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What Kind Of Fertilizer For Lawn

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When Should I Fertilize My Lawn

Which Lawn Fertilizer is Best for Your Lawn | The Home Depot

The best time to add fertilizer to your lawn is in late spring, after the ground has warmed up and your grass has already begun growing. It’s important not to apply fertilizer too early in the season, as this can stunt your grass’s growth. Many people choose to apply more fertilizer once or twice more during the growing season, but this depends on your yard’s specific needs.

Choosing A Grass Fertilizer

As the saying goes, you get what you pay for. That same axiom applies when you buy lawn fertilizers. You can go cheap and regret it, or pretend your lawn is the Yankee Stadium outfield and throw fiscal responsibility to the wind. Id like to think theres a middle ground. Lets focus on value rather than price.

Lets find a handful of lawn food gems that give your lawn an edge over your neighbors. But before heading to your favorite home retailer or buying online, have a clear understanding about what youre trying to accomplish.

Are you simply trying to green up your lawn? Is your goal to feed your lawn and control weeds or insects? Maybe youre starting a new lawn and want the best for those delicate little seedlings as they break ground? Are you considering a naturally organic approach to feeding your lawn?

Lets take a closer look at six top-choice options that will leave you feeling good about what fertilizer you pour into your spreader.

Summer Fertilizers For Grass

Most varieties of established grass are hardwearing and can withstand much of what summer brings droughts, heavy footfall, ball games, and even an unsharpened mower blade from time to time.

The grass is not invincible, however. In the summer months, it needs nitrogen to maintain a lush vibrant color and to encourage new growth. It also needs phosphorus to ensure a sturdy and robust root structure.

A good quality summer fertilizer for grass will enable you to get the right balance of these two macronutrients so that your lawn looks healthy and keeps growing throughout the season.

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Trugreen: Keeping Your Healthy Lawn Year

Fertilizing your lawn is just one part of a complete lawn care routine all year long. Investing in a professional lawn care company can help you not only build a beautiful lawn but maintain it. The best part is you wont have to waste your time trying to figure out fertilizer labels and amounts for your lawn. Providers like TruGreen offer a range of lawn care service packages to take care of the fertilization or your yard, and much more.

TruHealthSM Lawn Plan
  • Pre-emergent and targeted weed control
  • Pre-emergent and targeted weed control
  • Pre-emergent and targeted weed control

All three packages include the Healthy Lawn Guarantee and Healthy Lawn Analysis®.

How N P And K Are Mixed

Dr. Earth Organic &  Natural Super Natural Pelletized Lawn Fertilizer ...

If you look closely at most store-brand lawn fertilizers, they look like little pebbles of different colors. That’s because the N, P, and K are all separate. So, when you spread the product on the lawn, you don’t get an even distribution. Most Scotts® Lawn Food products have Scotts® All-In-One Particles®, which means your lawn gets an even distribution of nutrients every time you apply it

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The Different Types Of Lawn Fertilizer

Fertilization is an effective way to prevent damage from disease and pests and minimize the maintenance of your lawn. It’s all well and good, but what type of fertilizer should you use?

There are three different types of fertilizers:

  • Starter fertilizer. This type of fertilizer is quickly absorbed by plants, but has short-term effectiveness. It promotes the growth of the lawn because this has a high nitrogen content. Its use is recommended after seeding.
  • Slow release fertilizer. Fertilizers of this type have short and medium-term effectiveness . It’s a good choice of fertilizer if you want your lawn to grow faster and be denser.
  • Long-term fertilizer. As its name suggests, it has long-term effectiveness. Its use is recommended for healthy lawns, which show few signs of deficiency. You can apply it once a year to meet the nutritional needs of your lawn.

When To Apply Fertilizers

Experts at the University of California recommend fertilizing your lawn four times a year with a fertilizer that delivers one pound of nitrogen, as well as other nutrients, at each application. The best time to fertilize grass depends on the type of grass you are growing. Cool-season grasses that grow actively during the spring and fall are fertilized best in May, September or October. Warm-season grasses that grow actively during the summer benefit the most from fertilizer that is applied during May, June, September and October. The best time to apply a complete fertilizer that contains nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium to a warm-season grass is in May. Cool-season grasses benefit from complete fertilizers when they are applied in October.

References

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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.

Nutrient Name
  • Helps grass resist drought and disease

Best Fall Lawn Fertilizer

Cheapest Fertilizer For Your Lawn + Back Yard Update!

A fertilizer with a formula of 20-8-8 will get it growing again. Always follow the manufacturer’s recommended rate of application. Some people treat weeds and insects at this time, but I think that unless there are signs of trouble or a history of problems, don’t apply anything but fertilizer.

