does not need additional amounts. However, there are exceptions to the law. Phosphorus-containing fertilizer can be applied to residential lawns if
- A soil test indicates insufficient phosphorus or
- This is the first growing season for new seed or sod.
When phosphorous from fertilizers when it makes its way into ponds and lakes, it causes excessive algae growth and scum. Make sure the middle number on the fertilizer package (which indicates the amount of phosphorus) is zero. Commercial lawn care services will also provide fertilizers without phosphorus upon request.
Pollution Prevention Plan
St. Louis Park is committed to keeping our surface waters as clean as possible. Click here for more information.
Pollution Prevention Stormwater Annual Report for 2008
St. Louis Park conscientiously manages compliance within the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4). Click here to view the annual report for 2008.
Rain Barrels
Do you realize the roof of your home is a large impervious surface? Like your driveway or the street, rain water runs right off and into the storm sewer for the City of St. Louis Park. Instead of going down the drain, this water could be recycled and used for your landscaping.
Rain barrels control storm water runoff and hold 8% of the runoff from your roof and 3 percent of the runoff from your entire residential property. For more information about the types and uses of rain barrels in the metro area, go to Metrowide rain barrel info packet
Available at the following locations:
Stormwater Education
Do you know what stormwater is in St. Louis Park? Do you know how it becomes polluted? Do you know how to help protect it? Click here for more information.
