Landscape fertilizer ban in effect through February within Alachua County

Press release from Alachua County

ALACHUA COUNTY, Fla. – Alachua County’s landscape fertilizer regulations prohibit using landscape fertilizers with nitrogen or phosphorus from July through February. Vegetable gardens and fruit trees are exempt from these limitations. Signage about the fertilizer rules must be displayed at all stores that sell fertilizer. Alachua County Environmental Protection staff are currently distributing signage.

These regulations protect the county’s water resources from fertilizer pollution during our rainy season and through the winter months – when landscape fertilizer is easily washed away instead of being absorbed by plants.

The ordinance also includes the following standards:

• Fertilizers containing nitrogen and/or phosphorus may not be applied when soils are saturated with water, before a heavy rain, or for the first 30 days after seeding or sodding.
• Fertilizers with nitrogen must contain no less than 50% slow-release nitrogen (and can only be used from March to June).
• Fertilizers spilled on roads and sidewalks must be removed immediately and may not be blown or washed into stormwater systems or water bodies.
• Fertilizers shall not be applied within a minimum of ten feet from any water body unless a deflector shield is used (then a minimum distance of 3 feet is required).
• Fertilizers must be stored in areas protected from rainfall and stormwater runoff.
• All commercial and institutional applicators shall successfully complete the Florida Friendly Best Management Practices for Water Resources by the Green Industries training and carry evidence that they are an FDACS Commercial Fertilizer Applicator.

“Fertilizers are a source of pollution to our surface waters, groundwater, and springs, so we want to ensure that citizens are aware of the fertilizer ban,” said Stacie Greco, the water resources program manager for Alachua County’s Environmental Protection Department. “In a recent survey, the percentage of residents reporting they don’t use fertilizers at all has increased from 55% to 68%.”

Learn more about the landscape fertilizer ban .

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