ANNAPOLIS, MD (October 15, 2026) — Maryland residents and lawn care professionals are reminded that the annual blackout period for applying fertilizer throughout the state will begin on November 16, 2026 and remain in place through March 1, 2027. Authorized by Maryland’s Lawn Fertilizer Law, the blackout period is in place to protect our local rivers, streams and the Chesapeake Bay from fertilizer runoff during the late fall and winter when grass is typically more dormant and unable to hold extra nutrients. Fertilizer that is applied to hard or frozen ground significantly increases the risk of excess nutrients entering the water we drink, bathe with and recreate on.
Maryland’s Lawn Fertilizer Law requires lawn care professionals to be certified by the Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) to apply fertilizer or work under the direct supervision of a certified individual. Licenses are required for both individuals and businesses that fertilize turf. During the blackout period, certified lawn care professionals may apply up to a 0.5 pound of soluble or insoluble nitrogen per 1,000 square feet on lawns they manage from November 16 – December 1, 2026. Potassium and lime may still be applied to lawns by anyone during this time if they are deemed to not be a threat to water quality.
Residents are prohibited from fertilizing lawns with products that contain nitrogen and/or phosphorus during the blackout period. While fertilizer products are available for purchase year-round, they may not be legally applied to lawns during the blackout period.
Fertilizer products should never be used to melt ice on sidewalks, driveways or other paved surfaces as they will easily wash into our local waterways.
Lawn fertilizer applications may resume on March 1, 2027 provided that the ground is not frozen and heavy rain is not predicted. To find a list of certified lawn care professionals for hire and additional information about fertilizer use best practices in Maryland, please visit MDA’s Turfgrass Nutrient Management website at https://mda.maryland.gov/Pages/fertilizer.aspx.
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