LAWN FERTILIZER AWARENESS WEEK CAMPAIGN 2018 - SHORERIVERS
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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 1st: 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 2nd: 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
o Upload complimentary image:
Native Plant of the Day: Wild Geranium
Tuesday, April 3rd: 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 4th: 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
o Upload complimentary image:
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
o Upload complimentary image:
Native Plant of the Day: Southern Wild Senna
Thursday, April 5th: 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 6th: 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/organic-
lawn-care/organic-vs-synthetic #reduceyouruse #lawnfertilizerweek #fertilizeresponsibly
o Upload complimentary image:
• 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/when-
fertilize-your-lawn
Upload complimentary image:
Native Plant of the Day: Seashore Mallow
Saturday, April 7th: 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
o Upload complimentary image:
• 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-fertilizers-
pesticides-harmful-to-children-2152747 #fertilizeresponsibly #lawnfertilizerweek
o Upload complimentary image:
• How do you keep your yard healthy for you family? #fertilizeresponsibly
#lawnfertilizerweek
Native Plant of the Day: Sweet Azalea
Sunday, April 8th: 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
o Upload complimentary image:
• 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
o Upload complimentary image:
Native Plant of the Day: Spotted Beebalm
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