Healthy lawns reduce soil erosion, filter stormwater runoff, cool the air, and reduce glare and noise. They also effectively filter and traps sediment and pollutants that could otherwise contaminate surface waters and groundwater. Misuse of fertilizers can cause unhealthy turf and increased nonpoint source pollution. Therefore it is very important that homeowners who do their own lawn care use Best Management Practices (BMPs) when maintaining their lawns. Start with the publication ENH-979: Homeowner Best Management Practices for the Home Lawn for UF/IFAS recommended practices.