Fertilizer Rule, Ordinances & BMP Training

Impacts to Our Gardening Practices

Thomas BeckerExtension agent,Lee County, Southwest Florida

2008- Local Fertilizer Ordinances

• Orange County• Flagler County• Monroe County• Collier County• City of Bonita Springs• Town of Ft Myers

Beach• Others to follow!

IMPACTS

Would a new fertilizer ordinance apply to you?

• Conventional verses Florida-Friendly

Impaired waters resulting from stormwater pollution are required to get nutrient loads into balance

Lower CalooshatcheeEstuary

Estero Bay

fresh-water retention ponds

stormwater

From 2003 to 2006 in the Caloosahatchee watershed home fertilizer use increased 62% to 136,000 tons.

In Lee County over the same period, home fertilizer sales doubled to 20,420 tons. The amount of Nitrogen contained in the fertilizer sold, increased more than

30% and P2 O5.

Fertilize AppropriatelyDoing the Right Things

• Apply Correct Product– Based on a soil test

• Apply Correct Amount

• Apply at Recommended Frequency

The Lee County rule addressed• The Problem

– Urban (residential) stormwater management– Practices that put higher volumes of water

and more pollutants into waterways • The Solutions

– Rule Intent: is to use a regulatory framework to make resident and professional landscapers accountable for preventable stormwater discharges coming off a yard

– Method: New behaviors & actions called BMPs prevent pollutants from washing off lawns/landscapes and degrading water quality in local waterways

Lawn & landscaping maintenance practices impacting water quality

• Type of fertilizer and rate you can use & when you can use it

• Other landscape practices that prevent runoff while creating a healthy landscape

(right plant, right place, use mulch, prune correctly, grasscycling, composting yardwaste, addressing soil erosion, etc.)

The rule addresses

Rules & training address misguided residential landscaping practices

• over-watered turf• improperly

selected & applied fertilizers

• High-maintenance turf along lakes and canals

• Lack of mulch cover on landscape beds

Rules & training address misguided residential landscaping practices

• Fertilizer or grass clippings left on drives, streets & walkways.

• Poorly designed irrigation systems

• Selecting highly soluble, high N & P analysis fertilizers

Lee County Fertilizer Rule Development

• IFAS Fertilizer Forum presented data pertinent to nutrient requirements, leaching and urban runoff (current green industry BMPs)

• Review /comments on similar ordinances(city of Naples, City of Sanibel, Sarasota County)

• Other Public Comment (environmental coalition, Natural Resource Division staff)

• Lee County BOCC Approval.

Lee County Fertilizer Rule Summary

Applies to homeowners and those landscape professionals they hire.

Lee County Fertilizer Rule Summary

Mandates Green Industry BMPtraining course for landscape professionals working in un-incorporated Lee County.

BMP Training ACROSS county linesLee , Charlotte, Sarasota & City of Naples

Lee County Fertilizer Rule Summary

1. Attendees are tested (pre-post)2. Must pass minimum standard to be certified in

green industry BMPs3. All businesses must register w/county4. Rules are enforced by Lee County 5. Provisions detail enforcement & fines 6. One year grace period

I. Overview – Green Industry BMPs (50 min.)

II. Turfgrass Cultural & Fertilization BMPs (75 min.)

III. Irrigation BMPs (50 min.)IV. Landscape Cultural &

Fertilization BMPs (50 min.)V. Pesticide BMPs (50 min.)

BMP Training AudienceAnyone caring for lawn, landscape, pest

control & municipal grounds areas. Classes also taught in Spanish

Lee County Fertilizer Rule Summary

Lee County Fertilizer Rule SummaryEncourages homeowners to follow the practices outlined in the rule and encourages then to seek education with the Lee County FYN program. NO TRAINING REQUIREMENT

Recognizes

Homeowner NameFor protecting Florida’s environment and enhancing the community by successfully implementing‘Florida Friendly’ landscaping practices in

your yard at 123 Street, City, Florida and maintaining a

Florida-Friendly Yard,Bronze Magnolia Level

June 5, 2008

• Farm operators

• Specialized turf managers

• Golf Course operators

GROUPS EXEMPT Lee County Rule 08-08

Lee County Fertilizer Rule Summary

Min. % N. slow releaseFertilizer nitrogen content must contain no less than 50%slow release forms of nitrogen.

Max. N. application per calendar yearApply no more than 4 lbs/1000 ft.2 nitrogen

NOT SPECIFIEDMax. N. fertilizer analysis for turf & landscape (SAN-20%)

Max. P. fertilizer analysis for turf & landscape (N, SAN-2%)

Max. N. per application/1000 ft.2 (N, SAN-1 lb.)

Total # of fertilizer applications/calendar year(N-4,SAN-6)

Lee County Fertilizer Rule Summary

Fertilizers containing nitrogen and/or phosphorus shall not be applied from June 1 to September 30 each year.

Restricted Season

This is NOT a university or BMP recommendationHowever, guide specifies that you do not apply fertilizer when heavy rains are imminent.

MORE• Plant Selection• Mowing• Edging• Pest control• Fertilization• Irrigation• Stormwater Concerns• On the Waterfront• Pruning• Other

A fertilizer spreader with a deflector shieldis required when applying fertilizer near all water bodies and wetlands.

Lee County Fertilizer Rule Summary

A minimum of 10 feet of shoreline or bank must be maintained as a fertilizer-free buffer zone between lawns and landscapes adjoining water bodies and wetlands measured from the top of the bank.

fertilizer-free zone

Lee County Landscape & Fertilizer BMP Ordinance

Low-Maintenance Zone (voluntary rule)Maintain a 6 foot mow-free, low-maintenance

zone adjacent to all waterbodies to prevent fertilizer runoff.

Lee County Landscape Fertilizer & BMP Ordinance

Keep fertilizer granules off impervious (non-porous) surfaces Sweep up all spills.

Lee County Fertilizer Rule SummaryGrass clippings & other vegetation cannot be washed, swept or blown into stormwater drains, ditches, open water bodies, etc.