What Is The Best Fertilizer For My Lawn

How To Choose The Best Lawn Fertilizer For A Green And Healthy Lawn This Summer

Take back this summer with a beautiful lawn! Summer equals outdoor time so its important to have a green and gorgeous lawn. Feeding your lawn early this summer will help strengthen it to withstand heat and drought conditions that commonly occur during these hot months.

And, while the term fertilizer describes a wide variety of materials, some will be most effective in helping your lawn regain its natural density and vigor. Like almost every other seemingly simple product, fertilizers are sold in several forms. The key to a great lawn is to use a timed-release product containing the major nutrients your lawn needs.

Commonly available types of fertilizers used on home lawns:

Best Lawn Fertilizer Ratio For Summer

Applying fertilizer on the lawn is part of the care and maintenance program. However, it is challenging when the weather is dry. Applying the wrong fertilizer ratio on your lawn in the warm season of summer can be detrimental. You may end up with a burned-out lawn.

The best lawn fertilizer ratio for summer is 25-0-5-50% slow release. 25% Nitrogen , 0% phosphorus, 5% potassium, and 50% of filler materials.

Slow-release fertilizer is better in the summer. It is coated with plastic resin or sulfur-based polymers to break down slowly when exposed to heat from the sun, water, or soil microbes.

Slow-release fertilizers minimize the risk of lawn fertilizer burn while staying in the soil for longer. It can last in the soil for a period of one to three months. There is an increased risk of lawn burn-out when you use quick-release fertilizers.

The idea behind quick-release fertilizers is to give the lawn a boost by releasing nutrients into the soil fast. However, it should be applied in an appropriate season.

Quick-release fertilizers contain a high nitrogen ratio. When applied to the grass during summer, the soils microbes cannot break down the excess nitrogen. Therefore, it dries out the grass blades to cause a burned look.

Apply low-nitrogen fertilizers to your lawn during the summer season. They release nutrients into the soil to maintain healthy growth throughout the summer. High nitrogen ratio fertilizers are appropriate for a lush green lawn during the spring season.

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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Why Is Nitrogen Important For Your Lawn

Knowing what each nutrient does for your grass is important, and will help guide you to the best lawn fertilizer ratio for your yard.

Nitrogen is essential for your grass to produce chlorophyll, a substance necessary for photosynthesis. This is necessary for leaf growth.

Some signs of nitrogen deficiency in your lawn may include:

• You notice fewer clippings when you mow the lawn

Nitrogen helps make your lawn green and promotes strong growth. If there isnt enough nitrogen in your lawn, the grass will probably be thin and pale in color.

It will also probably have slow growth and be more vulnerable to disease.

Can Fall Fertilizers Burn Grass

Yes, they can. Any fertilizer- whether its a spring or fall lawn food poses the risk of burning grass if used incorrectly.

This happens particularly when you apply too much fertilizer. The result is an excess amount of mineral salts, which draws water from the grass. This causes the grass to dry out quickly and turn brown hence, giving your lawn that burnt look.

The good news is that you can fix your lawn when this happens if you react quickly and water it immediately. The water neutralizes the high salt content causing your lawn to regain its beautiful green color.

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Growth Stage Of Your Lawn

Like any other plant, grass has different nutritional requirements in its various stages of growth. The fertilizer that is best for planting has a high ratio of phosphorus and potassium to enhance root development and resistance to drought.

When the lawn is established, you will need a fertilizer with a high nitrogen ratio to promote lush green color growth.

Why Fertilizer Is Important For Your Lawn

Fertilizer provides your lawn with the nutrients that it needs to flourish and thrive. The better the soil that houses your homes grass lawn is, the more rich, fertilizing nutrients your lawn can benefit from, but if you have not conceived and created your lawn from the get-go, you may not have a lawn that is loaded with self-fertilizing goodness.

Even the best soil tends to lose its potency and fertilizing power over time, so its important to fertilize your lawn to ensure that it will continue to grow at a satisfactory rate, as well as remain healthy and as green as possible for as long as possible during the year.

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Best Fertilizers For Grass In Summer

The summer months are rapidly approaching and if keeping up with the Joneses is your thing, it can be a lot easier to do so when they drive by and are envious of your luscious and vibrant front yard.

