How Often Can You Fertilize Your Lawn

What Is The Best Fertilizer

The best fertilizer for your lawn depends on the type of grass you have. For example, if you have cool-season grass, like bluegrass or fescue, you should use a fertilizer with higher nitrogen content. If you have warm-season grass, like Bermuda or Zoysia, you should use a fertilizer with a higher phosphorus content.

How To Fertilize Your Lawn: All You Need To Know

• Date: August 4, 2022
• Time to read: 5 min.

The health of your lawn depends on several factors, one of which is fertilization. Proper fertilization gives your lawn the nutrients it needs to grow strong and look its best. But how do you know how and when to fertilize your lawn? This guide will tell you everything you need to know about fertilizing your lawn, from when to do it, to how often, to what type of fertilizer to use.

Use The Right Spreader

When applying lawn fertilizers, always use a lawn spreader. Never spread product by hand! A broadcast spreader with a side-shield feature like the EdgeGuard® feature is great for most lawns. This makes application along the lawn’s perimeter easy by shutting off half the spreader flow, so product is only applied on the lawn and not on non-lawn areas like the driveway, sidewalk, or landscaping. A drop spreader is another option for small spaces because the application area is much narrower. Learn more about which spreader is right your yard .

Fill the spreader hopper with your lawn fertilizer, then set the spreader to the recommended setting listed on the product package. If the product package does not provide a spreader setting, it is not intended for lawn use.

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How To Apply Lawn Fertilizer

There are several ways to apply lawn fertilizer. Using a spreader provides more even coverage than fertilizing by hand. Hand fertilizing often results in burns where the fertilizer is concentrated and pale areas that dont get as much fertilizer as they should.

Broadcast or rotary spreaders are easy to use and dont cause striping like drop spreaders. The advantage to drop spreaders is that there is no chance of overthrow getting fertilizer on streets, sidewalks, or driveways. With a drop spreader, you have to make two trips over the lawn at right angles. For example, if you make your first trip over the lawn in a north-south direction, the second trip should run east to west.

After applying the fertilizer, water the lawn thoroughly. Watering rinses the fertilizer off the grass blades so that they wont burn, and it allows the fertilizer to sink down into the soil so it can get to work. Keep kids and pets off the lawn for the amount of time recommended on the label, which is usually 24 to 48 hours.

Picking The Right Fertilizer

Picking the right fertilizer depends on your lawn type and your end goal is. If you want to make your lawn greener and healthier, a product like The Andersons 16-0-8 Fertilizer with Humic DG is great for you. It contains methylene-urea that will give your lawn an even feed over eight to 10 weeks. Its also safe for pets.

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How Often Should You Fertilize Your Lawn In Florida

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The first fertilization should take place in mid-April, with another two applications in the summer and early fall, the last one no later than mid-September. This fertilization season provides the needed nutrients during the active grass growth phase.

Additionally, what is the best fertilizer for St Augustine grass? The 8 Best Fertilizer for St Augustine Grass

Beside this, how do I fertilize my lawn in Florida?

Apply a complete slow-release nitrogen fertilizer to provide 1 pound of actual nitrogen per 1,000 square feet. After the initial fertilization, follow UF/IFAS guidelines for your grass species for fertilizing established turf. Do not use weed and feed products.

How often should I fertilize St Augustine grass?

The best fertilizer for St Augustine grass will vary, but the rule of thumb is one pound of nitrogen for every 1,000 square feet. Fertilizing every two months is ideal unless you apply slow-release nitrogen that can be spread every 10 weeks.

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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Should I Fertilize My Lawn Before Or After Mowing

Ideally, youll want to mow and rake before fertilizing so that excess lawn waste is removed, allowing the fertilizer to have an easier time reaching the soil. Aerating your soil before fertilizing can also help. When fertilizing a lawn, it is best to apply fertilizer after the lawn has been mowed so it has a few days to absorb the fertilizer.

Can You Use Too Much Lawn Fertilizer

You can use too much fertilizer, which is why using a spreader and following the manufacturer’s instructions carefully are both good options. And yes, using too much fertilizer can harm your lawn, leaving the individual blades of grass scorched.

‘Avoid overdoing the fertilizer as you will produce soft weak growth which will just grow too long too quickly,’ comments David Truby. ‘Make sure there is an even coverage as this will ensure the uniformity of color across the entire lawn. To do this, you should use a spreader designed specifically for this purpose and apply the required amount in two halves to help get a more even coverage across your lawn.’

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What If Ive Recently Overseeded My Lawn

The best time to fertilize a lawn is right after or just before youve done overseeding work. When you have a starter fertilizer available, itll offer a quick-release nitrogen profile to give the seeds an extra nutritional boost that encourages germination.

