New 2011 Fertilizer Restrictions

NOTICE
New County Law Regulating the Use of Fertilizer Containing Phosphorous

Westchester County has passed a law restricting the use of fertilizer containing phosphorous.

Article XXVI of Chapter 863 of the Laws of the Westchester County (863.1301-1309) Effective Jan. 1, 2011:

• Fertilizer containing phosphorous CANNOT be applied to lawn areas unless soil tests confirm the need for additional phosphorous application.
• Fertilizer containing phosphorous may be applied to newly established turf or lawn areas during their first growing season, when more nutrients are needed for the grass to take root.
• Fertilizer may be applied for agricultural uses, and to vegetable and flower gardens, trees and shrubs.

Phosphorous, when concentrated in water bodies such as lakes, ponds, reservoirs, streams and wetlands can result in substantial growth of algae and aquatic plants resulting in degradation of water quality.

You can recognize the amount of phosphorous in fertilizer by looking at the middle of the three nutrient numbers on the bag. For example 5-10-5, the middle number, “10” indicates that the bag contains 10% phosphorous.

Look for bags of fertilizer in which the middle number is “0” such as 5-0-5 which do not contain phosphorous.

Please contact the Engineering Department in Yorktown Town Hall at 914-962-5722, extension 220 with any questions.