At first, creating a beautiful lawn can be daunting especially when you know that one of the key criteria for healthy, green grass is using the right fertilizer and you need to make a selection from all the hundreds that are available.

With endless choices available on the market, choosing the right one can leave even the most confident rubbing their chin. Fortunately, with a little bit of explanation, it doesnt have to be as hard as it seems. I have tested eight of the top fertilizers on the market heres what I found.

Which Is Better: Liquid Or Granular Fertilizer

The truth is that neither liquid nor granular fertilizer is superior to the other. Both fertilizers offer the same proportions of nutrients, so really which you choose will come down to the equipment that you have on hand, and which method youre more comfortable with.

You may have noticed that the products I recommend on this page are granular products thats because this is the method I use and have had great success with on my cool season lawn.

In my free cheat sheet I have some more specific recommendations about some liquid products you can use in-tandem with your fall granular application, so check that out if you havent grabbed your copy yet. You can get yours right here.

For now, heres a quick comparison of each fertilizer types pros and cons, which may be helpful guidance to you.

Advantages & Disadvantages of Liquid Fertilizer

• Not the easiest to apply
• Slow-acting, making it unsuitable for a lawn thats in distress

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How Long Does It Take For Fertilizer To Turn Grass Green

Just like over-applying fertilizer will yield negative results quickly, you will also know right away if you have done a good job fertilizing your lawn. If youve fertilized properly, you should start to see results anywhere from 1 to 5 days afterward, depending upon the type of fertilizer you used.

The Top 5 Best Lawn Fertilizers

The American dream: a house with a white picket fence where your dog and kids can run around in the lush green grass of your beautiful yard.

Notice how this dream does not include dead, yellowed, or sparse grass. But not all yards will grow beautiful green grass without a little help and lawn care. Thats where some of the best lawn fertilizers come in.

If you want your yard to look healthy and beautiful, consider one of our top five recommended fertilizers.

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Can I Fertilize My Lawn Every 2 Weeks

To avoid over-fertilizing, applying a fertilizer every two weeks is not recommended. Fertilizing as often as every two weeks will likely lead to problems such as lawn burn, excessive grass growth, as well as polluted water that can lead to toxic algae growth. A natural, healthier way of feeding your lawn every two weeks would be to simply leave the grass clippings on the lawn surface after mowing your grass.

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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What Happens If It Rains Or Snows Soon After I Apply Fertilizer

Youll definitely want to check the weather before you plan to apply fertilizerif rain or a heavy snowfall is in the forecast, you’ll want to wait for another day. A light rain or snow after you apply the fertilizer won’t hurt, but a downpour the next day could wash the fertilizer away. Keep in mind, too, that you never want to put fertilizer on frozen ground because the grass wont absorb it.

What To Look For When Buying A Fall Lawn Fertilizer

Anytime youre choosing a fall fertilizer for your lawn, keep these points in mind:

Grass Species

The first thing to consider is the type of grass on your lawn. This determines whether you should fertilize your lawn during fall or wait until later.

For the most part homeowners with cool-season grasses will be the ones who benefit from fall fertilization the most. This is because the grasses grown in this region reach peak growth during this time of year. Examples of these grasses include fescue grasses, perennial ryegrass, and Kentucky Bluegrass.

On the other hand, warm-season grasses thrive when the temperatures start rising in spring. Thus, the ideal time to fertilize these turf types is from late spring to early September. Its generally not advisable to fertilize these grass species after the 5th of September, though the unique micro-climate in your area may allow you to fertilize a bit later with no ill-effects.

If you live in the transition zone you may have either grass type growing in your lawn. As a result, youll need to think more critically about whether fall fertilization is right for you. If your lawn is greenest in the spring and fall, you probably should. If your lawn is greenest during the summer, hold off. Most people with cool season grass lawns in the transition zone will benefit from fall fertilization.

Nutrients

Types of Fall Lawn Fertilizer

Once youve figured out the NPK ratio that works for your lawn, its time to choose a specific type.

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Mulch Your Grass Clippings

If youre tired of bagging grass while you mow, weve got good news. To help your lawn stay greener year-round, you can leave the grass clippings on your lawn. When grass clippings break down, they provide your lawn with beneficial nutrients. While you dont need to buy a new mower blade, it doesnt hurt to install a mulching blade so that the grass is cut into smaller pieces. Learn more about recycling grass clippings here.

