Does Your Lawn Guy Need a License?

If your lawn and landscape care professional applies fertilizer as a part of his/her services, then the answer is yes. Since January 2014, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) has required that all commercial fertilizer applicators have a Limited Fertilizer License.

UF/IFAS File Photo.
UF/IFAS File Photo.

So what does FDACS define as a fertilizer? You may be surprised at what is considered a fertilizer under the statute that governs this license. The following are included:

  • Lawn or landscape fertilizers
  • Organic fertilizers
  • Any product that contains plant nutrients including compost
  • Lime and all other products that influence soil acidity/alkalinity
  • Substances that promote plant growth
  • Any other substance that provides a soil corrective measure

In order to obtain this license, lawn care professionals attend a science-based training session called Green Industries Best Management Practices (GI-BMPs) that teach environmentally friendly landscaping practices in order to protect Florida’s water quality. These practices also save the homeowner money, time, and effort; increase the health and beauty of the home landscape; and protect the health of your family, pets, and the environment. The training is led by UF/IFAS Extension professionals. Attendees must pass a post-training exam and then can receive a license valid for 4 years.

In order to check whether your lawn care professional has a Limited Fertilizer License, check the FDACS site here. Every applicator must have his/her individual license.

 

0


Posted: May 18, 2016


Category: Horticulture
Tags: Best Management Practices, Fertilizer, GI-BMP, License, Panhandle Gardening


Subscribe For More Great Content

IFAS Blogs Categories