Summertime Fertilizer Ban Begins In Two Weeks

DeLand, FL – If you’re thinking of fertilizing your lawn, time is running out. On June 1, a summertime fertilizer ban begins in Volusia County.  That ban stays in place through September 30. During this time, residents and lawn care companies may not apply nitrogen or phosphorus to lawns and landscape plants. Volusia County’s fertilizer ordinance includes these provisions: The application of fertilizers containing phosphorus is prohibited at all times unless a soil or plant-tissue deficiency is verified. The application of fertilizers containing nitrogen is prohibited from June 1 through Sept. 30 of each year. Fertilizer containing nitrogen may be applied only between Oct. 1 and May 31 and must contain at least 50 percent slow-release nitrogen. Fertilizer may not be applied within 15 feet of water bodies. The ordinance applies to every home and business in all cities, except Deltona, which has its own fertilizer ordinance, and unincorporated parts of the county. Homeowners are asked to check with their lawn maintenance service to make sure they are following the ordinance. Gardens and the application of compost are exempt. The reason for the ban is because excess nutrients from fertilizer runoff can cause algae blooms and fish kills in waterways, which can result in fish kills and seagrass die-off, spoiling recreational opportunities and the natural habitats and wildlife. The fertilizer ordinance has been in effect in Volusia County since 2014 to protect the county’s springs and surface waters, particularly the Indian River Lagoon, where algae blooms and animal deaths have raised concerns in recent years. There are Florida-friendly lawn care practices that can be done during the summer that are recommended by Volusia County’s Environmental Management Division. ·        Pump some iron. Use Florida-friendly yard products that contain iron or other micronutrients to green up your lawn. ·        Get better dirt. Give your garden a boost by adding compost. Try organic soil amendments such as leaves, mulch, and compost. ·        Pick better plants. Native and Florida-friendly plants require less fertilizer, water, and overall care. ·        Keep the clippings. Leave grass clippings on the lawn. They can supply up to 50 percent of the nitrogen your grass needs.   For more information about fertilizing like  Floridian and Florida-friendly lawn care practices, visit www.befloridiannow.org. For information about fertilizer use and soil testing, call the University of Florida/Volusia County Extension at 386-822-5778 or visit www.volusia.org/fertilizer.