The Sarasota County Fertilizer and Landscape Management

Code: A Step Towards A

Sustainable Sarasota County

Jack Merriam, Environmental ManagerSarasota County

Impaired water bodies

Fertilizer and Watering Demands Start with Development Techniques

Filling and Compacting Landscape Areas Cause Maintenance Problems

SL 256: Soil pH and the Home Landscape or Garden

Figure 1. The effect of soil pH nutrient Figure 1. The effect of soil pH nutrient availabilty.availabilty.

New Sarasota County educational brochures

1. Public Education

• Determination that the county should be role model

• Review of other ordinances

• Community conversations

• Development of community-based action plan

• Passage of Resolution 2006-126, May 24, 2006

• Passage of Emergency Ordinance May 2007

• Final Ordinance No. 2007-062, Aug. 27, 2007

The process

Seven major categories identified1. Public education

2. Licensing, certification and training

of applicators

3. Design and development standards

4. Waterway setback zones: fertilizer-free zones

5. Application timing

6. Fertilizer products

7. Accountability

Palmer Ranch DRI

• 5,119 acre Master Development

• 23 distinct communities

• 10,500 units

• 23 years of water quality monitoring

Palmer Ranch DRI

Palmer Ranch Master Property Owners Association

• Manages the Palmer Ranches common areas• Improving landscape maintenance practices

– Reduced Nitrogen fertilization – from 4-6 lbs/year prior 2006 to 0.5

lbs/last 18 months– Report healthier turf

• Collecting data (~1½ years)– Soil conditions– Irrigation water quality– Soft tissue (leaf) concentrations

Irrigation Water Analysis

Leaf Analysis

Soil Analysis

Summary of experience…• Several major landscape maintenance companies

report success. Need variance based on testing and need enforcement for level playing field.

• One variance request received during Restricted Season

• Palmer Ranch demonstrating stewardship by using sound science to drive maintenace needs/decisions

Why manage fertilizer?

Goal: Sustainable Sarasota County