Green Your Spring Lawn and Garden Care

As of January 1, 2023, DEC reclassified certain neonicotinoid (neonic) pesticide products as "restricted use." Products containing imidacloprid, acetamiprid, and thiamethoxam that are labeled for foliar, widespread outdoor use, and/or seed treatment are no longer permitted to be applied by homeowners. These products contain chemicals like nicotine, and the reclassification was taken to protect New York's environmental resources - especially pollinators. If you are not a certified applicator, the product must be legally disposed of.

Ways to properly dispose of neonicotinoid pesticide products:

• Give any product you possess to a certified pesticide applicator.
• Take such products to your local Household Hazardous Waste Day disposal event.

DEC provides additional information on neonicotinoid reclassification. Questions can be directed to DEC's Pesticide Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Section at 518-402-8727 or emailed to pesticidecompliance@dec.ny.gov

While neonicotinoids are now "restricted use" - this presents an opportunity for us to change our lawn care and garden habits and adopt natural, more environmentally friendly methods. Rest assured there are a lot of chemical-free actions you can take to green your spring lawn and garden care. Looking to reduce the amount of time, money, chemicals, and effort needed to have a beautiful lawn or garden? Here are some tips to get started:

Reduce weeds naturally

• In late April, apply corn gluten to lawns. While it will not kill weeds, it will stop new ones from germinating that year. Corn gluten is also a great natural source of nitrogen.
• Remember to mulch. Place 2 to 3 inches deep of mulch to application areas to provide nutrients and shade out weeds in plant beds. Types of mulch include bark clips, leaves, or recycled rubber. But do not allow mulch to touch tree trunks so growth is not inhibited.
• Pour boiling water over weeds and repeat as needed.
• Select native species and non-invasive plants. Perennials are a good choice and can help reduce costs from having to purchase new plants annually.
• Use "minimum risk pesticides." These are deemed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to "pose little or no risk to human health or the environment." Biocontrols (naturally occurring substances to deter pests) can be applied. An example is nematodes which can be used on the lawn for grub control. And of course, controlling grubs will reduce mole and other problems.

Maintain a healthy lawn and deter weeds

• Don't bag your grass clippings - instead - leave them on the lawn.
• Let grass grow and mow less. The taller the grass, the deeper the roots - this can aid in getting through dry spells.
• Seed baren patches in lawns with grass seed.
• Remember lawns need about an inch of water per week - water once a week if necessary and do so early in the day to help prevent conditions that encourage pest infestations
• Follow your local watering restrictions
• Make sure your gutters flow onto lawns - not pavement
• Collect water in a rain barrel to use in the yard

Conduct a soil test to see if you need to fertilize

• Broadcasting up to ½ inch of compost can provide nitrogen along with other trace nutrients and organic matter to the soil.
• Serious nitrogen deficiencies can be corrected with a slow-release, organic source of nitrogen such as blood meal, cottonseed meal, or fish meal.
• Applications should be when soil temperatures are above 65 degrees.
• 50% of a lawn's needed nitrogen can be obtained by leaving clippings on the lawn. The other 50% can be applied in the fall by shredding leaves with a mulching mower and leaving them on the lawn.
• Not to fertilize an established lawn in mid-summer. Doing so just feeds the weeds.

Start a compost pile

• Backyard composting
• Indoor vermicomposting bin
• Subscribing to a local food scraps collection service
• Participating in a food scraps drop-off program in your local community

DEC provides additional information on sustainable landscaping and home composting.

For more tips on how to be a friend of the environment, visit DEC's website.

Photo courtesy of Stephen Diehl and Vici Zaremba

Celebrate Earth Week

Earth Day is April 22 and the day that the DEC was created in 1970. But make every day Earth Day by living sustainably. Read our 50 Earth Day tips to help you keep Living the Green Life.

Connect with DEC on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to join the celebrations!

Want to get involved in your community and learn more about New York's environment? Check out our events calendar for upcoming public meetings, and volunteer and recreation opportunities.

Celebrate Plastic Free Lunch Day On April 19

Have you heard of Plastic Free Lunch Day? Join millions of public school students across the US for this special Earth-month climate action on April 19th!

Plastic Free Lunch Day is a day when school lunch is prepared without plastic! School cafeterias serve over 7 billion meals per year that are loaded with single-use plastics. Single-use plastics such as utensils and straws are usually not accepted in many recycling programs because they’re typically too small to be captured by recycling facility equipment. These types of items can end up in a landfill, waste combustion facility, or become litter in the environment. Plastic does not readily biodegrade and breaks into tiny pieces called microplastics that end up in our oceans and other water bodies, soil, and air. Scientists have even found traces of microplastics in the human body.

Plastic Free Lunch Day doesn’t have to be all-or-nothing, and you can also start your school’s plastic-free journey any time.

There are many ways to participate and promote plastic free initiatives.

• All schools that plan to lead a plastic free action before April 30, 2023, can host a free screening of students’ award-winning film, Microplastic Madness!
• Do an easy Single-use Plastic Search in your cafeteria with a follow-up lesson plan!
• Want to take things a step further? Another idea would be to look at all single-use and disposable items no matter what material they’re made of and work towards reduction and reuse wherever possible.
• Can’t participate this year? Plan for next year and learn more about making a plastic-free plan at the official Plastic Free Lunch Day.

Why bother for just one day? One day of plastic free lunch can lead to another…and another…and another! NYC public schools now have monthly Plastic Free Lunch Days and San Diego public schools will have an April plastic free week. Students can collect before and after data/photos and use them to inform and persuade more plastic free days! Collectively, US school cafeterias have the potential to significantly reduce plastic waste and plastic pollution.

New York State is also working to reduce problematic plastic waste and litter through efforts such as:

• New York State's Bag Waste Reduction Law;
• Expanded Polystyrene Foam Container and Polystyrene Loose Fill Packaging Ban;
• NY’s Returnable Container Act that has reduced roadside litter by 70%; and
• Funding microplastics research in NY State through the New York State Center for Plastics Recycling, Research, and Innovation at the University at Buffalo.

Together, we can make a difference!

Take Part in the DEC Informational Kiosk Survey

Give us your feedback and win a gift card to a sporting goods store! DEC would like your opinion on our informational kiosks. Kiosks are small, open wooden structures that provide cover for educational/informational signs. These kiosks are located at various state properties such as state forests, wilderness areas, conservation easements, wildlife management areas (WMAs), boat launches, and more. Take our survey to let us know what you think and be entered to win a $50 sporting goods store gift card and a free subscription to the Conservationist magazine! Winners will be announced each month from January 2023 through January 2024. A grand prize winner will be announced in January 2024 and will receive a $200 sporting goods store gift card and a free magazine subscription. By providing input, you can help us improve your outdoor experience!

For prize rules and regulations, please visit DEC's website.