The Lake Book

LAKE PROTECTION: WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP
RETIRE THE MOWER
Maine’s lakes evolved with forested shorelines, and the more you can
promote these natural habitats, the better off your lake will be. We
know that lakes like less lawn. And you should, too. There is so much
to enjoy when you live near a lake. Go for a swim! Paddle your canoe!
Take the kids on a boat ride! Don’t spend time maintaining a landscape
that provides no benefits to your lake.
While not a roof or a driveway, lawns essentially act like impervious
surfaces. The shallow roots of cultivated turf grasses do little to
absorb rain or hold soil in place to prevent erosion. Lawns provide no
habitat and very little benefit to wildlife or pollinators. They also require
lots of time, attention, money, and gas.
You may want a lawn for recreation, where family and friends can
gather, or over your leach field. Small lawns for these purposes can be
managed to reduce the impact on lakes. If you choose to keep a lawn,
follow these best management practices:
Minimize the size of your lawn, especially near the water.
Maintain vegetative buffers between the lawn and the lake to
help capture stormwater runoff.
After a lawn is established, it is unlikely to need regular
fertilizer if you leave the grass cuttings in place.
Set the mower blade to the highest setting to increase the
lawn’s ability to absorb water.
Remember—NO fertilizer is allowed within 25’ of water.
A nicely sized and lake-friendly lawn with good vegetative buffers
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