Although fertilizer isnt 100% necessary for grass seeds to germinate, it does make the process faster. If youre trying to fix bare spots or solve patchiness, a quick fix establishes a more robust root profile that supports the rest of the lawn.

With fertilizer, the grass should grow faster, making it more likely youll get a lush and healthy lawn to enjoy throughout the year.

Nutrition For New Grass

Whether its seeded, sodded, or sprigged over a whole lawn or a small bare spot, new grass benefits from extra nutrients. For good quality soil, adding an inch or two of compost might be all you need to do.

If your soil is less than ideal, apply starter fertilizer. This fertilizer is specially formulated for new lawns and contains higher levels of nutrients, phosphorous in particular, to help seeds sprout and seedlings grow strong, deep roots. Many also contain quick-release nitrogen to promote seed germination.

Before planting, apply the fertilizer with a lawn spreader, but dont rake it in. The fertilizer should go no deeper than 4 inches to prevent damage to the grass roots. Wait until after the third mowing to fertilize again.

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How To Fertilize Your Lawn Naturally

If you want to fertilize your lawn naturally, there are a few things you can do. First, you can compost your own yard waste and use it to fertilize your lawn. This is a great way to recycle yard waste and give your lawn the nutrients it needs. You can also use mulch from leaves and grass clippings to fertilize your lawn. Another option is to use a slow-release fertilizer that will provide nutrients to your lawn over time.

St Augustine Growing Seasons

Balanced nutrition is at the core of a healthy lawn. Throughout the year, grass goes through stages of growth where it has different nutrient requirements.

St. Augustine breaks dormancy in mid-spring. During this greening-up period, the nutrient requirements are fairly low. Fertilizing during this time will encourage weak, unsustainable growth, which is a prime target for cooler-weather diseases like brown patch fungus.

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St. Augustine takes off during the summer. Warm, humid environments are the perfect growing climate for St. Augustine. After youve mowed a few times, the lawn will be triggered to grow deeper roots and to send out runners to fill in bare patches of soil. This is the time to begin fertilizing.

During warm weather, when St. Augustine is actively growing, it needs a consistent supply of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium to grow deeper root systems, send out runners, and maintain new leaf growth. Consistent, vigorous growth helps the lawn resist pests and disease, and also helps it cope with potential drought conditions.

St. Augustine goes dormant once the soil reaches 550. As the lawn prepares for winter, nutrient requirements lessen. Fertilizing during this time will encourage weak, unsustainable growth that will be susceptible to disease.

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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.

Does It Matter What Time Of Day You Fertilize Your Grass

Time of day doesnt matter. But what does matter is the temperature. If its above 90 degrees, then avoid fertilizing. This is because you could burn your lawn the hotter it is outside, the faster things will move through the soil.

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Tips On Calculating Fertilizer & Irrigation

Calculating Fertilizer

To determine the amount of fertilizer product required to apply 0.5 pound of nitrogen per thousand square feet, divide 0.5 by the first number in the fertilizer ratio.

For example, for a 20-5-5 fertilizer , divide 0.5 by 0.20 .

The result is 2.5 pounds of product per thousand square feet.

Calculating Irrigation

To determine the quantity of water supplied by a sprinkler system, place several straight-sided cans in each irrigated zone. Run the zone and record the amount of time required to fill the cans to a level of 1/2- or 3/4-inches.

Each zone will most likely vary in the amount of time required to produce the same quantity of water.

Now program into the irrigation controller the time needed to produce the required irrigation rates to make the sprinkler system automated.

How To Apply Fertilizer To Your Lawn

Lawn fertilizers are sold in either liquid or granulated form.

This is mostly important in determining how to spread the fertilizer. With organic fertilizers, the difference comes down to what the fertilizer is comprised of. Corn grain meal based fertilizers are typically granular, while fish emulsions are liquid.

Synthetic fertilizers are available in both forms.

Speaking generally, most homeowners find granular fertilizers easier to apply.

If you want to use a liquid fertilizer, it is simpler to hire a professional service like TruGreen or a local alternative to do so.

Its more difficult to measure out and ensure even application of a liquid fertilizer. Professional services do that regularly and understand how to apply it.

Using a spreader to apply granular fertilizer is a simple process. A small broadcast spreader can be bought locally or for under $40.

Using a spreader is easy fill the hopper up on pavement, then walk the spreader across your yard.

Start with the perimeter, using an edge-guard to keep the material in your grass. Then go line by line until your yard is covered.

