(A) No fertilizer containing phosphorous shall be applied to turf or landscape plants in the town unless a soil or plant tissue deficiency is verified by a University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agriculture Sciences, approved testing methodology. In the case that a deficiency has been verified, the application of a fertilizer containing phosphorous shall be in accordance with rates and directions provided by F.A.C. Rule 5E-1.003(2). Deficiency verification shall be no more than two years old. However, recent application of compost, manure, or top soil shall warrant more recent testing to verify current deficiencies.
(B) The nitrogen content of fertilizer applied to turf or landscape plants within the town shall contain at least 50% slow release nitrogen per guaranteed analysis label.
(C) Unless otherwise stipulated fertilizers applied to turf within the town shall be formulated and applied at rates that are in accordance with requirements and directions provided by F.A.C. Rule 5E-1.003(2), Labeling Requirements For Urban Turf Fertilizers. Unless otherwise stipulated herein, fertilizer applied to landscape plants within the town shall be applied in accordance with UF/IFAS recommendations.
(D) Fertilizer containing nitrogen or phosphorus shall not be applied before seeding or sodding a site, and shall not be applied for the first 30 days after seeding or sodding, except where hydro-seeding for temporary or permanent erosion control in an emergency situation (wildfire, and the like), or in accordance with the Stormwater Pollution Plan for that site.
(Ord. 2011-15, passed 11-1-2011; Ord. 2014-05, passed 5-27-2014)