Attacking Algae

Re “Muck Runs Amok,” Sept. 8: Algae overgrowth may not be high on our list of concerns, but it is a problem that could be addressed by each of us. Without waiting for the EPA to remove toxic items from store shelves (big business would not allow it, and yes, most fertilizers are toxic), we can stop buying products that contribute to this problem. Organic gardeners have long known that lawns don’t need any more fertilizer than they get naturally by leaving the lawn clippings where they fall. Such green matter contributes all the nitrogen a lawn needs to stay green -- and doesn’t pollute our streams and ocean.

Dorothy Walker

Calabasas