{"id":1140,"date":"2014-07-25T16:31:38","date_gmt":"2014-07-25T20:31:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/safewater\/?page_id=1140"},"modified":"2014-07-25T16:31:38","modified_gmt":"2014-07-25T20:31:38","slug":"use-fertilizers-and-pesticides-responsibly","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/safewater\/protecting-water-quality-at-home\/sustainable-landscaping\/use-fertilizers-and-pesticides-responsibly\/","title":{"rendered":"Proper Use of Fertilizers and Pesticides"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-size: small\">Take these simple steps to keep\u00a0fertilizers and pesticides out of waterways and drinking water sources.<\/span><\/p>\n<div style=\"text-align: left\" align=\"center\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/ce\/healthylandscapes\/demophotos\/davisville\/cropdrpspreader_small.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"140\" height=\"140\" \/><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Before applying\u00a0<strong>fertilizer<\/strong>, test your soil and apply only the amount recommended. \u00a0Contact one of the labs below about soil testing:<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p align=\"left\"><span style=\"font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size: small\"><a href=\"http:\/\/soiltest.uconn.edu\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">University of Connecticut soil testing lab<\/a><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size: small\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.umass.edu\/soiltest\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">University of Massachusetts soil testing lab<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Use slow-release or organic fertilizers.<\/li>\n<li>Improve soil fertility by adjusting the soil pH. For many plants, especially lawns, this involves applying lime to raise the pH. Soil fertility is also improved by using compost or mulch, which increases soil organic matter.<\/li>\n<li>View our Healthy Lawn Care\u00a0<a title=\"Healthy Lawn Care\" href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/safewater\/healthy-lawn-care\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Fertilizer Guidelines<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: small\">Before applying a\u00a0<strong>pesticide<\/strong>, l<\/span>earn about the pest \u2014 identify cultural, mechanical, biological options for controlling the problem rather than using pesticides. \u00a0Find out if the\u00a0pest problem is due to improper fertilization, watering or mowing practices as these can cause shallow roots, disease and other lawn health problems.\u00a0<span style=\"font-size: small\">Contact the\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-size: small\"><a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/ceoc\/plantclinic\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">URI Plant Protection Clinic<\/a>: (401) 874-2900 for help.<\/span><\/li>\n<li>If a pest problem has been identified, determine if uniform treatment is needed or if spot treatment can work. \u00a0Whenever possible, choose the least toxic alternative.<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: small\">Apply the amount of\u00a0<\/span><strong style=\"font-size: small\">fertilizer and\/or pesticide<\/strong><span style=\"font-size: small\">\u00a0intended by measuring the treatment area and calibrating your spreader.<\/span><\/li>\n<li>Avoid applying fertilizers and pesticides on paved surfaces and near storm drains, surface waters and\u00a0<a title=\"Private Well Testing and Protection\" href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/safewater\/drinking-water\/private-well-testing-and-protection\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">drinking water wells<\/a>. Drop spreaders allow for more controlled, targeted applications.<\/li>\n<li>Always read label directions carefully and store these products in dry, well-ventilated places in their original containers.<\/li>\n<li>Buy only the amount needed and dispose of unused products properly. Contact the\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.rirrc.org\/ecodepot\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">RI Eco-Depot<\/a>\u00a0for proper disposal options.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4 align=\"left\"><span style=\"font-size: small\">Download a Printable Factsheet:<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/cels.uri.edu\/docslink\/safewaterPDF\/FertlizerPesticideUse.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Use fertilizers and pesticides responsibly<\/a><\/p>\n<p align=\"left\"><span style=\"font-size: small\"><a href=\"http:\/\/cels.uri.edu\/docslink\/safewaterPDF\/\/DisposeofFuelsHHWProperly.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Use and dispose of fuels and hazardous products properly<\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p align=\"left\"><span style=\"font-size: small\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Take these simple steps to keep\u00a0fertilizers and pesticides out of waterways and drinking water sources. Before applying\u00a0fertilizer, test your soil and apply only the amount recommended. \u00a0Contact one of the labs below about soil testing: University of Connecticut soil testing lab University of Massachusetts soil testing lab Use slow-release or organic fertilizers. Improve soil fertility [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4861,"featured_media":0,"parent":274,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"class_list":["post-1140","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/safewater\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1140","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/safewater\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/safewater\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/safewater\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4861"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/safewater\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1140"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/safewater\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1140\/revisions"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/safewater\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/274"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/safewater\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1140"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}