What’s The Best Fertilizer For Your Lawn

Apply A Late Season Fertilizer Application

To ensure good winter survival and early-spring green-up, make this fertilizer application when the turf has stopped growing but is still green, usually in mid- to late October. Timing is critical. Fertilizer applied too early will promote succulent growth in the fall that will make the lawn more susceptible to winter injury. Fertilizer applied too late will be of no benefit to the turf. If you make a late-fall fertilizer application, spring fertilization can be delayed until late May to early June. The application rate for this time of the year is the same as for the early fall application .

Jonathan Green & Sons Inc Winter Survival Fall Fertilizer

Jonathan Greens winter survival fall fertilizer is a late-fall fertilizer its low in nitrogen and has a nutritious quantity of potassium. As temperature decreases, wed like our lawns to decelerate.

When you apply too much fertilizer, it forces the grass to grow rather than preparing it for surviving in winter. Therefore, decrease the amount of nitrogen given to your lawn prior to the onset of the cold winter season.

The 10-0-20 analysis provides just adequate nitrogen to restore your lawn after a hectic summer and to jump-start it the following season. The potassium will also protect your grass from possible snow mold action and extreme cold constraints.

• It sets up your lawn for the harsh winter season.
• There is less amount of nitrogen.
• It promotes strong root growth.

Cons

How To Estimate Fertilizer Needs

The easiest way to estimate your fertilizer needs is to measure your surface area of grass. Take a measurement of width and length to calculate square footage. If you cant do this, then strategic guessing is your next best option.

In general, every eight steps is approximately 10-feet of space. Try walking your lawn from side-to-side on the length and width. You can at least get a basic idea of how much space you need to cover. For a visual guide, think of a standard tennis court that is 36-feet by 78-feet.

For misshaped lawns, consider these calculations:

• Triangles: Figure out the length and width of the triangles. Multiply the two numbers together and divide by two. This will give you the surface area.
• Circles: Find the center of the circle and walk out to the edge. Multiply this number by 3.14 to get the surface area.

When youre done with your calculations, add them all together to get the full surface area of your lawn.

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When Is The Best Time To Fertilize Your Lawn

The best time to fertilize your lawn is generally during the growing season. However, the growing season is different depending on what type of grass you have.

Warm season grasses, which are more common in the south, include bermudagrass, zoysia, St Augustine and Zoysia. These types of grass tend to grow the fastest during summertime, hence the name warm season. So, generally youll want to fertilize late spring through early fall. However, if you live in an area thats prone to drought, do not fertilize if the lawn isnt recieving ample water.

Cool season grasses such as Fescue, Kentucky Bluegrass and Perrenial Ryegrass, tend to grow fastest during Spring and Fall, which is when you should be fertilizing them. Do not fertilize cool season grasses in the summertime

The exact timing of fertilization varies based on geography and grass type in order to get the best and most up-to-date information, visit the website of your states turfgrass extension.

Summer Fertilization Considerations For Warm Season Lawns

For these grass types, you could go a couple different ways. You would take up the nitrogen and push them hard during summer, or, you could just do more frequent light applications. It really depends how often you want to mow really. Just know, if you want your bermuda, St Augustine or Zoysia to thicken up, push it harder during the summer. I have for sure noticed this season that Bermuda and Zoysia are starting painfully slowly. Now that it looks like we have some heat on the way, now is the time to start pushing.

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How To Keep Your Lawn Healthy And Lush

When fall comes around, leaves begin to fall and certain summer plants start to die. As the temperature changes, certain types of grass may thrive, while others may struggle to keep growing.

If you find yourself dreading the season changes every year because of what it does to your lawn, youre in luck. Not only can a good fertilizer protect your lawn from turning brown or dying out, but also there are several tried-and-true ways to keep your lawn looking its best throughout the year.

Milorganite Garden Care Organic Fertilizer

For those who are both environmentally conscious and looking for a lush green yard, Milorganite 0605 is a top-notch organic nitrogen fertilizer that will boost the lushness of your lawn. Milorganite is not the best smelling product out there thats the price you pay for going organic. But it does work. If you cant find it, Milorganite 0636 is another great choice.

