Earth Day Count Down - Day 15

Wait for the storm to pass! 

Don't fertilize before a rain storm. Your fertilizer - along with your money – can just wash off your lawn and down the storm drain. Fertilizer runoff can pollute rivers, lakes, and bays, and cause problems in recreational areas or fishing grounds. Check the weather forecast before you head out, and wait for the storm to pass. Visit http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/yards/fertilizing/ or http://fyn.ifas.ufl.edu/handbook/Fertilize_Appropriately_vSept09.pdf for information on Florida-Friendly Fertilizing.

 

Florida-Friendly Fertilizing

Sometimes Florida yards need fertilizer to help keep them healthy, but applying too much fertilizer, too often or at the wrong time can cause water pollution. 

Recent studies have shown that rising nitrate levels in many local water bodies can be traced to fertilizer. Nitrate is a form of nitrogen that is found in inorganic fertilizers. When fertilizer is needed and applied correctly, the lawn absorbs the nitrogen. However, fertilizers applied improperly can run off lawns and into local water bodies, harming water quality and threatening the plants and animals that depend on clean water for survival.

You can help protect water quality while having a beautiful lawn. Learn more with steps 1–5 or by ordering our free Do-It-Yourself Guide to Florida-Friendly Fertilizing. 

Fertilizer applications vary depending on grass species, your location in the state and your desired level of lawn care. For more detailed information, visit University of Florida/IFAS.

Know When to Apply Fertilizer

To prevent fertilizer from washing into water bodies, it’s important to know the right time to fertilize. Follow these tips before fertilizing:

• Consider the time of year, climate, soil type and, most important, type of grass and health or condition of the lawn before applying fertilizer.
• Fertilize only when the grass is actively growing. For instance, during the winter, grass is dormant in many areas of Florida; therefore, fertilizer is not necessary. Fertilizer applied when grass is not growing wastes your money and time, since it will not be beneficially used by the grass. Instead, it will leach through the soil or run off and pollute nearby water bodies.
• If your lawn has problem areas, find out if this is related to a pest, soil or environmental problem such as excess shade or the uneven distribution of irrigation water. These problems should be corrected and not just masked by fertilization.
• If your household uses reclaimed water, check with your utility to determine if your reclaimed water has nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus, which are also in fertilizer. If so, you may not need to fertilize as much.
• Do not fertilize if rain is predicted in the next 24–36 hours or when a heavy rain, tropical storm, hurricane or flood is predicted.

For more information check out http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/yards/fertilizing/ 

Earth Day Count Down - Day 14

#14 Wait for the storm to pass! 
Don't fertilize before a rain storm. Your fertilizer - along with your money – can just wash off your lawn and down the storm drain. Fertilizer runoff can pollute rivers, lakes, and bays, and cause problems in recreational areas or fishing grounds. Check the weather forecast before you head out, and wait for the storm to pass. Visit http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/conserve/rrr/greenscapes/owners.htm or http://fyn.ifas.ufl.edu/handbook/Fertilize_Appropriately_vSept09.pdf for more information.

The New FYN Handbook is Here

The new Florida Yards & Neighborhoods Handbook is now available online. If you would like a printed copy please visit your local extension office.

Discover all 9 Principles of the FYN program and utilize them in your yard to create a Florida-Friendly Landscape.
1. Right Plant, Right Place
2. Water Efficiently
3. Fertilize Appropriately
4. Mulch
5. Attract Wildlife
6. Manage Yard Pests Responsibly
7. Recycle Yard Waste
8. Reduce Stormwater Runoff
9. Protect the Waterfront

For more information please contact Michelleatkinson@ufl.edu or call the Manatee County Extension office at 941-722-4524.