1. The Sarasota County Fertilizer and Landscape Management Code: A Step Towards A Sustainable Sarasota County Jack Merriam, Environmental Manager Sarasota County

2. Impaired water bodies

3. Fertilizer and Watering Demands Start with Development Techniques

4. Filling and Compacting Landscape Areas Cause Maintenance Problems

5. SL 256: Soil pH and the Home Landscape or Garden Figure 1. The effect of soil pH nutrient availabilty.

6. New Sarasota County educational brochures 1. Public Education

7. 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

8. Seven major categories identified 1.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

16. Palmer Ranch DRI 5,119 acre Master Development 23 distinct communities 10,500 units 23 years of water quality monitoring

17. Palmer Ranch DRI

18. 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

19. Irrigation Water Analysis

20. Leaf Analysis

21. Soil Analysis

22. 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

23. Why manage fertilizer?

24. Goal: Sustainable Sarasota County