How Can I Prevent Phosphorus Long Term?:

Plant Native Plants: Benefits of Native Plants

Native plants are plants that have been growing in a particular habitat and region, typically for thousands of years longer. Also called indigenous, they are well adapted to the climate, light, and soil conditions that characterize their ecosystem. Native Plants filter excess nutrients from our lakes: Native Plants have deeper roots than turf and nonnative plants. Native plants provide more absorption of nutrients through their roots and therefore, less nutrients enter the lake.

Create a Buffered Shoreline of Native Plants:

A buffer zone of native plants provides 2 benefits: it functions as a natural filter for chemicals prior to reaching the lake and discourages geese. Canadian geese prefer a gentle grassy slope coming out of the water. Therefore, a buffer zone of native plants is helpful for preventing geese from residing on your lake. Plant tall native plants 25-30 feet width and as long as you can to minimize the access point of the geese. As geese cannot see over/through the buffer zone, they do not feel secure from predators and are hesitant to enter property.

Fertilizers and Pesticides: Minimize their use and utilize organic Fertilizer

Illinois and Wisconsin law prohibit the sale of fertilizers with phosphorus. You can reduce your fertilizer use by mulching your grass clippings. Grass clippings can provide up to 50% of the nitrogen your lawn needs. Use organic fertilizer as much as possible as it breaks down slower so excess nutrients are less likely to end up in the watershed. Nonorganic fertilizers are absorbed so quickly through the soil and have negative environmental costs. Among its harmful effects are: the pollution of the surrounding and underground water, an increase in the toxic salts of the soil, the degradation of the soil and the killing of microorganisms essential for the nutrition of the plants. Organic fertilizers are renewable, biodegradable, sustainable, and environmentally friendly.

Funding for this project was provided in part by the Lake County Stormwater Management Commission through a Watershed Management Board Grant