Spring has sprung in Florida and that means gardeners and proud homeowners are busy sprucing up their lawns and gardens.
By following Florida-friendly lawn and garden practices, “weekend warriors” can spend less time working on their lawns and more time enjoying the fruits of their labor.
Fertilizers applied improperly can run off lawns into local springs, streams, lakes, rivers, and, ultimately into the gulf or ocean and harm our water resources. Proper fertilizer application can create a dense lawn that acts as a sponge to absorb nutrients from runoff.
Here are some tips on how you can fertilize the Florida-friendly way:
Select slow-release fertilizers. They are kinder to the environment and they are usually more cost-effective. Nitrogen from slow-release sources is more likely to be used by plants and less likely to leach out or wash away in stormwater runoff.
Buy fertilizers formulated for the plants you want to fertilize (flowers, turf, palm, etc.). Some fertilizers may contain too much or too little of a nutrient your plant needs so check the package information closely.
Do not fertilize when storm events are forecast. This will reduce the level of nutrients washing into our water systems. Fertilizer down the drain means money down the drain as well.
For more information about Florida-friendly landscaping practices, visit the District’s web site at www.WaterMatters.org or call your county’s extension service office.