Indian River, Martin and St. Lucie counties will ban any fertilizer containing phosphorus or nitrogen starting June 30. Jordan Skaggs with Environmental Resources in St. Lucie County said the ban is to help reduce nutrient rich run off during the rainy season, which can cause algae blooms.
Those blooms could disrupt waterways like the Indian River Lagoon and St. Lucie River. Skaggs said algae blooms can shade out beneficial plants to fish and wildlife. At certain densities, harmful algae blooms can release toxins that can affect human health, wildlife health and overall ecosystem health.
Grantly Ricketts, director of University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences St. Lucie County Extension, said a good alternative during the ban is using composting for gardens and landscaping. Ricketts said composting can be done in a small trash can, which is the easiest and most practical way or means to add nutrients to your landscape.
The fertilizer ban runs through the rainy season to prevent nutrient runoff from reaching local rivers and lagoons during the period when Florida typically receives the most rainfall.