Article and Photos by Nancy Caire Miller
Work on Lake Jackson is finished, thanks to the hard work and dedication of several state agencies and both local governments, along with a large dose of cooperation from Mother Nature. As the lake eventually refills with renewed health, an important key to maintaining that health into the future lies in the hands of homeowners who are fortunate enough to live along the any of our local lakes and streams:
The right fertilizer, one that has no phosphorus,
is that key.
Most fertilizers contain nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, reported to us by those familiar numbers on the bag (8-8-8, 16-4-8, etc.). Nitrogen, the first number, is an essential component of chlorophyll (which makes plants green) and helps supply plants with energy to grow. Phosphorus, 
the second number, promotes flowering and seed production - but how many of us want to encourage our lawn to flower and seed? It does not make grass green. Potassium, the third number, strengthens the plant against times of trouble such as drought, frost and disease. Because most Florida soils are already rich in phosphorus, local soils most likely need 15-0-15 for healthy, green lawns.
Most homeowners aren't aware that lawns in this area don't need a dose of phosphorus - they already have enough. Generally, local soils have all the phosphorus that plants need, and for yards bordering a lake, phosphorus can be harmful. When phosphorus is applied to the yard and not used by the grass, it runs off into the lake where it feeds algae and invasive plants, stimulating flowering and seed production. According to Craig Diamond with the Tallahassee-Leon County Planning Department, a 1993 survey showed, "there were over 1000 applications of fertilizer in the (Lake Jackson) watershed (per year), averaging nearly 22 TONS total weight". Diamond says that these fertilizers contribute one half to one ton of phosphorus each year to Lake Jackson. Jess Van Dyke, lakes biologist with Florida Department of Environmental Protection, reports that taxpayers spend $8 per pound to remove phosphorus from sediment in Lake Jackson. As he says, "it is a lot less expensive to apply phosphorus that it is to remove it."
Most landowners love Lake Jackson and the other lakes in the community, and just want green lawns and clear, blue water. For that result we don't need phosphorus. Local garden centers have begun stocking 15-0-15 fertilizer, containing no phosphorus. It's also important to select a fertilizer that has a large percentage of slow-release nitrogen, ideally 7.5%, or half (information found on the label). Application of six to seven pounds of fertilizer per 1000 square feet of lawn should produce the beautiful, healthy lawn. More than that will just wash off unused in the next rain.
Attention to this one small but important aspect of lawn care by every lakefront property owner will result in a healthier lake as well as a nice lawn. The lake will stay beautiful for years to come and taxpayers may avoid another big bill for cleanup.
Every drop you lose, nature finds.
Slow the Flow.