What Is The Right Fertilizer For My Lawn

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.

Best Fertilizer For Crabgrass Prevention

What I like about Greenview Fairway Formula Spring Fertilizer + Crabgrass Preventer is the quality of the fertilizer in the bag and the active ingredient of the crabgrass herbicide. It boasts a high-quality, professional grade slow-release nitrogen source called methylene-urea. This is a popular choice among professionals.

The fertilizer releases evenly over an eight- to 10-week period without that flush of growth that can have you mowing more than you want. The crabgrass killer is Dimension. And its extra strength dose means it will keep your lawn crabgrass-free longer than other pre-emergents. Dimension kills crabgrass for a short period of time even after it sprouts. Other pre-emergent herbicides wont do that.

Fertilizer For Spring Summer And Fall: What To Apply And When

The proud owners of lush, thick, green grass understand what it takes to get and keep an enviable lawn and fertilizer is their superpower. Knowing all there is to know about how and when to fertilize is their advantage. If you have just had your lawn replaced with thick lush new sod then you want to keep it that way.

Fertilizing your grass isn’t as elementary as sprinkling whatever you have in the shed on your lawn. Fertilizers all present with three numbers that tell us a lot about what’s in the bag. The first number indicates how much nitrogen can be found in a particular fertilizer. The second number represents levels of phosphorus and the third, potassium. Follow this schedule and treat your lawn on a seasonal basis.

Spring

Keep in mind that there are other things you can do before it’s time to fertilize. In late May or early June, before the heat of the summer arrives, apply some slow release nitrogen. This will encourage the grass to rebuild.

A good dose of nitrogen rich fertilizer will also arm your lawn. Fighting off the stresses of summer, traffic, disease, heat, and drought. Fertilizer is its defense. If you can’t stand to sit around and do nothing when the snow melts and the grass that emerges looks like its dead, consider an herbicide. However, herbicides can be harsh on grass, so ensure your herbicide contains a little fertilizer to help your lawn fight the negative effects herbicides can have on grass.

Summer

Fall

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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.

How Do I Choose The Right Ratio

Choosing the right ratio depends on the current health of your lawn. Here are some general rules to stick to.

A Healthy Lawn

For an established and healthy lawn, choose fertilizers that are rich in nitrogen but lower in phosphorous and potassium. Nitrogen is the least expensive nutrient of the bunch, and an established and healthy lawn doesnât need as much potassium or phosphorous.

A New Lawn

For a new lawn, phosphorous and potassium are much more important. Go easy on the nitrogen as the roots arenât ready to handle a lot of top growth yet. So choose a fertilizer thatâs low in nitrogen and high in potassium and phosphorous. Itâs usually more expensive, but itâs important for new turf.

A Stressed Lawn

If your grass is dealing with stressful conditions, then an increase in potassium can help prevent that stress and prepare grass to be stronger. Choose fertilizers with high nitrogen and potassium, but lower in phosphorous.

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How To Fertilize A Lawn

This article was co-authored by Ben Barkan. Ben Barkan is a Garden and Landscape Designer and the Owner and Founder of HomeHarvest LLC, an edible landscapes and construction business based in Boston, Massachusetts. Ben has over 12 years of experience working with organic gardening and specializes in designing and building beautiful landscapes with custom construction and creative plant integration. He is a Certified Permaculture Designer, is licensed Construction Supervisor in Massachusetts, and is a Licensed Home Improvement Contractor. He holds an associates degree in Sustainable Agriculture from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.There are 7 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 132,438 times.

Is your lawn patchy with spots that are thinning? Fertilizing your lawn can help you get the lush, green grass you desire. To properly fertilize your lawn it’s important to prepare the ground, pick out the right fertilizer, and use a method that will give your lawn the best chance to grow in stronger and healthier. Once you’ve laid out your fertilization plan, try and remain consistent from season to season. With a little work, it truly is easier to keep and maintain a healthy lawn.