What Does The 13 13 13 Do To Grass

Triple 13 fertilizer is usually used to jump-start the growth of grass, gardens, flowers, and shrubs during the early Spring months. New lawns and other forms of landscaping can be established with balanced fertilization. Fertilizer is a combination of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers. Nitrogen is the most important nutrient for grass growth, while phosphorus is essential for plants to absorb water and nutrients from the soil.

The nitrogen-phosphorus ratio of a fertilizer depends on the type of fertilizer you use. For example, if you are using a high-nitrogen fertilizer, you will need to add more phosphorus than nitrogen to get the same amount of plant growth. This is why it is important to read the label of your fertilizer before using it.

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How To Fertilize Your Lawn

Before you fertilize, check your local weather forecast. Plan to fertilize just before a day of light, steady rain. Youll save water and your grass will be well-fed. Using an aerator to make small holes in your lawn before you fertilize can make it easier for fertilizer and water to reach the roots of the grass.

Fertilizers are typically grouped as granular, water-soluble and organic, and you can choose from walk-behind, handheld, drop or liquid spreaders to apply fertilizer to your lawn.

When trying to determine how much fertilizer to use on your lawn, remember that every eight steps is roughly equal to 10 feet. For size reference, compare your lawn to the size of a tennis court, which is 78 feet long and 36 feet wide.

It helps to break up your lawn into easily measurable sections. Sketch out a rough drawing of your yard and break it into a few large squares, rectangles, circles and triangles.

• For squares and rectangles, measure the length and the width, then multiply those two numbers to get your area.
• For circles, measure half the distance across the center of the circle then multiply by 3.14.
• For triangles, measure the base and the height, multiply the two numbers, then divide by two.
• Once you have the areas determined for each shape, add up the areas to get the total area of your lawn.

Choose from broadcast, handheld and drop spreaders to apply fertilizer to your lawn. Find recommendations for the proper spreader settings on the label of most fertilizers.

How Do I Calculate How Much Fertilizer I Need

Fertilizer recommendations for lawns can be confusing to the average homeowner. These instructions are usually given in pounds of nitrogen to be applied per 1,000 square feet. Home gardeners often have difficulty converting these recommendations to the amounts needed for their selected grade of nitrogen fertilizer and their homes lawn size. Luckily, you can use online fertilizer calculators to simplify things.

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What Is Lawn Fertilizer

Think of lawn fertilizer this way: No matter how many glasses of seltzer you drink, you cant live on ityou need to tuck into a few good meals each day, too. Your lawn is just the same. As much as it needs water, it also needs additional nutrients to survive, and lawn fertilizer supplies those nutrients.

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.

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Why Is Potassium Important For Your Lawn

Potassium is essential for physiological process regulation in grass. It also allows the grass to more effectively use nitrogen. Like phosphorus and nitrogen, potassium is a macronutrient, and is one of the three big numbers youll see on any lawn fertilizer bag.

A macronutrient is a nutrient that plants need in large amounts for healthy growth. Potassium helps your lawn have better nutrient and water uptake. It is also key in starch and protein synthesis.

With potassium, your grass is better able to grow thicker cell walls and grass will stay strong and healthy. This makes your lawn more effective at withstanding stress from cold, heat, disease, and drought. Giving your lawn more potassium in the spring can put it in a better position to handle brutal summer heat.

If your lawn has a potassium deficiency, it can develop symptoms of stress, including chlorosis . This can cause defoliation and shedding.

There will also probably be poor stem and root development, and slow growth. Grass that is deficient in potassium can also lead to lower resilience in harsh weather.

When Should I Apply Fertiliser To My Lawn

The best time to apply fertiliser to your lawns is during early spring. Note that it is best to check the soil temperature beforehand, with the ideal temperature being 55 degrees Fahrenheit. If you dont have any means of checking the soil temperature, your best indicator would be how green the grass is. If the grass is beginning to turn greener and if some of the flowers start blooming, this is a good sign that you should start applying fertiliser to your lawn.

Once you start fertilising your lawn, you need to work out a fertilization schedule. Most fertilisers have a recommended schedule on their labels, but if you feel that you should do something else for your lawn, consult with a reputable lawn and reticulation company for advice. These professionals will advise you how to best take care of your lawn and you can avoid any problems caused by improper fertilization.

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