You can use Florida-friendly fertilizing practices to help protect water quality while having a beautiful lawn. If you fertilize your lawn before a heavy rain, much of the fertilizer will be washed directly into surface water or stormwater systems that drain to our local springs, lakes, rivers and bays.Recent studies have shown that rising nitrate levels in many local water bodies can be traced to fertilizer.ou can use Florida-friendly fertilizing practices to help protect water quality while having a beautiful lawn. If you fertilize your lawn before a heavy rain, much of the fertilizer will be washed directly into surface water or stormwater systems that drain to our local springs, lakes, rivers and bays.