Lawn Fertilizer Awareness Week Campaign 2018 Thank you for taking part in ShoreRivers Lawn Fertilizer Awareness Week! This tool-kit provides everything you need for Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter posts, including links to various articles, images, and videos related to lawn fertilizer awareness. You can use these posts verbatim or as inspiration for your own posts. Larger files of images can be found in the associated weekday folder. Sunday, April 1 st : Introduction of Lawn Fertilizer Awareness Week The first day of postings will introduce Lawn Fertilizer Awareness Week. The goal is to not only provide the general message and purpose of the campaign, but also stimulate conversation between our organizations and followers. The following banner image can be uploaded with any of the sample posts below. Lawn Fertilizer Awareness Week 2018 April 1 - April 8 Lawn fertilizer is much like farm fertilizer rich in nitrogen, a major source of river pollution. Excess nitrogen in our rivers leads to dark water, algae blooms, low dissolved oxygen, and dead zones. There are approximately 1,300,000 acres of lawns in the state of Maryland alone compared to approximately 1,500,000 acres of planted cropland. Like farmland, lawns lose fertilizer through runoff or leaching. It ends up in our rivers and becomes a significant contributor to water pollution. In October, 2013 Maryland s first law regulating the use of lawn fertilizer went into effect. http://mda.maryland.gov/pages/fertilizer.aspx The law is the beginning of the conversation, of a new way to think about lawn fertilizer use. Let s all become more aware about its effects. Let s reduce lawn fertilizer use. Watch our video on why you should reduce your use! https://vimeo.com/160623391 Welcome to Lawn Fertilizer Awareness Week! How are you reducing your lawn s fertilizer use? Follow us this week and let us know! #reduceyouruse #forgetthefertilizer #lawnfertilizerweek Welcome to Lawn Fertilize Awareness Week! Don't be a fertilizer fool this spring... learn how reduce your use of lawn fertilizers. #forgetthefertilizer #lawnfertilizer week #livefertilizerfree Welcome to Lawn Fertilizer Awareness Week! Follow us each day to learn more about the effects of fertilizer on the environment and how to reduce your use! #reduceyouruse #lawnfertilizerweek #forgetthefertilizer OPTIONAL: Native Plant of the Day: Butterfly Flower
Monday, April 2 nd : Maryland s Lawn Fertilizer Law Monday focuses on the 2011 Maryland Fertilizer Use Act. These lawn fertilizer laws took effect in October 2013 and created restrictions on when and where homeowners and landscapers can fertilize their lawns. If your organization is not based in Maryland, feel free to substitute these posts with any fertilizer, pesticide, or lawn care regulations in your state. Fertilizer laws from the #MDlawnact help protect the environment and your wallet! #MDlawnact #lawnfertilizerweek #reduceyouruse o Upload optional complimentary image: Reduce Lawn Fertilizer Use 1. Fewer chemicals 2. Fatter wallets 3. Cleaner Rivers! Symbol credit: IAN UMCES Symbol Library Fertilize responsibly...it's the Law! #reduceyouruse #MDlawnact http://mda.maryland.gov/pages/fertilizer.aspx Check out these pieces of advice from the MD Department of Agriculture for better fertilizer practices! #reduceyouruse #lawnfertilizerweek Native Plant of the Day: Wild Geranium
Tuesday, April 3 rd : Best Practices for Applying Lawn Fertilizer Tuesday explores the best methods to apply lawn fertilizer to reduce the amount of nutrients that flow into our waterways. This day aims to let others know that if they fertilize, they should do so responsibly and minimally. Did you know that you can t fertilize between November 15 and March 1? Check out more tips and facts about best practices for home fertilizer use from UMD. https://extension.umd.edu/hgic/lawns/lawn-care-best-practices #reduceyouruse o Upload complementary image: Reduce your use of lawn fertilizer this spring and help protect our rivers! https://vimeo.com/160623391 #reduceyouruse #forgetthefertilizer How can you keep your lawn green and have healthy water quality? https://extension.colostate.edu/docs/pubs/garden/xcm222.pdf #lawnfertilizerweek Native Plant of the Day: Black Eyed Susan
