Quick answer: Green industry best management practices, or BMPs, are field-proven methods for applying fertilizers and pesticides so they do their job and stay out of water. The core idea is simple: the right product, in the right place, at the right rate, at the right time.
What are green industry BMPs?
The green industry covers lawn care, landscaping, pest control and vegetation management. BMPs are the standards that separate professional work from guesswork. They are developed by universities and environmental agencies to protect water quality while still delivering healthy landscapes and effective pest control.
Why do BMPs matter on Long Island?
Long Island gets its drinking water from the aquifer beneath it, and sandy soils let water move down quickly. Excess nitrogen that leaches into groundwater or runs off into bays and ponds feeds algae blooms and degrades water quality. What is applied to a lawn in one town can end up in a well or a harbor.
What do BMPs look like in practice?
- Identify before treating. Know the pest or weed and confirm treatment is needed.
- Use integrated pest management. Prevention and cultural fixes first, targeted treatment second.
- Follow the label. The product label is the law. Rate, site and timing all come from it.
- Calibrate equipment. A sprayer or spreader that is off puts down too much or too little.
- Watch the weather. No applications before heavy rain or in high wind.
- Protect water. Keep untreated buffers along ponds, wetlands, wells and storm drains.
- Keep product off hard surfaces. Sweep fertilizer and clippings back onto the lawn, never into the street.
- Keep records. What was applied, where, when and how much.
What fertilizer rules apply on Long Island?
New York State prohibits applying lawn fertilizer between December 1 and April 1 and restricts phosphorus on established lawns. Suffolk County's seasonal ban is longer, running from November 1 to April 1. Fertilizer should never be applied to frozen ground or left on driveways and sidewalks. Check current state and county rules before applying.
What should I ask a contractor?
- Is the business registered with the NYS DEC, and are your applicators certified?
- What exactly are you applying, and why?
- How do you handle properties near water, wells or wetlands?
- What can I do so less treatment is needed next year?
Related: Lawn and ornamental weed control | Surface water management
This article is general information. Regulations change, so confirm current state, county and town requirements. Pesticides must always be applied according to the product label.