This Earth-friendly lawn food is made of organic composition, which is just a fancy way of saying heat-dried microbes from waste matter. Dont worry, its not from human waste, but rather byproducts of Milwaukee establishments, such as the MillerCoors plant. Milorganite is heated to kill microbes and tested for safety, and it works for new lawns and established lawns alike. Few things will bring out the green in an eco-friendly way like Milorganite. Pair it with blood meal and your lawn will look incredible.

• Granules

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Why Fall Is The Best Time To Fertilize

Its not unusual to fertilize your lawn in the spring, but don’t let the cooler temperatures of autumn fool you. Fall actually is the best time to fertilize the grass, even better than springtime. After the summer’s heat and humidity, grass regains its strength before winter with a good fall fertilizing. Fertilizing now also helps grass develop a thick and deep root system, so it can better survive next summer’s heat.

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.

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What Is Scarifying And Aerating

• These two practices involve removing dead root material from a lawn and ventilating the root system in the growing season when the underlying thatch becomes a visible problem.

Aeration is carried out to enable air to get to the roots. It aids drainage and also allows water, minerals and nutrients to reach the roots. Its done by using a spike roller, fork or a hollow tining machine to punch holes into the soil.

Scarifying is a process where a rotary-type mower is used to cut into the soil. Bolts or pins are fitted to the rotary blade and the mower is then set to its lowest setting. This is followed with an application of fertiliser and lawn booster.

Scarifying puts the lawn under stress as it is torn rather than cut. This can make it susceptible to disease and there is the possibility of cutting the live root system. An alternative is to get a professional to dethatch or verti-cut your lawn. That is to remove the zone of dead grass roots that builds up below the soil surface. This process rips into the grass vertically, tearing into the roots and cutting them vertically, leaving a lot of roots intact to immediately start growing.

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How Do I Deal With Weeds Pests And Diseases

Weeds: Most weeds are broad-leafed and are quite simple to get rid of using the correct selective weed killer for broad-leafed plants. Always follow the instructions on the label exactly. This is not a case of the more you apply, the more they die. Avoid mowing your lawn before you apply the herbicide. Allow 24 hours to pass after applying it before watering or mowing your grass.

Insects: Carry out a pest control regime on a regular basis so that destructive insects dont reach a point where they destroy your lawn completely. Change the insecticide frequently to prevent pests from building up a resistance to any one type. Use organic products whenever possible.

Lawn diseases: The difficult aspect of disease control is identifying the specific disease. Its often best to ask your local nurseryman for advice. Some diseases may require you to apply fertilisers. Others will thrive on even the smallest amount of nitrogen in a fertiliser application. If a disease is noticed on a lawn, aerate the soil as soon as possible. Most diseases flourish in areas with poor drainage, heavy traffic and poor soil fertility.

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Best Balanced Lawn Fertilizer

Get the Price!

WHY WE LIKE IT: With a perfect blend of key macronutrients, this Simple Lawn Solutions Balanced Lawn Food will leave your grass happy and healthy.

Its NPK ratio of 16-4-8 makes it excellent for nourishing all grass types, from Florida Palmetto to Kentucky Bluegrass. This liquid fertilizer works wonders on new lawns, providing lots of nutrients that promote healthy root growth. Its easy to apply and works quickly, so its totally hassle-free.

WHO SHOULD BUY IT: This is the right fertilizer for people looking to promote healthy new grass growth with a safe, nutrient-rich formula.

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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Application Liquids Or Granular

When you are choosing the best fall fertilizer for lawns, understanding your nutrition needs is just the beginning. The real work is in the labor of application. This application is primarily affected by what kind of fertilizer do you go for-liquid-based or granular.

Liquid-based fertilizers are either available in a ready liquid mix or available in water-soluble form. These are mostly high intensity, used for multiple applications, and quicker results. You may run behind on your fertilizing schedule. In case you have some catching up to do, this could be the right choice.

But there is a flip side. These liquids from fertilizers can contaminate the environment around them. Especially if there are children and pets around. Or if any edible vegetables are growing around. They also run the risk of being washed away and have to be used in large quantities.

The granular fertilizers provide nutrition for your lawns for an extended period. The slow-release system provides a steady stream of food for the grass. The process is much more spread out and is more akin to the natural way. That makes it the best fall lawn fertilizer in many peoples opinion.