Spread it at a lower than recommended rate at first. This way youre sure not to add too much and damage your yard .

Make sure to sweep any granules off the pavement and into your yard. Left on pavement, they can harm the environment if allowed to wash into storm drains.

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When Not To Fertilize Your Lawn

Don’t apply fertilizer when a heavy rainstorm is in the forecast. A downpour may wash the fertilizer away. But if you’re expecting a moderate amount of rain to come and to fall steadily upon the earth, this is an ideal time to fertilize: It will save you from having to water the fertilizer in, yourself.

Since heat and dryness are your enemies when fertilizing a lawn, avoid applying fertilizer to your grass during periods of severe drought. Your grass is stressed at such times, increasing the likelihood that a chemical fertilizer will burn it.

What To Look For Buying Best Fertilizer For Grass

Nutrients

The basic nutrients required for the healthy growth of grass are nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium also known as the NPK ratio that all fertilizers contain in distinct ratios. The additional equally significant nutrients include iron, carbon, and other secondary nutrients.

Before deciding on the nutrients required, you should get your soil tested to figure the deficiencies in your soil. After realizing the potential deficiencies of your soil, get the potentially suitable fertilizer accordingly.

Organic vs. Synthetic

Organic fertilizers typically cost more than their synthetic counterparts. They may take longer to give you the lush lawn youre looking for, but they provide several advantages for the environment and your lawns health. The nutrients used in organic fertilizers are eco-friendly and do not cause any harm to children and other inhabitants of your home.

Synthetic fertilizers produce quick results but they are not healthy for the environment. They contain artificially acquired ingredients that cause alarmingly grim impacts on the environment and pollute neighboring water bodies.

Formula

Typically, there are two types of fertilizers available on the market, the liquid fertilizers and the granular fertilizers.

Liquid fertilizers are either directly supplied by spraying on the ground, or water-soluble types that are first mixed in water before use. They are usually required in larger quantities and have to be applied more frequently.

Grass Type

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How Do You Know About The Frequency Of Fertilization

If you are fertilizing too little, you cannot provide the required level of nutrients it needs. Even if you apply the fertilizer, it can become yellow and brittle. If you use excessive fertilizer, it can lead to burning the blades. As said above, fertilizing twice is always a good idea for lawn owners.

The best time to apply is during the early spring and fall seasons. However, this would depend more on any lawn you have. Some people consider fertilizing four times a year. These people opt for the timing during Easter, Memorial Day, Labor Day and Halloween. If you are using synthetic fertilizer, you have the choice of applying it for 8 to 10 weeks.

However, once you find the temperature reaching its peak during the summer, it is always a good idea to avoid the fertilization process. Also, the bad time for fertilization is when you consider it during the grass growing season. So, depending upon the grass and plants growth schedule, the application of fertilization is worked out.

Things You Do After Your First Use Of Lawn Fertilizer

Once you apply fertilizer, you have to keep a few tips in mind. Have a look:

• Avoid using the lawn for at least 24 hours after the fertilization process. Keep away the kids and pets from the grass till you find things dry, and once you find the soil has absorbed fertilizers.
• Avoid mowing for at least two days. The reason is simple: it can hamper the setting of fertilization.

These are basic things to keep in mind once you apply the fertilizer.

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When To Apply Popular Uk Fertilizers

Below is a table detailing how often to apply popular U.K. lawn fertilizers such as Miracle-Gro Evergreen and Westland. Please note that some of the fertilizers below contain weedkiller. These can be applied to any type of grass.

Please note that the table below includes Amazon Affiliate links.

*NPK = Nitrogen, Phosphorous, Potassium

The Right Feeding Schedule For Your Grass Type

Overfertilizing promotes excess leaf growth at the expense of root growth, or worse, creates an unhealthy pH and nutrient balance, and a harmful buildup of salts. Before you decide on your fertilization schedule, read your fertilizers label to find out how long its formulated to last. Some time-released formulas continuously release nutrients for as long as 12 months, and reapplying to soon leads to over fertilization.

In general, plan to fertilize two to four times or around once every six to eight weeks, applying the bulk of the lawns yearly fertilizer during its most active growth period. Your grass active growth period depends on whether its a cool-season species, such as Kentucky bluegrass or tall fescue, or a warm-season species, such as Bermudagrass or St. Augustine grass.

Spring and fall are the active growing times for cool-season grasses, so thats when youll want to provide most of the years fertilizer. In summer, when growth is slower, these grasses need little to no feeding. Warm-season grasses are most active in summer, so they need most of their nutrition between late spring to early fall. Because they slow down once the weather cools, they dont benefit from late-fall fertilization.

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