Best Lawn Fertilizer Schedule: How Often To Fertilize A Lawn
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Lawn fertilizer schedule: Fertilization is one of the most important things for your lawn to keep it evergreen and healthy because it supplies all essential nutrients for lawn grass and plants. Sometimes, it may be referred to as the life of your lawn grass. It maintains the desired green color of your lawn. So, for a lawn owner, it is very important to gain some primary knowledge about fertilizer schedules. It is the combined factor of some easy well-known tasks like the proper time of fertilization, the proper amount of fertilizer, and the proper way of fertilization.
If you want to be a lawn expert you must follow the schedule that you have made at the primary level of your lawn. You must make a preplanned schedule of fertilizer that will be convenient for your tasks and will make your work ease. A healthy green lawn largely depends on how you deal with your fertilization schedule. If you have made any mistake in your schedule you can not achieve your desired goal.
If you do care, you can follow the schedule that I am going to tell you in some easy way. First of all, you must give your attention to this article and follow the schedule slowly. Dont be so hurry. So, lets go.
Contents
Wait To Fertilize Your Lawn
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Dont let an unseasonably warm day fool you into fertilizing your lawn. The timing, nutrient ratio and amount of lawn fertilizer depends on the variety of grass youre working with but generally, fertilize when grass is actively growing. Although one type doesnt fit all situations, here in the eastern piedmont we have success with both warm and cool-season grass varieties that are adapted to our location. Getting the perfect lawn depends on what your needs are for use, looks, wear and tear as well as available resources of time and money. Proper fertilization is certainly a part of putting together a workable plan.
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How Soon Can I Fertilize My Lawn
The warmer spring days have sprung and the grass is beginning to green up, so when should you apply fertilizer? Dont get caught up in the early spring fever rush, because fertilizing too soon can be a waste of time. Fertilizer is generally composed of three different nutrients: nitrogen , phosphorus and potassium . The recommended rate for spring fertilizer is 1lb of nitrogen per 1000 square feet. Different blends and products determine how long the application will last, how often it needs to be applied, and even how to apply it .
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How Often To Fertilize
How often to fertilize depends on whether you go with an organic or synthetic fertilizer. Because they give quick color boosts that dont last very long, youll need to apply synthetic fertilizer much more often.
However, dont go over 4 applications a year. Then youre just spending a lot of time and money making your grass grow crazy fast, meaning you have to mow more often, and more nitrogen leaches into waterways, groundwater, and the surrounding environment.
With organic fertilizers, youll only need to fertilize once, maybe twice, a year for the best effect.
Using A Handheld Broadcast Spreader
A handheld broadcast spreader works well for fertilizing small lawn areas. Walk evenly and slowly, and be sure to overlap distribution patterns slightly with each pass. A small spreader like this also works really well when you have shady areas in your lawn that require a different fertilizer rate than the sunny sections. Some fertilizers combine an herbicide with the lawn food. These products are sold as weed-and-feed lawn care products and are applied using a lawn spreader.
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Fertilizing Warm Season Grasses
Warm-season grasses grow best when the temperature range between 80 and 95 degrees, which means their window for growth tends to be a lot narrower than their cool-season counterparts.
Plan on fertilizing this kind of lawn once a year in the spring, which will prep your grass for its relatively fast summer growth.
Best Time Of Day To Fertilize
The best time to fertilize is also the best time to mow: between 8 to 10 AM or 4 to 6 PM, although this will depend on weather and water factors. Here are a few guidelines to follow:
High heat and fertilizer dont mix, especially with cool-season grasses. Asking cool-season grasses to absorb high amounts of nitrogen while surviving heat or drought will not end well for your lawn.
Wait until the grass dries from morning dew or rain before applying fertilizer. Droplets will weigh grass blades down, preventing fertilizers from evenly reaching the soil.
While you can fertilize before a light rain if youre expecting a big rainstorm, wait. Synthetic fertilizers will wash away before they even have a chance to absorb.
Dont wait too long in the evening to fertilize, as grass needs time to dry out a bit before the cool nighttime temperatures. Wet grass is more susceptible to fungal diseases.
Only fertilize when the grass is growing, not when its gone dormant.
Find out about the ideal time of day for fertilizing plants:
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The Best Times To Apply Fertilizer
Whether youre a seasoned turfgrass fanatic or a first-time lawn owner, fertilizer schedules arent always the easiest to track throughout the year. Have no fear! Were here to help you keep up with when to fertilize your lawn, what type of fertilizer to use, and even how to organically care for your lawn if conventional fertilizers arent your thing.
