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Pasco County declares May ‘Fertilizer Awareness Month’, offers May 26 fertilizer class

PASCO COUNTY – May is ‘Fertilizer Awareness Month’ in Pasco County, a reminder that using fertilizer properly can help your lawn and the environment!

While fertilizer can promote a healthy, vibrant lawn – applying too much or applying it incorrectly can cause chemical runoff that pollutes our ground and surface water. This causes harmful algae blooms that choke out seagrass – the main food source for Florida’s beloved manatees. More than 1,100 manatees died in Florida last year, many due to starvation from lack of seagrass.

Harmful chemical runoff is most likely during our rainy season – June through September – and the resulting algae blooms can also cause flooding.

These fertilizer application tips can help protect our environment:

  • Follow package directions to avoid over-fertilizing
  • Avoid spreading fertilizer on sidewalks, streets and gutters
  • Don’t apply fertilizer within 10 feet of any body of water
  • Don’t apply fertilizer ahead of expected flooding or tropical storms

Keep Pasco Beautiful is offering a free Fertilizing Properly Workshop Thursday, May 26 at 6 p.m.

  • You can attend in-person or virtually by registering here: bit.ly/3LirVpD.
  • The workshop will feature speakers from the University of Florida Pasco Extension and the Tampa Bay Estuary Program.
  • Admission is free and all are welcome to come.
  • There will be both a virtual and in person option.
  • In-person attendees will receive a free reusable tote with sustainable items, and a chance to win a $100 Publix gift card.

For more information about Keep Pasco Beautiful, visit: keeppascobeautiful.org.