Extension staff offers tips for lawn care
Sarasota County staff is reminding residents to “Be Floridian” and refrain from applying fertilizer containing nitrogen or phosphorus from June 1 to Sept. 30.
The County Code “prohibits the use of these lawn or landscape fertilizers during the rainy season because they can get washed into our ponds and bays, harming our environment,” a county news release explains.
“The good news is there are lots of ways to keep your lawn looking great while keeping algae-feeding nitrogen and phosphorus out of our waterways,” the release adds. Sarasota County’s University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension staff, has offered the following tips:
- Use “summer safe” yard products that contain iron or other micronutrients to “green up” your lawn from June through September.
- Improve your dirt: Give your garden a boost by adding compost or other soil amendments.
- Choose better plants: Florida-friendly landscaping needs less fertilizer, water and overall care.
For more information, call the Sarasota County Contact Center at 861-5000 or visit www.scgov.net and use the keyword “fertilizer.”