Bermuda Zoysia & Centipede
Early Spring
Omit fertilizer for these months. Your grass will be dormant, and you dont want to promote growth during this time.
Pre-emergent exception: You may apply a low nitrogen fertilizer and pre-emergent combo from late February to early March to prevent weed seeds from germinating. An example of a low nitrogen ratio is 0-0-7 with pre-emergent.
Limestone: During early spring, conduct a soil test to determine if the pH of your soil is too acidic. If the results of your soil test pH are too low, apply lime to your lawn. We recommend Pelletized Dolomitic Limestone.;
Spring
When all of your grass is green and completely out of dormancy, apply 16-4-8 + Iron to Bermudagrass and Zoysiagrass.
Since Centipedegrass likes low nitrogen, apply 5-10-30 + Iron to it. Centipede fertility is a little different than other lawns so read our Fertilizer Tricks for your Centipede Lawn.
Organic Lawn Care Alternative: Instead of applying fertilizer, topdress your lawn with Soil3 organic humus compost. This will act as one application of fertilizer for the year and cut down on your chemical use.
Mid- Summer
Apply 16-4-8 + Iron as your final application of fertilizer for the year.;
Fall and Winter:
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For A Homeowner: When Is The Best Time To Apply Fertilizer
Depending on the fertilize you use, you need to fertilize your lawn 2 4 times per season. If your fertilizer is very high quality, and slow release, two to three times is sufficient as long as your lawn is getting the nitrogen and potassium it needs to have a healthy season. If you opt for the quick release fertilizers, go for three to four applications but always remember that more isnt necessarily better. The quality of fertilizer, applied properly within the appropriate season is the secret, not the frequency. Its always better to under apply, and add more than to over apply. Its extremely difficult and time consuming to remove fertilizer from a lawn, and without specialized tools its not very effective. Make sure you use a spring fertilizer in the spring and use the summer on in the summer, etc. etc. etc. Stay on top of your fertilizing every year. Even as little as one season missed will require much more time and attention to get the lawn back into shape. It’s very important to follow a watering schedule every week. That will be key to making sure the fertilizer is working.
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Hi, I’m James Szojka
James is an lawn care blogger and thought leader in the business community. He resides in Calgary and is a thought leader in the lawn care business.
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Hire A Professional Lawn Care Services
If you are not sure how to go about fertilizing your lawn or simply do not have the time, hiring a professional lawn care service could really save you. Lush Lawn has been serving the Southeast Michigan area for nearly 15 years. Our technicians have the equipment and experience to take care of all of your lawn application needs. We will work around your schedule to ensure your grass is at its healthiest and your yard is at its most beautiful. Contact us today for a free estimate on services!
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Debating The Use Of Fertilizer On The Lawn
Whether or not you should use fertilizer on a lawn depends on where you stand on organic or low impact-to-chemical gardening practices. Organic gardeners bemoan the use of any chemicals as lawn fertilizers. The main concern is the fertilizer run-off can enter the local water supply. There is good evidence that shows phosphorus and nitrogen from lawn and agricultural fertilizers are contaminating streams, rivers, and groundwater supplies, creating a pressing environmental problem.
There are a few organic methods of feeding a lawn safely. You can choose to use a mulching mower that chops up grass into fine particles that then break down on the lawn. Horticultural experts say that throughout the season, this technique provides a lawn with as much nitrogen as one complete application of lawn fertilizer. You can also use organic fertilizers made from natural materials instead of refined chemicals. Organic-labeled fertilizers will indeed feed your lawn, though they are usually less saturated with the essential nutrients than the industrially refined fertilizers.
Pre-emergent herbicides are a combination of fertilizer and crabgrass control herbicide applied in the early spring. This combination product does not have a full feeding of fertilizer. This small dose of fertilizer slightly boosts grass growth and keeps it alive, while the herbicide in the product restricts crabgrass seedling development.
When To Fertilize Cool
The best time to fertilize cool-season grasses is in the spring and fall when theyre growing most vibrantly.
Spring: apply fertilizer after the last frost when the grass thrives again, between April to June, depending on your location.
Fall: apply fertilizer just before the trees drop their leaves, from late August to October, depending on your location. Fertilize well before the first frost date, as you dont want to encourage your grass to grow in time for frost to kill it.
If youre using organic fertilizer like compost and only want to fertilize once, fertilize in the fall. The extra compost will help shelter your grass and the soil over the winter.
It also gives the beneficial microorganisms in your grass time over the winter to break down the organic matter into nutrients. This gives your lawn a head-start come spring.
