Mark the Date: Saturday, April 20

Again this Spring, smart Lake-friendly fertilizing savings are available which will protect your wallet as well as our shared environment. Soil Testing Day is set for Saturday, April 20, and offers property owners the opportunity to receive free, scientific guidance on how to enhance the fertility of their soils and nourish their lawn and garden plantings while minimizing harmful effects to our shared Watershed and treasured Candlewood Lake. Special discount prices on recommended fertilizers are planned as well – to be offered by our local participating garden markets -- to balance your soil’s nutrient content and add to these savings. It’s smart, free and easy to participate!

This will be our 16th consecutive year hosting this unique event which has benefited over 1,150 property owners of our Watershed and beyond. Designed to raise awareness of the financial, energy and environmental values of smart fertilizing practices, importantly this year’s event will help avoid unnecessary, inappropriate or over-fertilization by testing submitted soil samples before fertilizing decisions are made.

This year’s format is again being modified to help ensure this event is covid-safe by limiting personal interaction. Accordingly, participants are asked to download Sampling Instructions from the CLA website, and then proceed to draw, package and label their soil samples for hand-off Saturday morning at any of three convenient Drop Off Sites around Candlewood Lake. The CLA website -- candlewoodlakeauthority.org/news -- may be accessed, and soil samples drawn at any time until the event on 4/20. Once samples are dropped off, participants may simply sit back and await their test results by mail from the CT Agricultural Experiment Station. Further specifics on Site locations and event aspects will appear in future articles and on the CLA site.

Soil Testing makes sense particularly for those concerned about their property’s health, that of our Lake and waterways, and of our shared environment. So mark the date, plan to draw and package your samples in advance (preferably when the soil is dry), and keep an eye out for follow-on articles that will provide further specifics and how you, your lawn and garden – as well as Candlewood Lake and its Watershed -- will benefit. We encourage your covid-safe participation in this once-a-year event, appropriately scheduled to closely precede the celebration of Earth Day and to raise awareness of the need to protect and preserve our global resources. Please plan to participate for your property's, your neighbors,' and our lakes' sake.