What Is Lawn Fertilizer

Here I am talking about products that only contain nutrients or soil amendments. Those being N-P-K and/or micronutrients and carbon or bio-stimulants. We are not talking about weed and feeds which contain fertilizer + weed control, or other dual use products. Its important to understand that fertilizer is just nutrients and amendments for the lawn. If you need to kill weeds, bugs or fungus, I recommend applying those as separate treatments in summer.

Confused already? Please review this blog post I wrote earlier this season that talks about the basics of lawn fertilizer. If you are a beginner, it will arm you with the knowledge needed when heading to the store.

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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.

What Month Should I Fertilize My Lawn

Most lawn care companies recommend that you apply lawn fertilizer in the spring, between February and April. This is when your grass will start to green up as it begins to actively grow. Basically, if it looks like your grass is ready for its first mowing of the season, then it should also be ready for lawn fertilizer.

While most people know to fertilize their lawns in the spring, it is important to remember that fall feeding is critical, too. In the fall, grass roots are going down into the soil and need fertilizer to stay healthy. This is the most important application of fertilizer for the whole year since it will protect your lawn as it goes dormant over winter. However, if the fall you should use a specific fall fertilizer that is slightly higher in phosphorous and potassium, as it will promote better root growth. To ensure optimal lawn health, fertilize heavily in the fall and lightly in early spring.

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How To Apply Fertilizer

Fertilizer comes in two forms – liquid and granular. Both are equally effective at fertilizing lawns, however they both have their pros and cons.

Liquid fertilizers work fast, as the fertilizer is quickly absorbed into the roots of the turf. However, liquid fertilizer needs to be applied more frequently and there is a higher chance of burning the lawn if you apply too much fertilizer.

Granular fertilizers are slower to absorb into the soil and roots, meaning it will take longer to improve the health of plants and grass. But, granular fertilizers do not need to be applied as often and there is less chance of burning the lawn.

Liquid fertilizers are often mixed with water in a hand pump sprayer or backpack sprayer, then sprayed onto lawns. Some liquid fertilizers can even be attached to a hose for easy application.

Granular fertilizers are applied to lawns and plant beds with a granular spreader. The lawn should be damp before applying the granules and then watered after the granules have been spread to activate the granules. Be careful not to apply granules in the full summer sun as that can cause fertilizer burn to the lawn.

Learn how to mix and apply liquids and granules in our helpful guide here. For all fertilizers, be sure to read the label of the bottle or bag to ensure the fertilizer is compatible with your grass type and to learn how much to use at a time. Remember, more fertilizer than recommended does not mean faster results.

Pros And Cons Of Granular Lawn Fertilizer

Granular fertilizers come in the form of tiny particles in a bag. You apply them to your lawn using a fertilizer spreader, without diluting or mixing with water first. Most granular options are slow-release fertilizers, which means they add nutrients to the soil gradually over time instead of all at once.

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What Happens If I Over

Along with fertilize burn, over-fertilizing can cause damage to your turfs root structure, as well. Some fertilizers contain high levels of nitrogen, which if absorbed in large amounts can become harmful. What mainly causes the dreaded burn, however, is an abundant accumulation of soluble salts.

Best Fertilizers To Use

The best fertilizers to use are slow release. When you use slow release fertilizers, the grass will get green without growing too quickly. In the spring, mixtures of 20-5-10 are suitable to use. You can also perform a soil pH test before you start the process. Then, you can base the mixture off of your results. For example, if your pH tests come back with high potassium results, you can look for a combination that is lower in that category.

Call 215.799.2016 or fill out the contact form on the bottom of this page. We can answer any of your questions or set up a fertilization plan to keep your lawn healthy and looking great.

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Recap: Lawn Fertilizer Dos And Don’ts

• Use test results to choose the right fertilizer.
• Spend time accurately measuring the size of your lawn.
• Try an organic during the hot summer months.
• Buy a quality spreader that best fits your needs.
• Accurately calibrate your spreader to make sure you apply the right amount.
• Keep your spreader well maintained.
• Keep records of what and how much you apply and when you apply it.