Best Fertilizer To Feed Your New Grass Seed And Protect It From Weeds

Planting grass seed in the spring can be a challenge for several reasons. Your biggest headache will be battling all those weeds that are trying to germinate at the same time as your grass seed. Weed growth is severe in the spring and it will choke out those tiny seedlings as they try to grow.

The perfect way to combat this is to use Scotts Turf Builder Starter Food For New Grass + Weed Preventer, a starter fertilizer containing mesotrione. Its one of the few pre-emergent herbicides that will prevent weed growth, including crabgrass, but still allow the new seedlings to grow unharmed.

If you need to seed your lawn in the spring, dont use a conventional fertilizer with pre-emergent herbicide. It will kill your new grass. Fertilizers containing mesotrione are the only way to go.

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Why Use Organic Fertilizer

Organic lawn fertilizer provides vitamins and minerals that your lawn uses to stay lush and green. This specialized variety of fertilizer might include animal proteins derived from processed animal products or waste, potash, seaweed, manure, compost and corn gluten meal.

Organic lawn fertilizer applied two to three times a year can take the place of many artificial treatments depending on the nutrient requirements of your lawn. It is important to remember that fertilizing is only one component of sound maintenance practices for a healthier lawn.

Leave The Lawn Cut At The Right Height

Raise the mowing height slightly in the fall. Rooting depth is proportional to mowing height – the longer the leaves, the deeper the roots. Longer grass blades provide some insulation for the crown of the grass plant. However, if the grass is too long going into the winter, it will become matted, which encourages winter diseases such as pink and grey snow mould.

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Water Deeply But Not Too Often

• Too much watering can lead to poor growing conditions and disease problems.
• Water only when your lawn needs it, usually no more than once a week when there is no rainfall.
• Apply at least 2.5 cm of water. Put a tuna or pet food can on your lawn to measure how much you’ve watered. Stop watering when it’s full.
• Consider the soil type and surface features. Grass growing on compacted, fine soil or on slopes needs lighter, more frequent watering.

Characteristics Of Nitrogen Fertilizers For Home Lawns

In addition, a variety of special lawn fertilizers may be found. Winterizer fertilizers are typically high in potassium, and although advertised for fall application can be applied in spring as well. Potassium is used all year by grasses, and is involved in heat and cold tolerance, disease resistance, and other stress tolerances. Weed and feed products contain a broadleaf weed killer for weeds such as dandelions others contain a preemergence herbicide to control crabgrass . Lawn starter products, typically high in phosphorus, are intended for newly seeded lawns and freshly laid sod.

There are a variety of organic sources of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium available to the homeowner. As mentioned earlier most organic fertilizers are derived from plant or animal sources. Plant sources would include alafalfa and cottonseed meal and seaweed. Examples of animal sources would include bone meal and the manures from chickens, cows and horses. Yet another source comes directly from mother nature in the form of rock phosphate for a source of phosphorus and green sand for a source of potassium. Find and use products that are locally available whenever possible to keep the input costs down.

In this section : Planting and Maintenance

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Natural Alternative Fall Lawn Fertilizer

The next name, on our list, is indicative of the new age approach towards lawn care. And the strategy is Natural Alternative. The best fall fertilizer for lawns can only be the best if it is the best for the environment as well.

The NPK ratio boasts of a substantial percentage of Nitrogen and the ample presence of potassium. Natural Alternative boasts of the absence of phosphorus, which all people widely recognized as a contaminant.

3 lbs of Natural Alternative fertilizer can fertilize for 1000 sq. ft. lawn. The package covers 6,000 sq. ft. -a perfect amount for most mid-sized lawns.

Other than the very essential Nitrogen and potassium, the formula also has the right amount of iron. It helps in giving the grass the deep saturated green that stands out in the neighborhood. Nutrients are not enough for a perfect spring lawn.

After the dry summer months, the soil has to come back to life. The organic-based ingredient and microbes give a new experience into the ecosystem. It all belongs to the earth.

The microbes make it easier for the soil to absorb the nutrients that, in turn, feed the grass itself. If the soil is not fertile, a lot of the water and nutrients will percolate down out of the reach of the green.

The presence of healthy microbes also creates a layer of protection against pathogens, bacteria, and bug infestations.