The partners of the Be Floridian fertilizer education campaign remind Pinellas County residents that they can’t apply nitrogen or phosphorous to lawn and landscape plants from June 1-September 30. But that doesn’t mean the grass will turn brown, shrivel up and die!
Garden centers throughout the community offer a variety of “summer-safe” yard products that will help keep landscapes green and growing throughout the long, hot summer. Look for fertilizers with “0” as the first two numbers on the label (as in 0-0-6). These do not contain either nitrogen or phosphorous. More than 70% of these summer-safe products are made right here in Florida, so purchasing them helps local businesses and the economy.
Summer rains don’t water fertilizer in, they wash it away — right into ponds, bays, rivers and the Gulf of Mexico. Too much fertilizer can cause algae blooms and fish kills, spoiling the beautiful waterways that are a major source of recreation. Follow these Florida-friendly lawn care practices to “protect the fun” this summer:
– Pump some iron. An application of iron, readily available at most garden centers, will keep lawns green during the summer without excessive growth. Who wants to mow every week anyway?
– Micro-size it! Apply micronutrients such as zinc and manganese to keep grass healthy.
– Get better dirt. Mix in composted cow or chicken manure, or home compost, to enrich soil. It’s like giving vitamins to the yard.
– Pick better plants. Buy plants adapted to Florida’s hot, humid climate and plant them in the right place according to their sun and water needs. They’ll need less water, fertilizer and chemicals year-round, and there’ll be more time for bicycling, boating, grilling or just relaxing by the pool sipping a drink with a little umbrella in it.
– Leave clippings on the Lawn! Don’t feed algae blooms by blowing grass clippings into the street, or down the storm drain where they will wash into our bays. Instead, leave them on the lawn. They are free fertilizer and can supply at least 25% of the nitrogen grass needs throughout the year.
For more tips on “Gardening Like A Floridian,” visit www.BeFloridian.org.