Annual Fertilizer Restrictions Now in Effect

BREVARD COUNTY, FL. -- The application of lawn fertilizer with nitrogen or phosphorus is banned from June 1 to September 30.

These months are the rainy season when thundershowers can wash fertilizer off lawns into the stormwater system or other bodies of water like the Indian River Lagoon. When fertilizer reaches open waters, it can feed harmful and sometimes toxic algae blooms.

To determine if a fertilizer contains nitrogen or phosphorus, simply look for the three numbers on the fertilizer label. If the first number is zero, the fertilizer contains no nitrogen. If the middle number is zero, the fertilizer contains no phosphorus. A fertilizer labeled 0-0-27 contains no nitrogen or phosphorus and may be used during the summer rainy season, except in buffer zones. When the rainy season is over, select fertilizer that contains at least 50 percent slow-release nitrogen and zero phosphorus.

“People can have a green lawn without unintentionally polluting our waters by following a few simple tips. Choosing the right fertilizer and using it at the right time and the right way saves time and money by avoiding waste” said Virginia Barker, Director of Brevard County’s Natural Resources Management Department.

Find more simple actions residents can take to improve the health of the Indian River Lagoon at www.LagoonLoyal.com.