How Often Should I Fertilize My Lawn
Adding fertilizer to your lawn is one of the main ways to ensure that your grass is as healthy as possible. Throughout each growing season, your grass will slowly deplete its nutrient levels and these should be replenished manually. The trick in performing this task is to know how often you should fertilize your lawn.
Knowing how regularly to apply fertilizer to your lawn depends on the time of year. During late spring and early summer, your lawn will need to fertilize your lawn more frequently than during the late summer and early fall/autumn. This is because your lawn is more active during the spring and early summer and will be able to withstand more frequent applications of feed.
The rate of grass growth will slow during the late summer and early fall/autumn so, therefore, the lawn will require fewer nutrients.
This article contains two tables, one for U.S. gardeners and the other for U.K. gardeners, that list the most popular fertilizers. The tables refer to fertilizers that are designed to be applied at different times of the year.
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How Often Should You Fertilize Your Grass
Typically, you should only need to fertilize your grass an average of two times a year .
However, this all depends on the type of fertilizer you use . So the key here is to decide how often youre able to fertilize and then pick a product based on that. But if youre like the average homeowner, then youll probably want to fertilize as little as possible, which means youll need to choose a long-lasting, slow-release fertilizer.
Pro Tip: A longer lasting fertilizer is typically healthier for your lawn since it requires fewer applications.
Choose The Correct Type Of Fertilizer
No matter how often you fertilize your lawn, the quality of fertilizer matters the most. You would want to choose the kind of fertilizer that has a moderate amount of nutrients in it.
The most essential nutrient for the lawn is nitrogen as it plays an important role in the growth process of turf. Other vital nutrients needed are phosphorous and potassium. Phosphorous aids in the development of a healthier root system. So, try giving phosphorous-based treatment to the lawn when the grass has not matured yet. Potassium helps to build strong cells and provides the overall necessary nourishment.
The best thing you can do is to choose a fertilizer that has these nutrients in N20:P5: K10 proportion. You might be thinking what is n, p, and k along with the numbers? Let us make it simpler for you. It implies that you need to choose a fertilizer that contains 20% Nitrogen, 5% phosphorous, and 10% potassium. This will make it easier for you to choose a fertilizer without any complications.
The given proportion is the standard proportion. You can always use the fertilizer with some changes in the proportion according to your soil type, climatic conditions, and grass type.
But after a considerable amount of time, the lawn will slow down its process of growth, causing the growth of pale green or yellowish grass. Then there is no chance of it going back to the fresh and green grass again.
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Is It Better To Fertilize Before Or After Rain
Dont wait too long after a heavy rainfall to apply fertilizer. When the top two inches of soil have dried, the benefit of good distribution of the fertilizer in the root-zone area may be reduced. It is for such reasons that we suggest soil moisture should be at good levels just before a fertilizer application.
Spring: March Through May
Mowing
Mowing is all about a routine, like much else in life. Begina routine mowing program as soon as the grass begins to turn green in thespring. You dont want to remove any more than a third of the leaf areawith any one mowing. This usually implies a Set the mowing height of two and ahalf to three inches, adding a half inch for shady areas if you have a professionallawn mowing service then theyll know what to do.
Frequent mowing at a lower height produces higher qualityturfgrass. You dont need to worry about bagging the grass clippings, as theyquickly decompose which can return important nutrients back to the soil.Otherwise, you can use clippings for compose elsewhere.
Fertilizing
Fertilizing is a critical step to keep your lawn looking itsbest. Youll want to start fertilizing about three weeks after the grass turnsgreen, basically when theres no further chance of a late frost. Apply one poundof soluble nitrogen per 1,000 square feet of lawn every eight weeks, or elevenand a half pounds of slow-release nitrogen every ten weeks.
Youll definitely want to have your soil tested to determinewhat added nutrients your lawn may need. For information on soil testingprocedures, contact your lawn professional. Youll likely need a completefertilizer with a 3-1-2 ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.
Watering
Followthese steps to determine how long to water to apply the right amount.
2. Turn on the sprinklers or irrigation system for 30minutes.
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When Is The Best Time To Fertilize A Lawn
The best time to fertilize a lawn is in the evening or on a cloudy day when the grass is wet or at least damp, and with more rain promised.
In terms of season, the best time to fertilize a lawn is in March or April after the last frosts have passed to promote growth, in July as a boost, particularly against hot weather, and in September or October to prepare the lawn for winter weather.
Milorganite 0636 Organic Nitrogen Fertilizer
- Unlike most other slow-release fertilizers, youll start seeing results after about two weeks of application.
