Community Corner

Time is Running Out to Fertilize Lawns in Maryland

Violators of the Lawn Fertilizer Law may face civil penalties of up to $2,000.

If you still need to fertilize your lawn and it isn't on the to-do list for this weekend, you may have to hire a lawn care professional or wait until spring.

Maryland residents have until Nov. 15 to fertilize lawns under the state’s newly enacted Lawn Fertilizer Law, according to the Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA). 

"Assuming that you overseeded the lawn in mid-September, it is now safe to fertilize without fear of burning new grass," according to the Gardening with Greenstreet blog. "Also, this would be a good time to fertilize perennials for head start on spring. In fact, your trees and shrubs could probably use a shot of slow-release fertilizer, too. Fertilizer for everyone!"

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Lawn care companies are allowed more time—until Dec. 1, but they must use products that reduce the risk of nutrient runoff in local waterways.

The new requirements became effective Oct. 1 and can be enforced by a county, municipality or the MDA. Violators are subject to civil penalties of up to $1,000 for the first violation and $2,000 for each subsequent violation, according to the MDA. 

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“To help protect the Bay from nutrient runoff, Maryland farmers are prohibited from applying commercial fertilizer products to their fields in winter,” said MDA Secretary Buddy Hance in a prepared statement. “It’s important that homeowners and lawn care pros join farmers in protecting water resources from nutrient runoff.”

The "fertilizer season" will resume March 1, 2014, allowing residents and lawn care professionals to apply products with some restrictions.

The MDA states that lawn fertilizer products containing nitrogen or phosphorus cannot be applied to lawns when the ground is frozen or if heavy rain is predicted, nor be used to de-ice walkways and driveways, nor applied within 15 feet of streams or other waterways.

Click here for more information from the MDA about fertilizer use: www.mda.maryland.gov/fertilizer.

For gardening and lawn maintenance tips, check out the Gardening with Greenstreet! blog.

TELL US: Have you fertilized your lawn this fall and were you aware of the new law? Leave a comment to let us know.


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