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As part of an important effort to stop pollution in our own backyards, the Sanibel Fertilizer Ordinance calls for anyone applying fertilizer on Sanibel to follow the City's environmentally friendly fertilizing rules. This page will focus on how any Sanibel resident can accomplish this without endangering the health of their lawn or landscape.
By carefully following the four steps outlined below, you can be confident that you've made wise fertilizer choices that will help to protect our waters. To help even more, click here and go fertilizer-free. If you use a professional service, ask to see the applicator's Vegetation Competency Card and Fertilizer Endorsement. To find out if the professional service you use is properly licensed, click here to view the current alphabetized list of City-licensed applicators.
Step 1: Determine your fertilizer needs
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What is Fertilizer?
All plants require certain chemical elements, or nutrients, for proper growth and appearance. Most of these elements are obtained from the soil and absorbed by the plant's roots. Fertilizers may be used to make up for nutrients lacking in the soil. A complete fertilizer contains the three primary plant nutrients:
Nitrogen (N) -
Essential for growth and
reproduction
Phosphorus (P) -
Important for establishment and
flower/seed information
Potassium (K) -
Increases drought and stress
tolerance
Fertilizers may also contain secondary nutrients such as calcium, sulfur, and magnesium and micronutrients including iron, manganese, boron, copper, molybdenum, nickel, chlorine, and zinc. |
To determine the nutrient content of your soil, you can perform your own soil test. These tests are simple, inexpensive and can help you avoid over-application of fertilizer. Contact the Lee County Extension Office to obtain a soil testing kit, or call (239) 533-4327.
Step 2: Choose an Appropriate Fertilizer
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Fertilizer Bag
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Read the Fertilizer Label
The three identifying numbers on a fertilizer label indicate the percentage of the three primary nutrients by weight.
N |
— |
P |
— |
K |
Nitrogen |
— |
Phosphorus |
— |
Potassium |
To comply with the Sanibel Fertilizer Ordinance, choose a fertilizer that contains no more than 20% Nitrogen (N) and 2% Phosphorus (P).
Potassium (K), secondary nutrients, and micronutrients are not regulated. In fact, poor plant health is often the result of inadequate secondary nutrients and micronutrients, not primary nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus. These products may be applied, as necessary, anywhere on your landscape throughout the year. For example, applying iron in the summer can be an effective way to "green-up" your lawn without encouraging unwanted growth.
Calculate the Percentage of Slow Release Nitrogen
Nitrogen in fertilizers may come from a single source or a combination of sources. Some nitrogen sources are "quick release" and are immediately available for plant uptake. Other sources are "slow release" and are available gradually for plant use. According to the University of Florida, fertilizers with slow release nitrogen are more likely to be used by plants and less likely to leach into groundwater or wash away in runoff.
On Sanibel, fertilizers must contain at least 50% slow release nitrogen. A product with 50% slow release nitrogen means that 50% of the nitrogen is available immediately and 50% will be slowly released over a period of time.
To determine if your fertilizer contains at least 50% slow release nitrogen, locate the "Guaranteed Analysis" table on the fertilizer label. On most labels, the slow release content is indicated near the bottom of this table. However, not all manufacturers use the term "slow release". If you don't see the words "slow release", look for one of these alternative terms:
- Water Insoluble
- Timed Release
- Slowly Available
- Controlled Release
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Step 3: Determine How Much to Apply
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When making your plan to fertilize, please remember the following regulations:
- Fertilizer may be applied at a maximum rate of 1 pound of nitrogen per 1000 square feet (1 lb N/1000 sq.ft.) per application.
- Up to 4 pounds of nitrogen per 1000 square feet can be applied to any turf/landscape area per year.
- Fertilizer can be applied up to 6 times per year to a single area. However, applying fertilizer 6 times at the maximum application rate exceeds the total yearly maximum. Thus, application rate adjustments will be required.
Determine the Area (Square Footage) of Your Lawn or Landscape
To determine the square footage of lawn to be fertilized, measure it directly or measure the entire area length by width, then make subtractions for house, driveway, and other
areas that are not to be fertilized.
Calculate the Proper Amount of Fertilizer to Apply
To calculate the amount of fertilizer needed to deliver one pound of nitrogen to a 1000 sq.ft. area (1 lb N/1000 sq.ft.), divide the number 100 by the percentage of total nitrogen (first number on the bag).
100 ÷ N = pounds of fertilizer to apply on 1000 sq.ft.
In each of the examples below, the application rate is 1 lb N/1000 sq.ft. However, notice that as the percentage of total nitrogen in the fertilizer increases, the amount of fertilizer you apply decreases.
Fertilizer Analysis
N-P-K
8-2-12 100 ÷ 8 = Apply 12.5 pounds of fertilizer to 1000 sq.ft.
11-2-2 100 ÷ 11 = Apply 9.1 pounds of fertilizer to 1000 sq.ft.