- It contains iron that helps grow a lush green, thick St. Augustine grass.
- Being a slow-release Nitrogen fertilizer, it wont burn your lawn.
The reason why Milogranite organic nitrogen fertilizer is great for St. Augustine lawns is its slow release nature. If youve tried another lawn feed before and ended up burning your lawn, I would recommend this particular product.
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How Regularly Should You Fertilize Your Lawn
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There’s no doubt that lawns need fertilizer, but it’s easy to make mistakes, like applying the wrong nutrients or fertilizing at the wrong time. If you fertilize your lawn when it doesn’t need it, you’re essentially throwing money away, so it’s essential to apply fertilizers at the right time, and use no more than necessary.
How To Fertilize Your Lawn In The Fall
Approach your fall fertilizer application just as you would any other. Follow the coverage recommendation for the chosen product. Its always a good idea to split the application in half and then make two passes in different directions. For example: if your fall fertilizer bag says it will cover 5,000 square feet, find the setting on your spreader for 10,000 square feet . This will close the spreader gate allowing only one-half the recommended rate to flow through. Then make two consecutive passes at this spreader setting. This will apply the total recommended amount using two passes instead of one. This ensures even, uniform coverage, reducing the risk of missing parts of your lawn.
After youve finished your fall fertilizer application, make sure you thoroughly wash your spreader. This removes any remaining fertilizer residue that can corrode spreader components over the winter. Refer to your owners manual for additional recommended maintenance before winter storage.
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What If It Rains After I Fertilize My Lawn
Water can helpfertilizer fully absorb into the soil. Mild rain after you fertilize is nothing to worry about. However, if you have a lot of fertilizer in your soil, you may want to consider adding a small amount of water to your fertilizer.
This will help the fertilizer absorb more of the water, which will make it easier for the plant to absorb the nutrients. You can also add a little bit of compost to the mix to help with the absorption of nitrogen and phosphorous, as well as some organic matter to aid in the uptake of potassium, magnesium, calcium, and manganese.
Types Of Grass Grown In Florida
The most common lawn grasses cultivated in Florida are St. Augustine and varieties of Bahia. Bahia grass is the most drought-tolerant and should be cultivated in regions subject to dry spells. St. Augustine is known for its salt tolerance, doing well in coastal areas. The denser soils of northern Florida support centipede grass, which spreads like St. Augustine. Bermuda and zoysia grasses are similar to the fine-bladed examples seen in northern areas of the United States.
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Who Is Jonathan Green
Since 1881, Jonathan Green has worked to bring beautiful dark-green lawns to homeowners using only the highest quality traditional and organic products. We supply grass seed, organics, and weed, insect and disease control products to both the independent retailer and professional lawn care markets that will transform your lawn and help it thrive.
When Should I Start Applying Fertilizer
During cold weather months, it is important for grass to maintain the integrity and strength of its root system to combat and preserve itself from the harsh winter cold and wind, so fertilizing during this period is not ideal or necessarily conducive to your lawns health. The same can be said for the hot summer months when the suns strong and intense rays can compromise the strength and integrity of the grass, which is focused on maintaining moisture and preservation as opposed to growth and propagation.
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You see, lawns require regular feeding, but with a top-quality lawn fertiliser in order to get the best possible results. Ideally, you want to fertilise your lawn at least three times a year once in Spring, again in the Summer, and finally in Autumn. However, if that sounds like a little bit too much work for your liking and you only wish to fertilise the once per year, then make sure you do it during the Springtime. In any case, the optimal amount is three times per year.
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Should You Fertilize Your Lawn
There are many things to consider before answering this question. Not everyone’s goals and circumstances are the same. So the answer will vary from individual to individual.
If you want a great-looking lawn, and if you have the time, energy, and money to achieve that objective, then the answer is unequivocally yes. Proper fertilization is one factor that can make one lawn in the neighborhood stand out above the rest. Which brings us to the question, How often should you fertilize your lawn? Because, if you truly care about showcasing your lawn, you will want to fertilize it more than someone who is content with a patchy lawn. For the ultimate manicured lawn, you should fertilize it two or three times per year.
But not everyone needs a lush lawn. There are homeowners who value low maintenance over having the showiest lawn on the block. There are some homeowners who are organic gardeners, who shy away from using chemical fertilizers. Homemade compost can be applied to a lawn, instead, but there is work involved in making compost. Gardeners may value what compost is available too highly to waste it on lawns rather than on vegetable gardens. And there are some who simply hold lawns in low esteem for them, grass-covered areas are utilitarian, functioning merely as spaces for walking from point A to point B in the landscape.
