Be Florida-Friendly with your Fertilizer

Article By:
Audrey Durr
Florida Yards & Neighborhoods Program Coordinator

Proper fertilization of landscape plants has been a hot topic lately. Improper fertilization can pollute our water resources, compromise the health of our plants, and result in wasted money and unnecessary maintenance.

Just as important as the type of fertilizer that we use is how we use it; too much fertilizer is too much fertilizer regardless of the nutrient source. Excessive applications of fertilizers (whether quick-release or slow-release) are more likely to leach into our water supply or be carried into water bodies by stormwater or irrigation.

When applying fertilizer (as with pesticides), the label is the law. Choose a fertilizer that is appropriate to the plant (turf, palm, acid-loving, etc.) and only apply the specified amount. Excessive fertilization wastes money, requires more mowing and pruning, and can make plants vulnerable to problems because tender growth is more appealing to pests and diseases.

When applied appropriately, using a fertilizer with at least 30% of the nitrogen in slow-release form can reduce the potential for nutrient leaching. Additionally, it is recommended that soil be tested for phosphorus levels; this can be done by picking up a University of Florida soil test kit at the Citrus County Extension Office. Because some of Florida’s soils are naturally high in phosphorous, it may be unnecessary to apply a fertilizer containing phosphorous.

By surrounding all water bodies with a ten to thirty foot maintenance-free "Ring of Responsibility," potential pollutants can be blocked from entering the water. In this buffer area, there should be no fertilization, no chemical applications, no irrigation and no mowing (vegetative waste, like grass clippings, can also be a source of water pollution).

Establishing a buffer zone around water bodies can be as simple as allowing turfgrass to grow naturally around the water. Native aquatic plants can also be used to create a beautiful waterfront view; pickerelweed, cannas and iris are just a few of the flowering beauties available. Use a low-growing, low-maintenance groundcover for a less restricted view. Perennial peanut is an extremely drought-tolerant groundcover that only grows to six inches and has beautiful yellow, edible flowers. Another benefit is that perennial peanut is a nitrogen-fixing legume (meaning it creates its own "fertilizer").

Some native plants may not require fertilization because they have adapted to Florida’s sandy, nutrient-deficient soils. Typically, fertilizer will not correct plant health problems that are related to disease, pests or site conditions (such as too much shade). Choosing plants that are suited to your site conditions is the most important part of overall plant health.

For more information on appropriate fertilization and other topics such as horticulture, family life and consumer choices, agriculture, community development, the environment, and 4-H youth development, call the Citrus County UF/IFAS Extension at 352-527-5700 or visit www.solutionsforyourlife.com.

The Citrus County Extension is offering for sale "Simply Florida: A Taste of Flavors from the Sunshine State," a cookbook filled with 214 recipes that use Florida agricultural products. The cookbook can be purchased for $25.00 at 3650 West Sovereign Path, Suite 1, Lecanto, FL 34461. For an additional $5.00, the cookbook can be mailed, and includes a personalized gift tag. Proceeds benefit the Florida Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences.

For more information on Florida friendly landscaping, visit the University of Florida's website www.solutionsforyourlife.org or contact the Florida Yards & Neighborhoods (FYN) program staff at your local Extension Office.

The Florida Yards & Neighborhoods Program of the Citrus County Extension Service is a public education and outreach program of the University of Florida, funded jointly by the Citrus County Board of County Commissioners and the Coastal Rivers and Withlacoochee River Basin Boards of the Southwest Florida Water Management District.

All programs and related activities sponsored for, or assisted by, the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences are open to all persons with non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions, or affiliations.

For persons with disabilities requiring special accommodations, please contact our office at least five working days prior to the program so that proper consideration may be given to the request. For hearing impaired, please contact the Florida Relay Center at 1-800-955-8770 (voice) or 1-800 –955-8771 (TDD).

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