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Lawn Fertilizer Tips
Are you tired of your lawn not living up to your expectations? Maybe you have a friendly lawn war going on with your neighbors. If you want to improve your lawn and come out on top, you need to make sure you are doing all the right things.
Climate Is King
There are warm season grasses and cool season grasses. Where you live will decide what type of grass will grow best in your yard. Some of the warm season grasses are Bermuda, St. Augustine and Buffalo. Cool season grasses include Rye, Blue and Fescue.
A healthy lawn needs a mixture of grasses. If you go with just one kind, you risk total destruction if a disease hits. Don’t worry, though. The grass seed you buy at your local nursery or big box store will always be a mixture.
Greening Up The Lawn
Quick release fertilizer will green up a lawn fast. This is fine if you are hosting a wedding soon and need to have a gorgeous lawn for the pictures. In-fact, this is one of the tricks of the lawn fertilizer companies that get so many new customers every year.
They green up a new customer’s lawn right away, and boom! Customer for life. Or so they hope. It’s fine to use quick release fertilizer because you are not going to hurt the lawn. However, if you wish to build a truly healthy lawn, and you want to do it yourself, then you need slow release fertilizer.
Those Three Numbers Mean Something
You have probably seen bags of lawn fertilizer with 3 numbers prominently displayed on
the front. These numbers tell you how much of each nutrient is included in the bag.
The first number is for nitrogen. Nitrogen is the king of green. You want this number low because that means the nitrogen will be released slowly, which will help build your lawn into the masterpiece you want it to be.
The second number designates how much phosphorus is in the mixture. Be aware that there are many communities that are banning phosphorus use, because it leads to algae growth in waterways. So look for a lawn fertilizer that has a big fat zero for the middle number.
The last number tells you how much potassium is included in the bag. Potassium assists with plant development, and also helps with photosynthesis. Look for a number around 15. This will give your lawn a nice root system, which will discourage weed growth. If you’re not sure of which combination is right for your lawn, make sure you consult with a lawn and power equipment dealer.
Use The Right Equipment
Try to use a broadcast spreader to fertilize your lawn. You want the fertilizer spread in an even pattern, and broadcast spreaders are best for this. Also, do not load the spreader while it is on the lawn. This can lead to fertilizer dropping on the lawn in quantities that can cause burn.
The Small Stuff Matters
In the end, what turns a nice lawn into a spectacular one is the detailing. It’s the things you don’t necessarily see when you drive by. It’s the careful edging that is done after the lawn mower gets put away, and the double-ground cedar mulch that draws a nice contrast to the verdant greenery.
It takes time, patience and work to have a healthy lawn. For many homeowners, though, the benefits far outweigh the costs.