If youre fertilizing twice a year, apply a light amount of fertilizer in the spring and a heavier fall.
Dont fertilize in the summer, especially when the grass has gone brown. The grass is fine. Feeding synthetic fertilizer will not make it turn green. Instead, force-feeding it nitrogen when its dormant is just going to stress it out and could even kill your lawn.
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Testing Your Soil Profile
Before fertilizing your soil, you should perform a soil test to see which nutrients it may need more or less of. Some people test their soil once a year, in spring or fall, to avoid taking corrective steps several years apart.
In some areas of the country, soils may be naturally low in one or another mineral. When grass grows, it takes nutrients from the earth to build its structure, so over time, you have to supplement these in the soil for a healthy lawn.
More than likely, if youre following your schedule, fertilizing to give your lawn a regular boost of nutrients will keep it in normal balance. However, if it has been an especially wet year with flooding and/or high growth, your soil may be more depleted than usual.
Blog: When Is The Best Time To Fertilize My Lawn
Every year, millions of Canadians love seeing the weather begin to get warmer and the days grow longer as Winter makes its transition into the Spring. One area some people either adore is the lawn care season. The two options homeowners have is: do it themselves or to hire it out. In respect to hiring it out, if you select a high quality fertilizer / weed control service company, they will take care of everything for you. But if youre looking to do it yourself, knowing when to fertilize your lawn is just as important as which fertilizer you choose and how you do it. This blog will be focused on Cool Season Grasses which geographically covers all Provinces of Canada, and all the boarding states from Washington State to North Dakota.
This is a blog to know when to fertilize your lawn. This means knowing how soon after the snow has melted, and how many times you need to do it each season. Let’s explore the three most common myths for when to fertilize:
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Rotary Spreader With Fertilizer
Tip: Before filling the hopper of a rotary spreader, make sure its closed. Also, consider filling the hopper over a tarp so you can easily gather any spilled fertilizer.
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Tip: Before filling the hopper of a rotary spreader, make sure its closed. Also, consider filling the hopper over a tarp so you can easily gather any spilled fertilizer.
Nitrogen is every lawn’s most important ingredient, and each type of grass demands different amounts to display peak growth and performance. How often you fertilize affects not only lawn appearance, but also maintenance level. The more you fertilize, the more you’ll have to mow, for instance.
More: How to Choose the Right Fertilizer
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.
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Best Fertilizer For New Jersey Grass
There are two main types of lawn fertilizerwhich is best for your lawn depends on the type of grass you have.;
For yards that struggle with weeds, you might want to consider a granular fertilizer that kills weeds while supporting your lawns nutritional needs. This is known as the weed and feed approach to fertilizing. There will be many granular fertilizers to choose from wherever you buy garden supplies.;If your weeds are already under control, then the best fertilizer for green grass will be nitrogen-rich.;
To choose a good lawn fertilizer in NJ, youll want to first conduct a soil test to determine your lawns unique needs. These can be purchased at landscaping or garden stores, or you can contact a lawn care professional in NJ to help you test your soil and identify your lawns nutritional needs.
Can I Fertilize My Lawn Every Two Weeks
Many lawn owners fertilize their lawn every two weeks. But this is really harmful to your lawn. Many lawn professionals recommended that fertilization in every 6-8 weeks is best for your lawn. Many suggested that fertilization in every 4 weeks interval and some other suggestions that twice or thrice in a year is best for your lawn. But you must avoid fertilization when your lawn is going to dormant or remain dormant in cool-season. Only you fertilize your lawn when your lawn grassroots and blades are active growth.
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How To Fertilize Your Lawn In New Jersey
There are a lot of steps to fertilizing your lawn: Youve gotten your fertilizer picked out, have a fertilizing schedule planned, and have checked the weather forecast to make sure there arent any thunderstorms coming. Now what? How do you actually fertilize your lawn?
To fertilize your lawn, youll want to find a spreader to distribute your fertilizer evenly. Improperly applying fertilizer or adding too much can burn your lawn or damage its health. Youll also want to be prepared to waterdepending on the fertilizer youre using, you might need to water immediately after application or allow time for the fertilizer to soak in. No matter what, make sure to read and follow the directions on your fertilizer bag carefully and store any remaining fertilizer far away from children and pets.;
If you run into any issues with lawn fertilization in New Jersey, consider reaching out to local lawn care experts. At Healthy Lawn, our team of licensed professionals has years of experience providing lawn fertilization in New Jersey, and wed be happy to help you test your soil, establish a lawn fertilizer schedule, or identify the best fertilizer for your NJ grass. Give us a call today at !
