Recent weather events and climate change have made most Americans increasingly aware of water quality issues. In Lexington MS4 regulations have emphasized these concerns. One of the major pollutants of stormwater is excess nutrients from homeowner fertilizer applications. The Fayette County horticulture program offers classes related to low input lawn care approaches that can serve to dramatically lessen fertilizer applications. Research has shown that turf grasses perform better with  limited spring and summer fertilization. We also emphasize soil building and infiltration in many classes related to other gardening topics.This is important for homeowners but also producers, where over application of expensive nutrients affect water quality as well as profitability. 

In the past year 82 homeowners attended a class related to lower input lawn care to learn best management practices. We partner with local government to provide data related to storm water education for their MS4 reporting.  We also partner with the Fayette County Consevation District who sponsored vouchers for free soil testing. In the last 12 months the Fayette County Extension Service provided soil testing and guidance for 1197 samples to help minimize fertilizer applications. 404 of these samples resulted from free testing offered by the conservation district. Efforts such as soil sampling and reducing fertilizer inputs provide many benefits in terms of cost savings and ecology.