While this fall lawn fertilizer dose is important, an application at the end of October or early November is essential. At that time, apply a fertilizer with a formula of 13-25-12. The push of phosphorus will stimulate root growth through November and even into early December. By helping roots grow before winter sets in, you are insuring that the lawn will green-up quicker in the spring and become more resistant to disease and draught.

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When To Feed A New Lawn

A second application of starter fertilizer is recommended once the seed has germinated or, if you’ve chosen sod, once the sod has rooted in. You can test by grasping a handful of the sodded grass and giving it a gentle tug. If it remains in place and doesn’t pull up this mean roots are establishing. The nutrient needs differ slightly for a newly seeded lawn versus a sodded lawn after the grass is up and growing.

How To Fertilize Your Lawn In Fall

Should you add lawn fertilizing to your fall to-do list? It depends. Learn what you need to know about fall lawn feeding.

Fall brings a host of favorite activities football, whipping up steamy pots of chili and finding the perfect pumpkin. It’s also the time to start prepping your house and yard for cooler weather to come. In the midst of that flurry of chores, your lawn needs some attention, too. Treating your turf right this fall can help ensure a lush carpet of green next year.

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When Is The Best Time To Apply A Fall Fertilizer

Unfortunately, theres no clear-cut answer to this question as climatic conditions vary from one region to another.

But any time between mid-August and October 1 is the ideal time to apply fall fertilizer for most people.

Most industry experts recommend working your way backward and applying the last feeding 6 to 8 weeks before the first frost date in your area.

If you apply the fertilizer too soon, youre only increasing the risk of winter injury to your turf. On the other hand, waiting until the ground freezes isnt ideal either.

Cool Season Vs Warm Season Grasses

Scotts Turf Builder 9 lb. 4,000 sq. ft. Summer Lawn Fertilizer

Cool-season grass generally originates in the North and is characterized by rapid growth in the spring and fall. Cool-season grass types often turn brown during periods of high summer heat. The best time to plant cool-season grass seed is in late summer or early fall.

Determine your grass type to find the best lawn fertilizer for your yard. Warm-season grasses such as bahia, bermuda, centipede, St. Augustine and zoysia grow vigorously throughout much of the year and need a little more attention than cool-season varieties.

The cool-season grasses like fescue, Kentucky bluegrass and rye grow and spread more slowly than warm-season varieties. They are typically semi-dormant during the summer, so you fertilize them just twice a year: once at the beginning of spring and again at the beginning of fall.

You can also reinvigorate your summer lawn by overseeding. Cool season grasses in the North can be overseeded in spring and fall. That window is open a little longer in the South. You can overseed warm season grasses from late spring to mid-summer. Learn more about overseeding your lawn.

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Understand Your Usda Hardiness Zone

Before you start shopping for lawn fertilizer, Lucas says you first need to know what type of grass you have and your USDA hardiness zone. “There are many types of grasses, but it comes down to whether you have cool season grass or warm season turf-grass,” he explains. “Go by your USDA hardiness zone to determine this.” If you live in zone 9b or higher, for example, you most likely have warm season grass.

Best Lawn Fertilizer Ratio

Most bags of fertilizer list the concentration of nutrients they carry on their label as a percentage or a series of three numbers separated by dashes. These numbers, known as the fertilizer analysis, list the percentages of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium contained in the fertilizer. For instance, a 4-1-2 ratio signifies four parts nitrogen to one part phosphorous to two parts potassium. Fertilizers with a high concentration of nitrogen, such as ammonium nitrate or urea, are used best when your grass is growing actively. Complete fertilizers that contain all three nutrients are applied best at the beginning or end of the growing season for your grass.

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Will Regular Fertilizer Harm New Grass Seed

Regular fertilizer will kill new grass since it doesnt provide enough essential phosphorus to get the grass established and may be adding too much nitrogen or potassium for the seeds to use.

Conversely, a starter fertilizer wont provide the right nutrients anymore for mature grass systems once the grass is established.

Some regular fertilizers contain herbicides, weed-killer that doesnt harm established grass. During the germination process, however, the herbicide will disrupt the seeds from sprouting. Be sure not to apply herbicides for several weeks before or after planting grass seed.

How To Choose The Best Fall Lawn Fertilizer

Best Spring Fertilizer for Lawns // HOW to Apply Spring Fertilizer

Finding the ideal fall fertilizer for your lawn can be daunting, especially if its your first time buying.

To help you make a more informed decision, there are several factors that you should take into account.

It also helps to familiarize yourself with common mistakes that buyers make. This brings us to our next section:

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The Purpose Of Fertilizer

Plants need certain elements to grow and thrive. They receive most of these elements by absorbing them from the soil. Turf grass is no exception. The grass plants need certain nutrients to grow and look the way we want them to look. If nutrients are limited or unavailable in the soil, lawn growth and quality may be affected. So, the purpose of fertilizer applications is to add those essential elements to the soil.

