UPDATE: MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP - Michigan enforces a new law to protect our waterways. Phosphorus, the nutrient used in fertilizer to help stimulate plant growth is now prohibited on residential or commercial lawns.

Rick Brown, the associate planner of the Planning Department in Meridian Township said, "The Phosphorus Fertilizer Law was approved by the state which basically limits the use of phosphorus in fertilizers to zero."

Phosphorus can be dangerous because when it rains it runs off into waterways and can reduce the oxygen level which is harmful to fish and plant life.

Lisa Harkness from Van Atta Greenhouse said, "Homeowners typically tend to be the ones who use too much fertilizer maybe thinking more is better so I think by eliminating phosphorus out of that group of users they are really going to decrease a lot of the phosphorus leakage into our waterways."

So what does this law mean for the future?

Frank Belknap, Manager at Home Depot said, "Without a phospherate ingredient in fertilizers to help your plant growth and sustain that deep root growth as well that is probably going to be an issue in the future."

Some fertilizers that are phosphorus free are Grass Magic, Espoma, and Vigoro. You can check the ingredient composition on the front of every fertilizer bag. The three numbers represent the nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium included. If the middle number is zero, it is phosphorus free.

If you have any questions regarding the law you can contact Rick Brown at 517-853-4568 or there is a brochure available to download on the township website.

ORIGINAL STORY: MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP - The Michigan Fertilizer Law which prohibits phosphorus fertilizer on residential or commercial lawns came into effect Janurary 1st. Watch Meridian Magazine this week to learn which fertilizers are safe to use.