Dont:

• Test your soil after you have fertilized.
• Guess on how much fertilizer you need and what setting you use.
• Apply fertilizer in hot, humid weather.
• Apply fertilizer near water features, on hard surfaces or on frozen ground.
• Use phosphorus unless your soil test indicates a deficiency.
• Apply more than four times a year.
• Use liquid fertilizers on your lawn.
• Use a drop spreader in big lawns.
• Bag your clippings.

Scotts Summer Lawn Food

I found this Scotts product that is quite interesting because it just shows that the corporate technical managers at Scotts also agree with me on my slow play strategy.

The only nutrient value in this fertilizer is nitrogen. Its a 34-0-0. Now at first glance, 34% nitrogen is VERY high, but that can be deceiving. I have read deep into the label to reveal to you some little known facts about this product. The product may be 34% nitrogen, but 17% of that is made slow release by coating it with polymers. Urea itself will green up your lawn nicely but only lasts for about 28 days and fades quickly thereafter. The Scotts folks extend this time by formulating half of their Urea in this product coated in polymers that cause the Urea nitrogen to be released much more slowly. This gives you some quick release green and some slow release on the backend. Pretty smart.

Another reason that its a good slow play is the bag rate. The bag rate is the easy way to find out how much of the product to put down. Remember, I always recommend that the very first thing you do when taking on a lawn program is to measure your lawn and section it out by 1000 sq ft sections. Here is a recent video I did showing you how to measure your lawn.

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What Do You Do If You Burn Your Lawn With Fertilizer

If youve overdone it with the fertilizer, you may still be able to save your lawn. Burned lawns will need a generous amount of water to get back to green. Its vital that you water the lawn as soon as you spot any brown or yellow patches to prevent further damage. Slowly soak the affected areas every day for about a week to fully flush out the extra salt. To avoid causing sun damage while the lawn is in crisis, be sure to water early in the morning. Within a few weeks, the affected areas should be turning back to green. If not, those areas of your lawn may need to be dug up and overseeded to inspire new growth.

My Take On Organic Fertilizers

Organic fertilizers are becoming more popular with lawn owners because of the idea that they are more environmentally friendly. Quality organic fertilizers will contain meal-based nutrients or some may contain poultry litter. A complete natural organic lawn food will have low NPK numbers, most always below 10. Its best to apply these fertilizers during the warmer growing months, from May through September, depending where you live. Organics help feed your lawn by stimulating microbial activity in your soil, creating a healthier medium in which your grass can grow.

They are safer to use and will not harm your lawn like some conventional fertilizers will, especially during the hot summer months. They work a bit slower, however, so youll need to be patient.

Youll also discover they are much more expensive. All that said, give them a try!

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Why Choose Trugreen For Your Lawn Fertilizer Needs

At House Method, we suggest TruGreen as a professional lawn care provider to take care of fertilizing your lawn. As Americas #1 lawn care company, they have branches in many major citiesincluding Tampa, Austin, and Houstonacross 47 states, so theres likely one near you.*

Not only are their technicians experts in the lawn care field, but they provide the localized service your lawn needs. Theyll be able to determine what types of fertilizers work best for your climate, soil type, and grass type. Other reasons we recommend TruGreen include:

• Guaranteed resultsThe Healthy Lawn Guarantee ensures that youre satisfied with the technicians work and are happy with how your yard works. If not, they will come between regularly scheduled appointments to fix the problem.
• Healthy Lawn AnalysisYour lawn fertilization service starts with an analysis of your lawn to figure out whats missing from your soil.
• Care thats tailored to your lawn careYour lawn is a unique landscape, and TruGreen provides the individualized care necessary for it to thrive.

If youre interested in learning more about TruGreens lawn fertilizer and lawn care services, give them a call at or fill out the online form for a free quote.

To learn more: TruGreen Reviews.

Most Common Lawn Nutrients

Almost all lawn fertilizers contain one or more of the three major nutrients required for a lawns optimum growth. The nutrients Nitrogen , Phosphorus , and Potassium are most commonly found in grass fertilizer. Not only are they important to plant growth, but they are also usually the most deficient in natural soils. Each nutrient serves a different purpose for promoting ideal plant growth.

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