Albany, November 13, 2026 – If you plan to fertilize your lawn this fall, remember that it is against New York State law to fertilize lawns between December 1 and April 1. The law does not apply to agricultural fertilizer or fertilizer for gardens. Some areas also have local laws about selling and using lawn fertilizers. Lawn fertilizer can have unnecessary phosphorus that runs into waterbodies. Excess phosphorus in freshwater lakes and ponds can cause algae overgrowth, with serious impacts to the environment and public health. Choose a lawn fertilizer with no phosphorus to help reduce your impact.