Results for Holmes Lake Watershed

1. How many times per year is your lawn fertilized?

0.4% of respondents fertilize 0 times per year
6% of respondents fertilize 1 times per year
27% of respondents fertilize 2 times per year
27% of respondents fertilize 3 times per year
32% of respondents fertilize 4 times per year
6% of respondents fertilize 5 times per year

2. Has your soil been tested to determine how much fertilizer you need?

7% of respondents have tested their soil to determine fertilizer needs.
93% of respondents have NOT tested their soil to determine fertilizer needs.

Testing your soil is an important step in improving water quality and the quality of your lawn. Often times, soils don't need nearly as much fertilizer as homeowners put down. This leads to excess nutrients in waterways. Soil tests can be obtained at local hardware stores and at the UNL Soil and Plant Analytical Lab .

3. Most soils in Eastern Nebraska contain all the phosphorus plants need to grow healthfully. Would you be willing to switch to a no phosphorus fertilizer?

98% of respondents would switch to a no phosphorus fertilizer.
2% of respondents would not switch to a no phosphorus fertilizer.

Soil tests conducted in the Holmes Lake Watershed in 2003 found that all samples surveyed needed no additional phosphorus added to the lawn as fertilizer.

4. From May to October, how many times per week is your lawn watered?

4% of respondents water their lawn less than 1 time per week.
57% of respondents water their lawn 1-2 times per week.
36% of respondents water their lawn 3-4 times per week.
2% of respondents water their lawn more than 5 times per week.

Depending on the variety of grass planted, your lawn may be able to go dormant during summer months. Otherwise, during the summer months, water 1½ inches over 3 applications per week. During spring and fall, water 1 inch over 1 to 2 applications per week.

5. How are your grass clippings disposed of after mowing?

21% of respondents dispose of grass clippings in the trash after mowing.
0% of respondents dispose of grass clippings in creek, stream or waterway after mowing.
0% of respondents dispose of grass clippings in the stormdrain after mowing.
83% of respondents dispose of grass clippings on the lawn after mowing.
21% of respondents dispose of grass clippings in compost/mulch after mowing.

When returned to your lawn, grass clippings will contribute to 25% of your annual lawn fertilizing needs.

6. Pesticides are used on my lawn...

34% of respondents use pesticides as a preventative tool.
28% of respondents use pesticides only after the pest has been identified.
0.4% of respondents use pesticides every time they fertilize.
38% of respondents use pesticides rarely, if ever.

7. Are you interested in working these lawn care practices into your property to increase water quality?

91% of respondents are interested in using no phosphorus fertilizer.
21% of respondents are interested in rain gardens.
21% of respondents are interested in rain barrels.