Lawn fertilizer restrictions are great and kudos to Ace Hardware for taking fertilizer off the shelves during the summer months. Now we need agricultural fertilizer restrictions, but that is a more difficult issue. But restrictions will come when we have no potable water left. Best to begin now while we still have some.
Read the original article with photos here in Florida Today.
Comments by OSFR historian Jim Tatum.
jim.tatum@oursantaferiver.org
– A river is like a life: once taken,
it cannot be brought back © Jim Tatum
Here’s how summer regulations on fertilizer help the Indian River Lagoon |
There is: Give your fertilizer a vacation this summer.
In fact, Brevard regulations prohibit spreading fertilizer on lawns and yards from June 1 through Sept. 30. The fine can be up to $500.
With our frequent rains, fertilizer spread during the summer is more likely to wash into the Indian River Lagoon causing algal blooms, than to help your lawn grow.
More:Nonprofit research group identify Indian River Lagoon projects in Brevard County as ‘turkeys’
Before the regulation was passed, more than 128,000 pounds of nitrogen and 13,000 pounds of phosphorous nutrients entered our waters each year. With the regulations adopted in 2014, nitrogen dropped by 36% and phosphorous by 74%.
The in-flow of these harmful nutrients has continuing to drop as more residents have become aware of the ban. By ensuring your lawn care company complies, we’ll even do better.
Why? Because these nutrients contribute to algae blooms in the lagoon, so we need to be sparing. Most of our Brevard soils are already rich in phosphorous (it is actually mined nearby). And, using slow-release nitrogen means your plants aren’t overfed but get to enjoy the nutrition over a longer period.
More:Scenes Along the Indian River Lagoon
While the regulations don’t ban stores from selling fertilizers during the summer, some responsible retailers, such as ACE Hardware in Titusville, pull product from their shelves during summer. All stores are required to post signs reminding shoppers not to fertilize during the summer “blackout” and to telling them about the types of fertilizer that are allowed in Brevard from October through April.
Lew Kontnik is a member of the board of directors of the Brevard Indian River LagoonCoalition, and chairman of the communications committee. To learn more about how to help the lagoon go to HelpTheLagoon.org.
