New county fertilizer ordinance starts Saturday
Fertilizer Ordinance 08-15, which was passed by the Fort Myers Beach Town Council last December and regulates the use of fertilizer, goes into effect this Saturday, June 13.
The town ordinance affects commercial fertilizer applicators, individual homeowners, condominium associations, churches and businesses. It also has a “blackout period” during our rainy season from June 1st through September 30th. During this restricted period, you cannot apply fertilizer containing nitrogen or phosphorus to lawns or landscape plants.
According to Jeff Werner, the vice chairman of the Marine Resources Task Force, Florida soil contains high levels of phosphorus and nitrogen is naturally present in our rainfall. So, if you have maintained your lawn during the rest of the year, your lawn will do just fine during the blackout period.
“Since your palm trees require specific nutrients such as manganese, iron, potassium and magnesium to keep them healthy, you can apply fertilizer mixes that supply these trace metals and minerals, as long as there is no nitrogen and phosphorus mixed in,” said Warner. “Once our rainy season is over, you may use fertilizers containing phosphorus and nitrogen but with restrictions on the amount.
“Fertilizers used on Fort Myers Beach from October 1st through May 31st, cannot contain more than 2 percent phosphorus or 20 percent nitrogen. In addition, at least 50 percent of that nitrogen must be a slow release variety.
Whatever brand of fertilizer you use, you cannot apply it to the same area more than four times in one year and you cannot apply it within three feet of a canal, pond, lagoon or any body of water.”
For more information, contact our town’s Environmental Sciences Coordinator, Keith Laakkonen at 765-0202, extension 136 or by e-mail at Keith@FortMyersBeachFL.gov.