Many people are now into gardening and lawn maintenance season as summer arrives, but officials in Brevard County are asking people to be careful what they use to keep their lawns healthy.

  • Brevard County fertilizer ban begins June 1
  • Ban helps limit fertilizer runoff into stormwater system
  • Call the stormwater hotline at 321-608-7341

A summer-long fertilizer ban throughout Brevard County starts at the beginning of June.

Glen Bupp, who works at the University of Florida, knows his way around a garden. He's worked in horticulture for five years.

He's also no stranger to the chemicals in the fertilizer that are used to treat plants.

"We, as community, need to start reducing the amount of fertilizer we are putting down and running off into the waters," Bupp said. "What's more important: a small amount of green turf grass or our community lagoon?"

That's one reason there's a four-month-long countywide fertilizer ban during the summer months.

"Nitrogen and phosphorous are two of the main pollutants that are harming the Indian River Lagoon and causing the problems we are having in the lagoon," said Jenni Lamb, an engineer with the city of Melbourne. "But since this ban, we are noticing a difference in the nitrogen going into the lagoon."

With the rainy season ahead, fertilizer can run off the laws and into the storm drains that directly flow into the lagoon water.

The fertilizer ban runs from June 1 to Sept. 30.

Nature enthusiasts like Bupp said just one person making the decision to follow the ban can make a huge impact.

"When one person follows the ban, then the neighbor realizes you can garden efficiently without having to put down so many fertilizers or having to water so much," Bupp said. "It carries on, and that's how we educate and clean up the lagoon at the same time."

The city of Melbourne has fines of up to $200 associated with not following the fertilizer ban. Other municipalities in Brevard County impose different bans.

City of Melbourne officials said that while they do have fines, the main purpose is education. Fines are typically only used for repeat offenders.

Anyone with questions about the fertilizer ban is asked to contact the stormwater hotline at 321-608-7341.