Hmm.....I would not swear to it but I am pretty sure the law the State house was debating was to stop counties from passing laws banning fertilizer sales in certain months.

My county (Citrus) made it so you could not easily get fertilizer with phosphorus (the middle # in the fertilizer) as our native soils have enough phosphorus anyway. While that is fine I replace my native soil so still need the phosphorus so I went looking for a new source and found a company that not only had normal fertilizer but has quality fertilizer for $10 per 50 lbs which is a fraction of what I was paying locally at the big box stores.

Bamboo rabbitWhere? Where? Where? $10 a bag!!!

Here is a link to today's Dunedin Beacon - April 30 , 2010 .
This is a small part of the article ,
" Doug Hutchens, Dunedin director of public works, told the commission that there are impaired waters throughout the state, county and Dunedin, including Curlew Creek and Cedar Creek and the contributions to Stevenson Creek to the south. In addition, local governments with impaired waters are required by state statute to adopt a fertilizer ordinance, he said.

The state has a model of such an ordinance, he said, that includes required training and certification of fertilizer applicators; prohibits fertilizer application during heavy rains, flood warnings and watches, tropical storms and hurricanes; and provides exemptions for farming and grazing pastures and establishes acceptable application practices in fertilizer-free zones. An amendment also allows local areas to have more stringent ordinances as long as certain requirements are met, such as considering relevant science and being part of a comprehensive plan. "
Read here for more ---

Here is a link that might be useful: Commission hears sides of fertilizer law

Jay,

Could be a bit of a drive for you:) The place is Helena chemical in Dade City, 352-567-5622. BIG place, nice people. I bought 300 lbs of assorted types of fert last time I was there a few weeks ago and I think the most expensive 50 pound bag was $12. To offer a comparison.....I have a LOT of blueberry bushes..well a lot for a home garden guy:) At a local place I paid $29.97 for a 20 pound bag of pelleted sulphur. At Helena chemical a 50 pound bag of Tiger 90 pelleted sulphur was $10. It is where all the local farmers buy there fertilizers and I bet you have a similar place near you....just find out who the farmers and market garden people buy from. If anyone goes and is in the market for cheap citrus trees right behind the chemical plant (as the crow flies) is Floyds citrus nursery, best place I have found for quality trees at 1/3 to 1/4 the price of most places.

Disclaimer......I am not affiliated with either place:)

Sounds like they are trying to do the right thing since runoff is the biggest polluter of our waters.

Gary

from what i have heard is that liquid fertilizer is the first to go during the wet season to avoid run off if you just applied it and it rains. i think quick release dry is included in that. if you notice 6-6-6 is no longer saying it is for your lawn. it is now a garden fertilizer and is appearing in smaller bags. pesticides are next, everything is going to be rtu. no more mixing yourself. most homeowners beieve more is better and are really polluting.

I'll be glad if this happens - too true about the runoff problem & wallisadi is so right about too many folks thinking more is better. I'll never forget waiting on line @ Walmart's garden center years ago & overhearing a woman telling her companion that she always used twice as much weed & feed as the directions said, because "it greens up the lawn really fast!"

There is a large Golf Course near me and they use a lot of granular fert. as well as water................ but it's funny, I was in HD yesterday and asked the clerk if he knew anything abt. the County ban, and he didn't...period.... I guess if they take the granular fert. off the shelves, he'll learn... but this did answer my questions, thanks gatormomx2 for putting that Dunedin Link... since I use only organics I don't need to worry... I never use a weed-n-feed, it's just Milorganite on my little patch of grass..... and my roses get just organics, different stuff, Milorganite, Black Cow, Black Hen, Alfalfa pellets, Cottonseed Meal, Bone Meal, Blood Meal, compost of all kinds... mulch....and when I get a chance to go get it, Horse Manure from the stables in Pinellas Park.....works for me... sally