How long does it take for fertilizer to be eliminated?

[nelloyello11]

Does anyone know how long it would take for fertilizer/chemicals to be worked out of the ground? We've been at our house for about a year now, and we haven't put anything chemical on the lawn. BUT we don't know of the previous owners/tenants did (which would likely have been more than a year ago, asthe house was vacant for at least a few months before our landlord bought it and we moved in). IF they did use something, I'm wondering how long before it would definitely be safe to give dandelions etc from the lawn to our finches. If it helps, there is a healthy family of wild bunnies that chomps on them daily (adorably, too, I might add).

[MiaCarter]

I think you should be okay since you're in New York and you get a fairly good amount of rainfall.

The water will push the chemicals down deeper into the ground and what's not flushed away should have already been absorbed by the plants.

I'd just make sure you're not downhill from a neighbor who uses fertilizers and chemicals, as the water could flush the chemicals "downstream" to your property.

My guinea pigs loved dandelion greens, but I had to grow them in containers because my neighbor is a lawn guy and he treats his lawn with every chemical under the sun and in the summer, we get torrential rains that cause temporary flooding that flushes his chemicals into my yard.
It's sad because I can always tell when he's treated because we'll get tons of dead and dying creatures flowing onto our property. Insects, little mice and voles, snakes, lizards, birds.
A few weeks ago, we got two little sparrows among the exodus of dead/dying creatures. My guess is they ate some of the poisoned insects? They were both hopping around my driveway, unable to fly properly. They let me pick them up and I put them in a sick cage. One did actually survive.

[nelloyello11]

Thanks for your response, MiaCarter! I was also thinking that the ridiculous amount of rain/snowfall we've had recently would help with this, but I wanted some outside opinions.

That's so sad, about your neighbor's chemical dependency... Poor little creatures... I feel bad just killing the ants that are coming in off our patio right now. I wonder of he has any idea what kind of results his actions are causing...

[MiaCarter]

Yeah, I've definitely told my neighbor about the damage he causes, but he absolutely doesn't care. All he wants is green grass and no insects for miles.

What's odd is he lets his young kids and dogs play in the yard, despite all the chemicals. So I think he's in denial.

If you're in doubt, you can always grow some in a container. Just wait for the dandelion puffs to form and then plant the seeds. They grow very quickly! Like weeds! LOL

[nelloyello11]

I know they grow quickly, but I'm just seeing them ALL over the place and I'm dying to let them try some!!!

You should print out some studies on the effects of chemical fertilizers and leave them anonymously in his mail box...

[wildbird]

I'd report him to the fish and game commission. It is illegal to poison wildlife. Even the environmental protection agency will not allow this irresponsable use of chemicals. Please report him.

[MiaCarter]

I'd report him to the fish and game commission. It is illegal to poison wildlife. Even the environmental protection agency will not allow this irresponsable use of chemicals. Please report him.

That's what I thought too, especially because we live very close (less than 100 yards) from an area of protected forest!

Turns out it's totally legal if you're within certain limits....and he was.
But I personally think they got a bad soil sample as they arrived 3 or 4 days after his most recent application and we'd had 2 really big afternoon storms with standing water for a few hours, so I suspect a good portion got washed away.

People here have a cavalier attitude with nature and animals.
For instance, when we first moved here about 5 years ago, another neighbor came up to us to introduce himself and proudly announced he'd used his shotgun to do away with the family of raccoons living in the cement drainage tube under our driveway.
I think I said something to the effect of "Gee, thanks for eliminating a bunch of sweet, harmless creatures whom we would have loved to have on our property".....and also thanks for leaving us with the odor of decomoposition for three weeks.

[wildbird]

Sounds like he is also trespassing on your property. If you haven't already done so, contact the environmental protection agency. The number is in the government pages of your phone book. What county do you live in? They will be concerned about what is getting into the water & ground & that it is killing animals. If it happens again, take pictures of the animals affected showing the area where they were found. Submit them to the EPA & the fish & game commission. You could also contact the National Audubon Society located in Palm Coast, Fl.

[MiaCarter]

We're in Lee County.
I'd reported him to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission, but not the EPA so that's a good idea!
Oh, believe me, I have plenty of photos! (To the point where if someone found my phone, they'd be left thinking I'm a creep with all the photos of dead animals!)