Clemson Universitys Home & Garden Information Center explains that the primary nutrients lawns need are nitrogen , phosphorus , and potassium . These are needed in the greatest quantities. The secondary nutrients needed are calcium, magnesium, and sulfur. These are required less frequently and in smaller quantities.

Lime applications can serve as a source of calcium and magnesium. Fertilizers provide the primary nutrients: N, P, and K. They may also provide small amounts of secondary nutrients.

Fertilizing At The Wrong Time

“Many homeowners don’t follow a lawn fertilizer schedule. They fertilize when they think their lawn needs it, when they have time or when the stuff is on sale.

Here’s when to fertilize lawn: If your lawn fertilizer schedule is once per year, apply it around Labor Day. Thats when your lawn is the hungriest and when it will respond best to the nutrients it receives. Fertilizing at this time will help replenish food reserves after a long, stressful year of growing and before the harshness of winter sets in.

If your lawn fertilizer schedule is twice per year, apply the second application about the middle of October. This acts like a second helping of much-needed food going into winter. A third application can be added in mid to late spring and can be combined with your crabgrass preventer. A fourth application, if you feel the need, can be added mid-summer. Watch the weather when applying midsummer fertilizers. Fertilizing during hot, humid weather can harm your lawn. An exception would be using an organic fertilizer. They are much more lawn friendly during the dog days of summer.

In the spring, apply just enough fertilizer to help green up your lawn. About half the normal amount will do. Even without fertilizer, your lawn naturally grows quickly as soon as temperatures become consistently higher. Have you ever noticed that grass grows fastest in the late spring and early summer? Why promote even more growth at this time by fertilizing?

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Common Mistakes To Avoid When Buying Fall Lawn Fertilizer

Applying lawn fertilizers seems like a fairly straightforward process. However, there are several mistakes that people make, especially when it comes to choosing products.

Here are 3 mistakes you should avoid:

Failing to Do A Soil Test

Anytime you want to fertilize your lawn, the first thing you should do is to perform a soil test.

This lets you know the specific nutrients that your lawn is missing. As a result, youre able to choose a fertilizer with a suitable NPK ratio. For instance, if your lawn is low in nitrogen, then a fertilizer with 30-0-10 or something similar works best.

At the same time, you shouldnt focus on only the macronutrients. Many times a soils pH level and/or deficiencies in key micronutrients can prevent your grass from utilizing the fertilizer you spread. This can mean youre just throwing money away because your grass wont ever use your fertilizer!

A soil test might reveal the need for micro-nutrients as well . If this turns out to be the case, look for a fertilizer that contains both the macro and micronutrients. There are good options out there.

Ignoring State Regulations About Fertilizer Applications

Did you know that up to 11 states forbid the use of phosphorus fertilizers on lawns? Thats right!

So before you rush to buy any lawn product, familiarize yourself with local and federal laws related to fertilizer use. The last thing you want is to find yourself on the wrong side of the law.

Buying Too Much Fertilizer

Which Fertilizer Should I Use In Spring

BioAdvanced Triple Action 30

Feeding your grass in spring is essential to a beautiful lawn, but which fertilizer should you use? Heres what we recommend.

A lawn needs food to grow thick, green, and lush. The benefits of a well-fed lawn extend beyond good looks, though. When you feed your lawn throughout the year, it will emerge greener and stronger after the winter, can crowd out future weeds, and will be more resilient in the face of heat and drought.

To start the growing season off right and give grass the nutrition it needs to grow after a long winter, your lawns first feeding should be in the spring. Which fertilizer solution to use depends on where you live, what type of grass youre growing, and any lawn problems that might be present. Heres what we recommend.

If you live in the North:

Fertilize your Kentucky bluegrass, bermudagrass, perennial ryegrass, tall fescue, or fine fescue lawn with Scotts® Turf Builder® Triple Action, which tackles three important tasks with a single application. First, it will give your lawn the nutrients it needs to get thick and green this spring, helping the grass establish deep roots so it will stand up stronger to heat and drought later in the growing season.

Then, 6 to 8 weeks after using Triple Action, apply Scotts® Turf Builder® Lawn Food according to label directions to continue giving your lawn the nutrition it needs to keep growing strong.

If you live in the South:

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Fall Fertilizing: Essential Tips To Make Your Yard Grow

Read this guide to learn why autumn is the best time of year to fertilize your yard.

Fall is here and it’s time to fertilize. Why fertilize your lawn in the fall? Taking the time to fertilize in the fall will strengthen your plants’ and lawn’s roots, giving them a strong base on which to thrive next spring.

The first thing to understand about fertilizer is the formula, which is represented by three numbers, such as the common 5-10-5. The first number represents nitrogen, which promotes lawn blade and foliage growth the second number stands for phosphorus, which helps root growth and the third for potassium, which promotes cell function and absorption of trace elements. But what do you fertilize? When? And with what? Let’s start with your lawn.

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