Collier County joins a list of Florida local governments that are considering or have approved fertilizer limits. The list includes Bonita Springs, Naples, the Southwest Florida Regional Planning Council, Sanibel and Sarasota County.

Madison, Wis. has a similar ordinance on the books,

?EUR??,,????'??It?EUR??,,????'???s definitely catching on,?EUR??,,????'?? said Katie Fuhr, an environmental specialist with the city of Naples. ?EUR??,,????'??Local governments are … realizing the detrimental effects these practices can bring to the environment.?EUR??,,????'??

The so-called ?EUR??,,????'??green industry,?EUR??,,????'?? however, would like to see something different.

Lawn-maintenance companies say they want whatever the county imposes to be rooted in science. But the Collier County proposal, they argue, falls short of being scientifically sound.

One proposal calls for prohibiting the use of nitrogen and phosphorus, two key ingredients in fertilizer, during the rainy season, which runs from June through October.

?EUR??,,????'??That?EUR??,,????'???s when plants need the fertilizer the most because that?EUR??,,????'???s when they?EUR??,,????'???re growing the most,?EUR??,,????'?? said Doug Caldwell, the commercial landscape extension agent in Collier County with the University of Florida.

If not properly fertilized, grass will ?EUR??,,????'??thin out,?EUR??,,????'?? he added.

Landscapers are also opposed to a proposal that would ring all water bodies with a 20-foot no-fertilizer zone.

While he supports protecting water resources from pollutants, Gary Thorsen of Sunset Landscape in North Naples, said: ?EUR??,,????'??The problem is the client wants green space down to the water?EUR??,,????'???s edge.?EUR??,,????'??

Source: Naples Daily News