Midshore Riverkeeper Conservancy (MRC) has launched Lawn Fertilizer Awareness Week April 1 to April 8, 2016. The designation seeks to educate the public and urge individuals and lawn care professionals to reduce or eliminate fertilizer use while still maintaining a healthy lawn. Nutrients—primarily nitrogen and phosphorous—are key ingredients in lawn fertilizer. When it rains, excess nutrients are a major source of pollution that can wash off the land into storm drains, streams and rivers. Once in our waterways, these nutrients contribute to the growth of algae blooms that block sunlight from reaching underwater grasses, rob the water of oxygen and threaten underwater life.
Lawn fertilizer accounts for approximately 44 percent of the fertilizer sold in Maryland. While certain restrictions on fertilizer use have been in place for farmers since 2001, it is critical that everyone does their part to help Maryland meet new pollution caps established by the federal government and outlined in its “pollution diet” for the Chesapeake Bay. There are over 1,300,000 acres of lawns in Maryland, compared to approximately 1,500,000 acres of planted cropland.
In October 2013, Maryland’s Lawn Fertilizer Law went into effect. The law helps protect the Chesapeake Bay from excess nutrients entering its waters from a wide range of non-agricultural sources, including golf courses, parks, recreation areas, athletic fields, businesses and hundreds of thousands of lawns. The law spells out common sense practices that can reduce the risk of fertilizer runoff while promoting best management practices that support healthy lawns.
Provisions of the law include:
Annual nitrogen limits established by the University of Maryland.
A single fertilizer application may not exceed 0.9 pound total nitrogen per 1,000 square feet and 0.7 pound of soluble nitrogen per 1,000 square feet, except when using enhanced efficiency fertilizer. At least 20 percent of the nitrogen must be slow release to help minimize losses to the environment. To further reduce nutrient runoff, all lawn fertilizer products are now labeled to ensure compliance with required application rates. Nitrogen content is represented by the first number on the fertilizer bag.
Lawn fertilizer may not be applied between November 15 and March 1.
Most lawns require ONE fertilizer application, usually in the fall.
Do not apply fertilizer if heavy rain is predicted.
Do not apply fertilizer within 15 feet of waterways.
Phosphorus may only be applied to lawns when a soil test indicates that it is needed.
Lawn care professionals must be certified by the Maryland Department of Agriculture. The law applies to professionals for hire as well as individuals responsible for turf management at golf courses, public parks, airports, athletic fields, businesses, cemeteries, and other non-agricultural properties. Licenses must be renewed each year. Lawn care professionals should consult the Maryland Professional Lawn Care Management Manual at mda.maryland.gov/fertilizer for annual nitrogen recommendations.
It is against the law to apply fertilizer to sidewalks, driveways or paved surfaces. Fertilizer that lands on these surfaces must be swept back onto lawns or cleaned up.
More information is available at mda.maryland.gov/Pages/fertilizer.aspx. Additional guidance, along with seasonal and yearly fertilizer rates, is available at county extension offices or online at extension.umd.edu.
Midshore Riverkeeper Conservancy is a non-profit organization dedicated to the restoration, protection, and celebration of the waterways that comprise the Choptank River, Eastern Bay, Miles River, and Wye River watersheds. For more information, visit midshoreriverkeeper.org, email [email protected], or phone 443.385.0511.
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