A duck swimming through an algal bloom. Photo courtesy of waterencyclopedia.com.

Conventional pesticides and strong fertilizers can lead to a plethora of problems in your plot.

Conventional fertilizer is made mainly from phosphorus, a natural element already found in most soils. Though phosphorous is natural and already in soil, adding additional phosphorus to soil is usually unnecessary and sometimes even harmful to the environment. In many cases, people put far too much fertilizer on their lawns. The excess phosphorous the disrupts their garden’s natural ecosystem balance. Causing certain plants to swell and dominate unnaturally—think plants on steroids.

Phosphate buildup can cause quite a nuisance in local water systems. Surplus phosphorous from conventional fertilizer can enter your garden’s groundwater stream, flowing through to local water bodies such as ponds, lagoons and lakes. Once saturated with displaced nutrients, these water pools can develop algal blooms–an explosive overgrowth of algae. In lakes, for example, one pound of extra phosphorus can create 300-700 pounds of nuisance algae. These algae blooms are not only unsightly, but worse, they’re often hazardous to the health of native fish and birds. They block sunlight from entering the water, thus preventing indigenous water plants from growing.

To make matters worse, consider how stinky algae can get. And your poor pond will look like it got slimed at Nickelodeon Studios. In sum, it all would make for a rather unpleasant swimming experience.

Given the above, responsible use of lawn and gardening products is important. Make sure you know what you’re doing. If you need to use fertilizer make sure it’s just the right amount and go for the organic alternatives.

Organic lawn care compared to contemporary intensive lawn care is much healthier for the yard the environment and in many cases your family. There are plenty of organic fertilizer options to choose from including a variety of organic foliar and soil fertilizers such as those made from fish, seaweed, or, quite simply, certifiably organic manure. In addition to organic fertilizers, natural soil supplements are also growing in popularity. Plant-Tone 5-3-3 is ideal for outdoor soil (it provides a light dose of enrichment that won’t disturb a garden’s natural balance), while container plants, window boxes will do better with something made specifically for the great indoors. Scotts Organic Choice Potting Soil is a popular choice.