Fertilizer Use Act of 2011

Gov. O'Malley, on May 19, 2011, signed into Maryland Law, the Fertilizer Use Act of 2011. The law is designed to reduce the amount of nutrients into the Chesapeake Bay from lawns, golf courses, parks, recreation areas and other non-agricultural sources. The law mandates several things: the amount of phosphorus contained in fertilizer sold to the public, establishes a training and certification process for persons who are hired for applying fertilizer, limits the amount of fertilizer applied to turf and implements a program to educate homeowners on best practices for fertilizer application... Read full article on Fertilizer Use Act of 2011 on our blog

Many of the provisions are already in place for commercial applicators. Homeowners will now be required to follow the guidelines established by the University of Maryland when fertilizing their lawns, gardens and landscaped areas. The guidelines will be promoted through a public education program that will include information on best management practices to follow when using fertilizers, soil testing information and how to read and follow a fertilizer label.

Specific guidelines for homeowners and do it yourselfers include:

• Prohibits use of lawn fertilizer on impervious areas
  Prohibits using fertilizer: Between November 15 and March 1
  When the ground is frozen
  Within 10-15 feet of waterways


• Restricts the amount of phosphorus applied to turf, with allowances when soil tests indicate low levels of phosphorus or when the homeowner is establishing a new lawn


• Establishes maximum application rates for total nitrogen and water soluble nitrogen


• Establishes maximum application rates for enhanced efficiency controlled-release products


• Authorizes county, municipality or the Maryland Department of Agriculture to enforce these requirements

Additionally, new training and licensing requirements have been established for professional fertilizer applicators. The law must be n place by October 1, 2013.

The changes have been put in place to help the state comply with the new requirements for the control of total maximum daily load of pollutants entering the Bay by 2020.

A word about "good bugs" - Ladybugs

Ladybugs, often called white waxy ladies:

When the waxy lady bug is in the larvae stage, the larvae will devour several thousand immature scale insects. As an adult lady bug, the bug will eat many other harmful insects. Sometimes we do get a bit carried away and will eliminate beneficial insects along with the harmful insects. Lady bugs are very
easy to identify: they are usually black with two red spots n the wing covers. Sometimes there will be yellowish spots or stripes on their backs. I the spring, the waxy bugs will return to devour scale.
Wintering over in leaves and beneath bark liter the lady bug will truly help you. Please do not destroy them; there is no danger to your home! We can all remember those winter days when we get several consecutive days of above average temperatures. The warmth of the sun on the house, especially the south west sides of the house, will often cause the waxy lady bug to suddenly appear in incredible
numbers. Again don’t worry; there will be no damage to your home.

Now an interesting question: just where were those lady bugs? If you want you could take the frames of your doors off on the south west side: guess where the bugs have been living? Good guess: behind the frame!

Beware winter is coming to your neighborhood!!!

Please, please, please DO NOT STORE FIREWOOD INSIDE OF YOUR HOME!! There is any number of insects in the firewood just waiting for a nice warm environment to live in for the winter. Theses insects include: ants, termites, stink bugs, and hornets to list a few. The insects are usually in or under the bark.
Try not to stack firewood next to the house. The best answer, of course, is a wood crib close to the house.

Most winter insects will not have to be sprayed and can be merely vacuumed up. Be on the lookout for ticks, at least until we have several hard freezes. Check the children out every day. Lyme disease is nothing to play with!

Check out the cupboard for meal moths. This is especially true if the meal or flour has been there a long period of time. The problem is often more prevalent with "off brand" products. Just discard the flour, meal, rice or pasta that is infected. Be sure to vacuum thoroughly.

Try to seal all entry points into your home to prevent insects from invading! Pesticides do not store well: check with your county to determine when / you can dispose of pesticides. Freezing weather will generally reduce the effectiveness of pesticides.

If you have a fresh cut Christmas tree be on the lookout for emerging insects. Just vacuum them insects. Many times you will bring spiders in with the tree.