Xeriscaping, using the right amount of fertilizer can makeover your lawn and garden

Using the right amount and right type of fertilizer can help your yard to thrive – and planting the right flowers, trees and shrubs for the type of soil in your yard can make an even bigger impact and create the type of landscape that will stand out for its beauty and hardiness.

Xeriscaping, or cultivating native plants which are often better able to withstand Texas’ dry periods and scorching heat, also reduces the need for both watering and fertilizer, according to the Texas AgriLife Extension Office. For these types of plants, fertilizing once in the spring with a slow-release form of nitrogen fertilizer and once in the fall with a quick-release nitrogen fertilizer helps plants to thrive, and also reduces watering needs. AgriLife also recommends using only one pound of nitrogen for every 1,000 square feet of lawn.

Some plants are better able to withstand the extreme heat and dry conditions that we so often experience in Texas, whether you live in West Texas or on the Gulf Coast. Those native plants will require less frequent watering, and less fertilizer, which means you will spend less money in maintaining an appealing yard.

Different mulch products, including Tri-Gro from the Temple-Belton water treatment facility or composted materials from your own yard, also help to conserve water, release nutrients that plants need and reduce the need for fertilizing. An added bonus is that these mulches help reduce soil erosion and suppress weed growth. Organic mulches can include tree trimmings or bark, grass clippings, composted vegetable material, peat moss and wood chips.

Soil conditions can vary from region to region and sometimes even from yard to yard. More information on soil testing to help determine the optimum type and amount of fertilizer for your yard can be found here.

While fertilizer can help improve the health of the plants in your yard, too much of a good thing can definitely result in some unintended consequences. Excess use can cause fertilizer burn, which results in plants looking dry and unhealthy. Applying too much fertilizer can make it difficult for plants to absorb water, stop or slow plant growth, and in some cases, even kill plants.

Down the line, excess fertilizer can also have a negative impact on your drinking water.

“Nutrient pollution is one of America’s most widespread, costly and challenging environmental problems, and is caused by excess nitrogen and phosphorus in the air and water,” according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

While nitrogen and phosphorus are natural – and important – nutrients in water, too much of them can cause water pollution, which harms lakes, rivers, streams, aquifers and coastal waters. Excess fertilizer can cause significant increases in algae, the EPA notes, which can overwhelm ecosystems. The result is that oxygen can be depleted from the water, leading to the death of fish or other aquatic species. People can also be harmed because of increased toxins and bacterial growth that can make them sick.

Whether from farming operations or simply the effect of runoff from people’s lawns, nutrient pollution can cause serious problems, not just for surface water, but also infiltrating groundwater sources.

Among the compounds caused by excess fertilizer that can runoff into the water system are ammonia and nitrogen oxides. “Ammonia can be harmful to aquatic life if large amounts are deposited to surface waters,” the EPA notes. “Nitrous oxide is a potent greenhouse gas.”

Elevated nitrates in water have also been known to be harmful to infants, especially those younger than 6 months old, according to the EPA.

One of the primary ways people can help reduce the threat of excess nutrients entering waterways is to make sure they apply fertilizers in the right amount, at the right season and with the right method.

Make sure you follow the directions listed on fertilizers to ensure you are applying the recommended amount and avoid applying the fertilizer when high winds or heavy rain is in the forecast. Also, avoid applying fertilizer too close to waterways.

One way you can determine exactly how much fertilizer – and what type – to put on your lawn, garden or flowerbed is to consult the Texas A&M Agricultural Extension Office’s Fertilizer Calculators. These calculators take into account recommended amounts of nitrogen, phosphate, and potash to help you determine whether the fertilizer is appropriate for the nutrient needs and whether additional fertilizer or nutrient sources will need to be added.

More information on xeriscaping and drought tolerant plants can be found here.