Cranbury Township

VOLUME 19
SUMMER, 2005
ISSUE 2
Policy on Small Animal Control

The Township currently employs a small animal control officer who is dispatched through the Police Department (395-0031) to handle any stray dogs, cats or other small animals, injured or possibly rabid, and to dispose of dead animals.

Attention Dog Owners

Let us not forget that there is a local ordinance (§162-17) requiring that you must clean up what your faithful companion leaves behind. It is not pleasant for anyone who accidentally finds what you have neglected to pick up. So when your dog does his duty, you should do yours!!

Also, an amendment to the dog license regulation (N.J.A.C. 8:23A) has been added for all dog owners. In order for a dog license to be issued, the owner must show proof that the duration of immunity of the rabies vaccination extends through at least 10 months of the 12 month licensing period. Annual dog licenses are renewed in January.

STREETSCAPES

During the summer months, Cranbury receives many visitors. They visit to walk or visit friends and family in our beautiful community. Many residents realize that the streetscape is an important visual aspect to these visitors. There is an unspoken splendor of driving, walking or biking through town and seeing a beautiful and chip-free community. In order to keep this view, keep in mind that the chipping service is the third Wednesday of every month. There is no leaf pick up, but will commence in October.

Cranbury is fortunate to have a committed Public Works Dept. that works very hard at chipping brush, especially during those hot sweltering months. Once the Public Works Depts. chips your branches and have past your house on their scheduled route, they will not return until the next scheduled chipping date. In addition, the Public Works Dept. does not make appointments to drive out to your house to chip brush.

The next scheduled chipping dates are:
July 20 • August 17 • September 14

Five Tips For A
Great Looking Lawn

1. Any lawn mover will work, but a mulching mower (or a conventional mower with a mulching attachment) will produce the best results.

2. Mow high. Remove only the tip 1/3 of the grass blade. You may mow a little more frequently, but your overall lawn care time will decrease.

3. Keep your mower blade sharp. Dull blades tear the grass. This produces ragged, brown edges that invite lawn disease.

4. Water in the morning. Water less frequently, but to a depth of one inch. Shallow watering leaves your lawn susceptible to drought stress, disease and insect problems.

5. Don’t over-fertilize! Grasscycled lawns need fertilizer only once or twice a year.

FALL CLEAN UP

A date for the next FALL CLEAN UP WEEKEND has not been scheduled. Look for more detailed information regarding clean up weekend in the next newsletter.

Free Soil-Testing Kits

Studies conducted by the Cranbury Environmental Commission have documented that storm-water runoff results in the flushing of certain pollutants, including phosphorus, into Brainerd Lake and the Cranbury Brook. Township residents are urged to help reduce the flow of pollutants into our water bodies. One way is to minimize the application of fertilizer on lawns and gardens. Over-fertilizing of lawns promotes runoff of phosphorus and other pollutants during wet weather.

To help reduce overfertilization of lawns, the Environmental Commission is making soil-testing kits available at no charge to Township residents. Soil testing can determine whether a lawn needs to be fertilized. The prepaid kits can be used to submit a sample of soil from your lawn to the Soil Testing Laboratory at Rutgers University

www.rce.rutgers.edu/soiltestinglab). Please note that samples should not be taken from lawns that have been fertilized or limed within the last 6 weeks. The lab will test the sample (Level 1 Fertility Test) and provide recommendations for applying fertilizer or lime. Applying fertilizer only when needed can save money and reduce the flushing of phosphorus and other pollutants into streams during wet weather.

Test results for the first five samples submitted by Township residents showed that only one had a pH that was in the proper range for a lawn, and all five had high or very high levels of phosphorus and potassium. The results suggest that these lawns may not need to be fertilized, but most of them could benefit from an application of lime. These initial results show that soil testing can in fact save homeowners money while helping the environment.

Help reduce the pollution of our lake and streams by testing your soil prior to fertilizing your lawn. To get your prepaid testing kit, call 395-0900 ext. 229 for availability and pickup times.


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