Winter is almost here, and many of us in the Lima area are rushing to complete lawn and garden care before frost sets in, but there are some tips to know before you start. Fall yard work can include planting bulbs, aerating your lawn, mulching, and last-minute fertilizing. The Allen Soil and Water Conservation District is advising residents to be mindful of the amount of fertilizer they are using on their lawns. The Allen Soil and Water District administrator, Casey Heilman, advises homeowners to get their soil tested for helpful information about their lawn and how over-fertilizing can be harmful to your yard and the surrounding environment.

November 7, 2024, Press Release from the Allen Soil and Water Conservation District: Winter is right around the corner and many homeowners are taking advantage of the unseasonably warm temperatures to complete autumn yard maintenance before the ground freezes. This includes the last-minute application of fertilizer onto lawns.It’s important to remember that a lawn or garden that is fertilized should be tested every three years. For a little amount of time, postage, and a small processing fee, a lot of helpful information about one of the most significant assets on your property can be learned. Soil testing is essential because over-fertilizing is so easy to do since many don’t give it much thought when applying it. However, excess fertilizer is washed into our rivers and streams every time it rains. Once it gets to the river, it causes algae problems, robs oxygen from the water, and is a leading contributor of poor water quality. Statistics show that those who put fertilizer on their yards tend to do at eight times the amount farmers put on crop fields.

October 18, 2024, Press Release from the Allen Soil and water Conservation District: The cooler weather has arrived and many homeowners around the county are raking up leaves, cutting back perennials, and just generally prepping yards, and gardens for the long winter ahead. But what few people realize is that caring for the soil should be a part of the autumn yard routine. Soil testing is especially essential if fertilizer is used. Over-fertilizing is so easy to do that many don’t give it much thought when applying it. Excess fertilizer is washed into our rivers and streams every time it rains. From there it causes algae problems, robs oxygen from the water, and is a leading contributor of poor water quality.

With farming comes a lot of risk-taking. From knowing when to plant crops, will there be extreme weather, and whether the revenue after harvest is more than that cost to plant and maintain them? We've all felt the impact of inflation, and farmers are certainly not immune to that. The input costs ranging from diesel, seed, fertilizer, and pesticides have skyrocketed, making it more crucial to produce a good crop.

The rain isn’t so much the problem but the soil temperatures that may cause a hiccup in the process. They say it has been ranging in the mid-’40s and it needs to be on average around 55 degrees for several days for any seen to germinate. They say frost is still a concern with the fluctuating air temperatures we’ve been seeing. The wet fall also had some farmers behind in the tillage process.