Pennsylvania § 6813 - Application of fertilizer to turf.

§ 6813. Application of fertilizer to turf.

(a) Application rates.--Except as provided in subsections (c) and (d), fertilizer application rates to turf:

(1) Shall not exceed 0.7 pounds of readily available nitrogen per 1,000 square feet per application.

(2) Shall not exceed 0.9 pounds of total nitrogen per 1,000 square feet per application except, when labeled as an enhanced-efficiency nitrogen fertilizer, the amount of nitrogen released at any given time shall not exceed 0.7 pounds of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet.

(3) Shall contain zero phosphorus, except when specifically labeled for the following purposes:

(i) establishing vegetation for the first time;

(ii) reestablishing or repairing a turf area; or

(iii) as an enhanced-efficiency phosphorus fertilizer, natural organic fertilizer or organic-based fertilizer, if the application rate does not exceed 0.25 pounds of phosphorus per 1,000 square feet per application, with a maximum total annual application of 0.5 pounds of phosphorus per 1,000 square feet.

(b) Restrictions.--No person may:

(1) Apply fertilizer labeled for use on turf to an impervious surface. Fertilizer labeled for use on turf that is inadvertently applied to an impervious surface shall be removed from the impervious surface immediately following the application.

(2) Apply fertilizer containing nitrogen or phosphorus to turf at any time when the ground is frozen to a depth of at least two inches or snow covered.

(3) (Deleted by amendment).

(4) Apply fertilizer containing more than 0.5 pounds of total nitrogen per 1,000 square feet, or at a rate established in regulations promulgated by the department, to turf after December 15 and before March 1 or dates as established in regulations promulgated by the department.

(c) Fertilizer use and application rates for turf.--

(1) The department may establish use and application rates for fertilizer that is applied to turf.

(2) The current rates or source of established fertilizer use and application rates shall be published at least once every two years by the department transmitting a notice to the Legislative Reference Bureau for publication in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.

(3) New application rates or changes to established fertilizer use and application rates shall:

(i) Be based on appropriately peer-reviewed scientific research representing conditions of this Commonwealth and recommended by The Pennsylvania State University or other institution of higher education in this Commonwealth.

(ii) Be as protective or more protective of water quality as those rates specified in subsection (a).

(iii) Be published as a notice of public comment in the Pennsylvania Bulletin and allow for a 30-day public comment period. The department shall respond to all comments received and make a copy of the comments publicly available. The new rates or changes shall be published as final rates in the Pennsylvania Bulletin and take effect upon publication.

(d) Application based on soil test and site-specific plan.--A person shall not be required to follow application rates established under subsection (a) or (c) if a site-specific plan is used based on all the following:

(1) A soil test was conducted within the previous three years and in accordance with procedures recommended by The Pennsylvania State University.

(2) Current soil, plant species, climate, use, topography or other appropriate management factors.

(3) Rates recommended by The Pennsylvania State University or other institution of higher education in this Commonwealth approved by the department.

(e) (Reserved).

(f) Additional requirements.--The department may establish additional requirements through regulation.

(g) Exemption.--This section shall not apply to fertilizer applied to land used for an agricultural operation or by a public or private institution of higher education for research purposes.

(Nov. 1, 2023, P.L.146, No.20, eff. imd.)

2023 Amendment. Act 20 amended subsec. (b).

Cross References. Section 6813 is referred to in sections 6804, 6810 of this title.