Wednesday, April 4 th : Effects of Lawn Fertilizer on Water Quality Wednesday focuses on lawn fertilizers relationship with water quality, including the negative effects of nitrogen and phosphorus and resulting algal blooms. Check out the ABC s of Harmful Algal Blooms to learn how lawn fertilizer runoff can negatively impact our rivers and the Chesapeake Bay. http://www.chesapeakebay.net/blog/post/the_abcs_of_habs_how_harmful_algal_blooms_impa ct_the_bay #reduceyouruse #healthylawnforahealthybay Too much nutrients in water à Rise of algal blooms à Not safe to swim #reduceyouruse #healthylawnforahealthybay NUTRIENTS IN YOUR FERTILIZER HELP CREATE HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOMS #REDUCEYOURUSE Symbol credit: IAN UMCES Symbol Library Love your water as much as your land! #lawnfertilizerweek #healthylawnforahealthybay Native Plant of the Day: Southern Wild Senna
Thursday, April 5 th : How Lawn Fertilizer Affects our Rivers and ShoreRivers River-Friendly Yards Program. Taking a broader prospective, Thursday will focus on lawn fertilizers relationship with the Chesapeake Bay. This will build upon ShoreRivers new River-Friendly Yards Program. A River-Friendly Yard is one that mimics the natural environment to improve water quality in our local creeks and rivers while also providing habitat for native species. By replacing turf grass cover with native species of ground cover, shrubs, and trees, we can reduce polluted runoff from residential areas. Join ShoreRivers this spring to find out how to make your yard river friendly! #riverfriendlyyards o Upload complimentary photo: This spring, ShoreRivers is helping the Bay create #riverfriendlyyards to create a cleaner Chesapeake Bay! #reduceyouruse #fertilizeresponsibly ShoreRivers, with support from the Chesapeake Bay Trust and Queen Anne's County, is working to empower residents in the Chester and Sassafras watersheds to implement best practices and establish more river-friendly yards in our watersheds. We're excited to host our first River-Friendly Yards workshop this Saturday! If you are interested in hosting a River- Friendly Yards workshop in your neighborhood please contact eharris@shorerivers.org. o Upload Complimentary Image: Native Plant of the Day: Bird s Foot Violet
Friday, April 6 th : Choosing Environmentally Friendly Fertilizers The type of fertilizer you use can help determine how much you need! Think about switching to organic fertilizers so that you can have a healthy lawn while being environmental conscious. Friday will focus on ways to choose the right fertilizer that provides minimal damage to the environment. What s in organic vs. synthetic fertilizers? https://www.milorganite.com/lawn-care/organiclawn-care/organic-vs-synthetic #reduceyouruse #lawnfertilizerweek #fertilizeresponsibly Want to create your own lawn fertilizer? See what the Chesapeake Bay Foundation recommends: http://www.cbf.org/join-us/more-things-you-can-do/in-your-yard/lawn-care.html When and how should you fertilize your lawn with organic products? Check out these tips from Safer Brand, an organic gardening company: http://www.saferbrand.com/articles/whenfertilize-your-lawn Upload complimentary image: Native Plant of the Day: Seashore Mallow
Saturday, April 7 th : The Reality of Lawn Fertilizer Saturday takes a step back to talk about how fertilizer use connects to other facets past the environment, such as recreation. Did you know it s recommended not to swim in the waters up to 48 hours after a storm event? Remember to not fertilize before windy or rainy days! #riverfriendlyyards #cleanwater If you ever want to know if it is safe to swim in your local river, head over to the https://www.theswimguide.org. Making all of our rivers healthy starts with us. #reduceyoruse #lawnfertilizerweek How does fertilizer affect your household? https://www.thespruce.com/lawn-fertilizerspesticides-harmful-to-children-2152747 #fertilizeresponsibly #lawnfertilizerweek How do you keep your yard healthy for you family? #fertilizeresponsibly #lawnfertilizerweek Native Plant of the Day: Sweet Azalea
Sunday, April 8 th : Exploring Alternatives to Lawns Sunday marks the last day of the Lawn Fertilizer Awareness Week! This day involves exploring alternative ways to keep your landscape beautiful and environmentally conscious. Such topics include native plant gardens and ground covers. Did you know native plant and rain gardens help lower your use of fertilizer and reduce storm water run off? #ditchyourlawn #riverfriendlyyards Thinking about starting a garden? Here s why you should include natives: https://extension.umd.edu/hgic/plants/why-include-native-plants-your-garden #ditchyourlawn #liverfertilizerfree #lawnfertilizerweek Ready to ditch your lawn? Here are some great land cover alternatives and ways to keep your yard green, such as garden boxes! http://dnr2.maryland.gov/wildlife/pages/habitat/wagroundcovers.aspx #reduceyouruse #livefertilizerfree #riverfriendlyyards Native Plant of the Day: Spotted Beebalm