Dear Friends & Neighbors,

Sunset at Lake Sawyer (photo by Susan Sun Nunamaker)

water drop (photo by Ralph Kiesewetter)

Bird by Lake Sawyer (photo by Susan Sun Nunamaker)

Fountain (photo by Susan Sun Nunamaker)

Lake Butler Chain (photo by Susan Sun Nunamaker)

white couple (photo by St. Mattox)

Lake Sawyer (photo by Susan Sun Nunamaker)

floating (photo by Sara Sandberg)

Surface Water-1 (photo by Davide Guglielmo)

Swim (photo by Manthy)

water (photo by Davide Qugielmo)

(Please click on red links & note magenta)

Did you know that nitrogen and phosphorus in our springs, lakes, and rivers would promote algae growth and cause decline in water quality? To protect our springs and surface waters, click HERE to learn how you can help to protect the water quality of Central Florida.

Over the years, Orange County Government has developed rules to help protect our surface waters, below:

• Read the Orange County fertilizer ordinance
• Equip broadcast spreaders with a deflector shield to keep fertilizer pellets away from impervious surfaces, water bodies, and buffer areas.
• Keep fertilizer off of driveways and streets and out of storm drains, ditches, and swales.
• Do not apply fertilizer within 10 feet of a lake, pond, stream, water course, canal or wetlands.
• No fertilizer containing nitrogen or phosphorus shall be applied to turf prior to severe thunderstorms.
• Make sure your fertilizer’s nitrogen contains at least 50% slow release formulations.
• Don’t apply fertilizer containing phosphorus to turf: a. If your lawn has a phosphorus deficiency that has been demonstrated through testing, you can apply phosphorus at a rate no greater than 1/4 pound per 1,ooo sq feet per application. b. Do not exceed 1/2 pound per 1,000 sq feet in a year’s time.
• If you have newly installed turf, you may apply phosphorus for 60 days following installation. Follow all guidelines.
• Prior to obtaining or renewing an Orange County local business tax certificate for a business providing landscape services, each commercial applicator ( as defined in Section 15-801), must provide proof of successful completion, within the past 3 years, of the Florida Green Industries Best Management Practice certification program. The program is provided by the University of Florida Institute for Food and Agriculturaal Sciences (UF/IFAS). Visit Florida-Friendly Landscaping for details of the training.
• From June 1 to September 30, these rules apply: a. Don’t apply fertilizer containing nitrogen or phosphorus to turf. There are two exceptions to this rule–Commercial applicators certified under Section 15-809may conduct these applications.  Homeowners who have completed the online educational program educational program may conduct these applications.
• Don’t deposit grass clippings and/or vegetative material/debris into any public right of way, stormwater drain or other conveyance.
• First violation-written notice, Second violation-written notice, Third violation-Fine of $50., Fourth violation-Fine of $100.

If  you have any questions regarding this, please feel free to contact:

Orange County Environmental Protection Division: 3165 McCrory Place, Suite 200, Orlando, FL 32803, email: orangetogreen@ocfl.net , phone: 407-836-1400 , FAX: 407-836-1499

or refer to Orange County Government Florida web sit regarding this.

Gathered, written, and posted by Windermere Sun-Susan Sun Nunamaker
More about the community at www.WindermereSun.com

Any comments, suggestions, concerns regarding this post will be welcomed at info.WindermereSun@gmail.com

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