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Apply Grass Fertilizer Correctly
Now you’re ready to apply. Feeding the lawn is as simple as mowing it, and as easy as walking at your normal steady pace. Just follow these guidelines for easy application and even coverage.
If youre using a broadcast spreader, feed the entire perimeter of your lawn first. Engage the side-shield, which blocks off one side of the spreader to keep the product on the lawn and out of gardening beds and off driveways and sidewalks. Next, fill in the middle by turning off the side-shield feature and walking back and forth in straight lines. To get even coverage, overlap slightly on each pass by moving over 2 steps before you begin the pass.
When using a drop spreader, start by applying 2 header strips at opposite ends of the lawn to create a turning area. Next, fill in the rest of the lawn by applying the fertilizer back and forth in straight lines perpendicular to your header strips. To ensure you get even coverage, be sure to overlap the wheel tracks by about half a foot .
After youve finished feeding your lawn, return any unused product to the bag and store it for future use.
How Often To Fertilize Lawn
Over-fertilizing is a thing. If once a year is right for your lawn, stick with that and dont get carried away. Fertilizer can be a valuable tool to keep a lawn healthy, dense and looking great, but it can also create environmental concerns if not used responsibly. Follow the label instructions on your fertilizer as each product has unique specifications and needs.
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Late Summer To Late Fall
Between August and November, grass slows down and prepares for the winter months. At the same time, broadleaf weeds start active growth again. With Pennington UltraGreen Winterizer Plus Weed & Feed Fertilizer 22-0-14, you can feed your northern or southern lawn nutrients essential to its winter prep and spring green-up and kill broadleaf weeds. As a general rule, allow six to eight weeks between fertilizing and your first expected frost.
As with all fertilizer products, check the label and follow instructions for your specific grass type. If you’re overseeding, wait until next year for weed & feed. Instead, turn to Pennington UltraGreen Lawn Fertilizer 30-0-4 for the year’s final feeding.
Always sweep excess fertilizer off sidewalks and patios to avoid runoff.
Are Lawn Fertilizers Safe To Use
The majority of lawn fertilizers are safe to use, but if you have pets that like to eat grass, it is worth checking the packaging when you buy for any contraindications, and keeping the pets off the lawn until it has had a good post-feed soaking to ensure the fertilizer has moved off the grass and down into the soil.
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When To Use Compost
Compost does more than feed grass it also builds and feeds soil. Compost contains microorganisms, micronutrients and organic matter items that nourish soil and foster a healthy underground environment in your lawn. When should you use compost? Spread a thin layer over lawns in early spring to fuel strong growth. Any time you plan to aerate, spread compost after aerating to improve soil and give roots a boost. Its also a good idea to apply compost before overseeding thin turf. Add compost to a lawn by the shovelful in several places.
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How To Fertilize Your Lawn
How to Fertilize Your Lawn
Make sure there is no vegetation or excessive root mass in the soil sample.When Im asked to help bring a homeowners lawn back to life, the first thing I do is to make sure they have their soil professionally tested.The results will provide important information that will help determine what type of grass fertilizer you should use and how often you should apply it.Most often, a soil test will focus on measuring major nutrients like phosphorus and potassium .If your lawns soil pH is too low or too high, the fertilizer you use may not work very well.Your county extension office, reputable garden center or local university can help you test your soil accurately, interpret the results and then offer solid recommendations for fixing any soil problems. .
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When’s The Best Time To Plant
The best time to plant depends on where you live and the type of grass youre planting. If you live in the North and are planting cool-season grass varieties, like Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, or fescues, the best time to plant grass seed is the spring and again in the fall. Cool-season grasses grow most actively when the air temperatures are between 50 and 80 degrees F, the soil temperature is 50 to 65 degree F, and rain is plentiful. Cool-season grasses go dormant and do not grow during hot weather, when the soil temperature goes above 65 degrees F. Since this is common during the peak summer months, planting cool-season grass seed can result in poor seed germination or even seedling death.
On the other hand, if you live in the South and are planting warm-season grass varieties, like centipedegrass, zoysiagrass, bahiagrass, or bermudagrass, the best time to seed is late spring through mid-summer. Warm-season grasses are originally from tropical areas of the world and, once established, are able to thrive in scorching sun and high temperatures. They grow most actively when air temperatures are warm, between 70 and 90 degrees F. In addition, seeds need warmer soil temperatures than cool-season grasses to germinate .
