2023 Maryland Statutes › Agriculture › Title 6 - Commercial Feed and Fertilizer and Agricultural Liming Materials › Subtitle 2 - Maryland Commercial Fertilizer Law › Section 6-224 - Restrictions on Use and Sale of Fertilizer

(a)    Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, any specialty fertilizer labeled for use on turf, when applied in accordance with the instructions on the container, may not:
(1)    Result in an application of:
(i)    More than 0.7 pounds per 1,000 square feet of water–soluble nitrogen; or
(ii)    More than 0.9 pounds per 1,000 square feet of total nitrogen, at least 20% of which shall consist of slow–release nitrogen;
(2)    Contain phosphorus, except:
(i)    For organic and natural organic fertilizer sold to a professional fertilizer applicator; or
(ii)    When specifically labeled for the following purposes:
1.    Providing nutrients to specific soils and target vegetation as determined to be necessary in accordance with a soil test that was:
A.    Conducted by a laboratory identified under § 8–803.7 of this article; and
B.    Performed no more than 3 years before the application;
2.    Establishing vegetation for the first time, such as after land disturbance, provided the application is conducted in accordance with the recommended application rates established by the State; or
3.    Reestablishing or repairing a turf area; and
(3)    Be labeled for use as a de–icer.
(b)    An enhanced–efficiency fertilizer labeled for use on turf, when applied in accordance with the instructions on the container, may not:
(1)    Result in an annual application of more than 2.5 pounds per 1,000 square feet of total nitrogen;
(2)    Result in an application of more than 80% of the annual recommended rate for total nitrogen established by the University of Maryland; or
(3)    Have a release rate of more than 0.7 pounds per 1,000 square feet of total nitrogen per month.
(c)    Except as provided in subsections (d) and (e) of this section, a person may not offer to sell specialty fertilizer for use on turf that, when applied in accordance with the instructions on the container:
(1)    Results in an application of:
(i)    More than 0.7 pounds per 1,000 square feet of water–soluble nitrogen; or
(ii)    More than 0.9 pounds per 1,000 square feet of total nitrogen, at least 20% of which shall consist of slow–release nitrogen; and
(2)    Contains phosphorus and is intended for use on turf unless the intended use of the fertilizer is:
(i)    For application to specific soils and turf as determined to be necessary pursuant to a soil test conducted by a laboratory identified in § 8–803.7 of this article and performed no more than 3 years before the application, provided the application complies with recommended application rates established by the University of Maryland;
(ii)    For the establishment of turf for the first time, such as after land disturbance, provided the application complies with recommended application rates established by the University of Maryland; or
(iii)    For the reestablishment or repair of a turf area.
(d)    A person may offer to sell an organic or natural organic fertilizer containing phosphorus to a professional fertilizer applicator.
(e)    A person may not offer to sell enhanced–efficiency fertilizer for use on turf that:
(1)    Results in an annual application of more than 2.5 pounds per 1,000 square feet of total nitrogen;
(2)    Results in an application of more than 80% of the annual recommended rate for total nitrogen established by the University of Maryland; or
(3)    Has a release rate of more than 0.7 pounds per 1,000 square feet of total nitrogen per month.
(f)    A person may not offer to sell a commercial or specialty fertilizer product for use as a de–icer.