Fertilizer ban in effect
Officials are reminding residents that fertilizer bans are now in effect.
Starting June 1, both Cape Coral and Lee County have bans on the use of fertilizers that contain nitrogen or phosphorus during the summer rainy season that runs to Sept. 30.
“Eliminating the use of phosphorus and nitrogen during the wet season helps to protect our canals and waterways, quality of life, and economy,” Cape Coral officials stated. “Excess nutrients can cause harmful algal blooms that can cause fish kills, harm pets and wildlife, and potentially injure people who encounter it.”
Critical points of the Cape Coral fertilizer ordinance include:
• No fertilizer is allowed if a flood watch/warning, a tropical storm watch/warning, or a hurricane watch/warning is in effect.
• Fertilizer cannot be used within 15 feet of any body of water.
• Phosphorus fertilizer is prohibited any time of year unless a soil test in the past two years identifies a phosphorus deficiency.
• The percentage of slow-release nitrogen content in any fertilizer used during the remainder of the year (October-May) must be at least 50 percent.
No grass clippings or vegetative debris may be swept or blown into stormwater drains, conveyances, bodies of water, sidewalks, or roadways.
Lisa Kreiger, operations manager of Lee County’s Natural Resources Department, said the county adopted its ordnance in 2008, that prohibits fertilizers containing nitrogen or phosphorus being applied to turf and/or landscape plants in unincorporated Lee County.
“The reason the ordinance was adopted was an effort to minimize negative environmental effects of fertilizer runoff entering waterways,” Kreiger said. “Unwanted excess nutrients in our waterways can lead to feeding harmful algal blooms, like red tide, and blue-green algae in our freshwater systems, that can wash ashore or harm wildlife. (It can) affect water quality and oxygen levels, and can affect our ability to use the waterways for recreational uses. We feel that everybody can play a part in helping us address harmful effects on waterways. Everyone can chip in to be part of the solution.”
County officials state that protecting Southwest Florida’s water quality during the summer months means adjusting lawncare routines. Homeowners should stop fertilizing and start trimming trees and preparing outdoor areas for hurricane season. Lee County encourages residents and professional landscapers to follow the summer ordinance and use the following practices year-round:
• Don’t fertilize your lawn if rain is forecasted – Rainfall may wash away fertilizer or cause it to leach through the soil and into waterways.
• Keep fertilizer at least 10 feet from bodies of water and hard surfaces.
• Sweep up spills – Never use a hose to wash away spilled granules. This can lead to unwanted nutrients in storm drains and waterways.
For residents that think what they do to their lawn during the summer months doesn’t make a difference, they are sorely mistaken.
“For people who think that whatever they do doesn’t matter, we want to remind everyone we have almost 900,000 people living in Lee County,” Kreiger said. “So one person may not think they can make a difference, but they can. That one person leads to another person, to another person… so all of us together, it really does make a difference what your personal behavior is.”
Kreiger said it costs much more than a $15 bag of fertilizer at the store to combat an outbreak of red tide or blue-green algae.
“Some of these horrible algal blooms they get started, and they feed and grow, grow, grow. Nobody wants that,” she said. “And once it starts — it’s easy to get started. It’s a lot harder to stop.”
Kreiger said while the county does have fines in place for infractions and repeat infractions, it’s all about raising awareness and spreading education.
“A lot of people just don’t know any better,” she said. “They just don’t understand how important this is. We come from a place of trying to educate people. We want to continue to talk about this ordinance every year, and letting residents know they can be part of the solution. We’d rather have people change their behavior.”
Kreiger reminds residents the ban is just for a short period of time, and you can still water efficiently. A lot of that watering comes from Mother Nature herself, as the area gets plenty of rain during the period.
Having Florida-friendly landscaping can also help to keep lawns and gardens looking pristine, as native plants rarely need fertilizer to thrive.
“People have the imagination sometimes that they must fertilize in order to keep things healthy, but that’s not always the case,” Kreiger said.
Residents can also recycle yard waste to create inorganic fertilizer instead of using store-bought fertilizer.
For more tips on how to properly treat your lawn and help curb unwanted runoff from entering waterways this summer, visit www.fertilizesmart.com.
To reach CJ HADDAD, please email cjhaddad@breezenewspapers.com