{"data":{"id":"us-md/md.-code-agriculture-6-224","jurisdiction":"us-md","citation":"Md. Code, Agriculture § 6–224","heading":"","body":"(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:\n(1) Result in an application of:\n(i) More than 0.7 pounds per 1,000 square feet of water–soluble nitrogen; or\n(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;\n(2) Contain phosphorus, except:\n(i) For organic and natural organic fertilizer sold to a professional fertilizer applicator; or\n(ii) When specifically labeled for the following purposes:\n1. Providing nutrients to specific soils and target vegetation as determined to be necessary in accordance with a soil test that was:\nA. Conducted by a laboratory identified under § 8–803.7 of this article; and\nB. Performed no more than 3 years before the application;\n2. 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\n3. Reestablishing or repairing a turf area; and\n(3) Be labeled for use as a de–icer.\n(b) An enhanced–efficiency fertilizer labeled for use on turf, when applied in accordance with the instructions on the container, may not:\n(1) Result in an annual application of more than 2.5 pounds per 1,000 square feet of total nitrogen;\n(2) Result in an application of more than 80% of the annual recommended rate for total nitrogen established by the University of Maryland; or\n(3) Have a release rate of more than 0.7 pounds per 1,000 square feet of total nitrogen per month.\n(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:\n(1) Results in an application of:\n(i) More than 0.7 pounds per 1,000 square feet of water–soluble nitrogen; or\n(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\n(2) Contains phosphorus and is intended for use on turf unless the intended use of the fertilizer is:\n(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;\n(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\n(iii) For the reestablishment or repair of a turf area.\n(d) A person may offer to sell an organic or natural organic fertilizer containing phosphorus to a professional fertilizer applicator.\n(e) A person may not offer to sell enhanced–efficiency fertilizer for use on turf that:\n(1) Results in an annual application of more than 2.5 pounds per 1,000 square feet of total nitrogen;\n(2) Results in an application of more than 80% of the annual recommended rate for total nitrogen established by the University of Maryland; or\n(3) Has a release rate of more than 0.7 pounds per 1,000 square feet of total nitrogen per month.\n(f) A person may not offer to sell a commercial or specialty fertilizer product for use as a de–icer.","path":["Article - Agriculture"],"source_url":"https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=gag\u0026section=6-224","current_through":"2026-01-01","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-14T19:55:53Z","sha256":"e93dd6be899a27e02f63238285eaf2a90bca4b7742fc5bd675b73441d1cf6521","source_id":"us-md","stale":false,"prev":"us-md/md.-code-agriculture-6-223","next":"us-md/md.-code-agriculture-6-301"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}