15-0-15 100 ÷ 15 = Apply 6.7 pounds of fertilizer to 1000 sq.ft.
If the area to be fertilized is larger or smaller than 1000 sq.ft. or if you choose to fertilize at a lower rate (eg. 0.5 lb N/1000 sq.ft.), more calculations are required.
Click here to use the City's Fertilizer Calculator to do the calculations for you. You will need information from your fertilizer label and the square footage of the area to be fertilized.
Step 4: Apply Appropriately
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Applying appropriately means applying the right amount of fertilizer at the right time in the right place. Nowhere is this more important than on a barrier island such as Sanibel where activities on land can have immediate impacts on local waters.
Rainy Season
During the rainy season, July 1 through September 30, fertilizers containing nitrogen or phosphorus cannot be applied. However, products containing only secondary or micronutrients, such as magnesium and iron may be applied.
Buffer Zones
Sanibel is known for its exceptional aquatic wildlife. Extreme caution is vital when fertilizing near any body of water. Fertilizers containing nitrogen and phosphorus cannot be applied within 25 feet of any of these highly sensitive areas: ponds, streams, water courses, lakes, canals, retention areas, drains and drainage ditches and wetlands.
Impervious Surfaces
Fertilizer should never be applied to impervious (hard) surfaces such as streets, sidewalks, and driveways. Accidental spills should be swept up immediately.
Applying Dry Fertilizer
Use the Spreader Safely
Before you begin, be sure that both the spreader and fertilizer are dry and that the spreader is on a hard surface (easy to sweep up an accidental spill). While wearing gloves and safety glasses, close the broadcaster vent and fill the hopper slowly, keeping fertilizer away from eyes and skin. Sweep up any spilled fertilizer immediately and return to the package.
Use a Deflector Shield
The Ordinance requires that you use a deflector shield when applying fertilizer with a broadcast (rotary) spreader.
The shield needs to be positioned to deflect fertilizer granules away from impervious (hard) surfaces, bodies of water and storm drains.
Many fertilizer bags have spreader settings printed on the label. However, these settings should only be used when the recommended rate of application is
1 lb N/1000 sq.ft. or less.
If the recommended rate of application is greater than 1 lb N/1000 sq.ft. or if the fertilizer label does not list spreader settings, set the spreader on the smallest setting, add the appropriate amount of fertilizer (see Step 3) and go over the area in a north/south direction. When you have covered the area to which you are applying the product, or when you have half of the fertilizer left in the hopper, turn and cover in an east/west orientation until you run out of fertilizer.
Applying Liquid Fertilizer
To apply liquid fertilizer, wear gloves and safety glasses to fill the sprayer canister with liquid or soluble fertilizer. Attach the canister unit to the end of your garden hose. Move at a steady pace to cover the entire lawn evenly. Walk slowly, spraying from side to side.
Other Important Information for Homeowners Back to the top
Exemptions exist for the following:
- Newly established lawns and/or landscape plants for first 60 days after planting.
- Damaged lawns and/or landscape plants for 60 days, only to damaged area.
- Areas where soil tests confirm that phosphorus levels are below 10 parts per million.
- Vegetable gardens, so long as the gardens are not within 25 feet of a body of water or wetland.
- Yard waste, compost, mulches, or other similar materials that are mainly organic in nature and are applied to improve the physical condition of the soil.
- Reclaimed water used for irrigation, provided that reclaimed water is not used within 25 feet of a body of water or wetland.
For the above situations, City notification/approval is not required. However, proper documentation must be readily available at the request of City staff.
Administrative Variance
For situations not covered by the exemptions above, permission to apply fertilizers outside of the provisions of the Ordinance may be granted by the City's Department of Natural Resources if:
- Soil tests indicate inadequate phosphorus to meet plant needs.
- Other sufficient written evidence is provided to indicate fertilizer needs beyond the provisions of this Ordinance.
Any Variance granted will state in writing the Variance conditions, including exact locations, length of time, nutrient concentrations, application rates and any other specific conditions deemed necessary.
For more information about Variances, contact the City's Department of Natural Resources, (239) 472-3700.
The City of Sanibel's Fertilizer Ordinance includes the Following Penalties for Non Compliance:
- Violation of or refusal to comply with this Ordinance shall be considered a second degree misdemeanor. Upon conviction, punishment shall include a fine up to $500 or imprisonment up to 60 days in jail, or both. Each violation counts as a separate offense.
- The City reserves the right to take any lawful action to prevent or remedy any refusal to comply with the Ordinance. Such action may include Code Enforcement proceedings pursuant to applicable City code provisions and Chapter 162, Florida Statutes.
- Violator shall be subject to pay the City's cost of prosecution as well as the costs associated with any necessary environmental cleanup effort resulting from the violation. If a professional violates the Ordinance by improperly applying fertilizer at a private residence, it will be the professional, not the homeowner who is penalized.
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