Fertilizer Rule, Ordinances & BMP Training

Transcription

1 Fertilizer Rule, Ordinances & BMP Training Impacts to Our Gardening Practices Thomas Becker Extension agent, Lee County, Southwest Florida

2 2008- Local Fertilizer Ordinances IMPACTS Orange County Flagler County Monroe County Collier County City of Bonita Springs Town of Ft Myers Beach Others to follow!

3 Would a new fertilizer ordinance apply to you? Conventional verses Florida-Friendly

4 Impaired waters resulting from stormwater pollution are required to get nutrient loads into balance fresh-water retention ponds stormwater Lower Calooshatchee Estuary Estero Bay

5 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 P 2 O 5.

6 Apply Correct Product Fertilize Appropriately Doing the Right Things Based on a soil test Apply Correct Amount Apply at Recommended Frequency

7 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

8 The rule addresses 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.)

9 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

10 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

11 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.

12 Lee County Fertilizer Rule Summary Applies to homeowners and those landscape professionals they hire.

13 Lee County Fertilizer Rule Summary Mandates Green Industry BMP training course for landscape professionals working in unincorporated Lee County. BMP Training ACROSS county lines Lee, Charlotte, Sarasota & City of Naples

14 Lee County Fertilizer Rule Summary 1. Attendees are tested (pre-post) 2. Must pass minimum standard to be certified in green industry BMPs 3. All businesses must register w/county 4. Rules are enforced by Lee County 5. Provisions detail enforcement & fines 6. One year grace period

15 BMP Training Audience Anyone caring for lawn, landscape, pest control & municipal grounds areas. Classes also taught in Spanish 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.)

16 Lee County Fertilizer Rule Summary

17 Lee County Fertilizer Rule Summary Encourages 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 Name For 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

18 Farm operators Specialized turf managers Golf Course operators GROUPS EXEMPT Lee County Rule 08-08

19 Lee County Fertilizer Rule Summary Min. % N. slow release Fertilizer nitrogen content must contain no less than 50% slow release forms of nitrogen. Max. N. application per calendar year Apply no more than 4 lbs/1000 ft. 2 nitrogen NOT SPECIFIED Max. N. fertilizer analysis for turf & landscape (SAN-20%) Max. P. fertilizer analysis for turf & landscape Max. N. per application/1000 ft. 2 (N, SAN-1 lb.) (N, SAN-2%) Total # of fertilizer applications/calendar year (N-4,SAN-6)

20 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 recommendation However, guide specifies that you do not apply fertilizer when heavy rains are imminent.

21 MORE Plant Selection Mowing Edging Pest control Fertilization Irrigation Stormwater Concerns On the Waterfront Pruning Other A fertilizer spreader with a deflector shield is required when applying fertilizer near all water bodies and wetlands.

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

23 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.

24 Lee County Landscape Fertilizer & BMP Ordinance Keep fertilizer granules off impervious (non-porous) surfaces Sweep up all spills.

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