Does Granular Fertilizer Need To Be Watered In
All fertilizers should be watered-in. This ensures that the product will be washed into the soil and become available to the grass through the roots. The best way to water-in fertilizer is to do it naturally, with rain. Try to time the application of fertilizer just before an expected rainfall of at least 1/4 inch.
Do You Fertilize Before Or After Seeding
You can fertilize your lawn before or after overseeding. Both tactics work to feed your new grass seed. Its best to fertilize within 3 days of seeding. This means you can spread your starter fertilizer a few days before you lay down your seed or a few days after. Both are far more beneficial for a healthy lawn than going without fertilizer.
When To Fertilize New Grass: Secrets From Lawn Care Pros
No one likes having a patchy lawn. So last year you decided to do something about it. You seeded new grass into problem areas and waited for it to grow. Grow it diduntil it started dying off. What happened? How can you stop this from happening again and get your lawn back to the healthy, vibrant green you remember? Lawn care professionals understand that knowing when to fertilize new grass can make the difference between a thriving yard and grass that is less equipped to handle the brutal Southern heat.
In this post, well discuss when to fertilize new turf, the difference between lawn starter fertilizer and regular fertilizer, how often to apply starter fertilizer and the answer to the question: When should I fertilize my lawn after seeding?
What Will I Learn?
Don’t Miss: Horticultural Molasses Nutgrass
Are There Circumstances Where You Shouldnt Use A Starter Fertilizer
When it comes to situations where a starter fertilizer for grass isnít required, Landschoot advises, In some cases, a 1- or 2-inch layer of good quality compost amended into soil before establishing turf will provide more than enough nitrogen and phosphorus for optimum establishment. This is certainly the case with bio-solids or manure-based composts which contain significant amounts of nitrogen and phosphorus, so a starter fertilizer is not needed.
You should not use starter fertilizer in areas where you cannot control runoff. Nitrogen and phosphorus from indiscriminate use of fertilizers have caused such great environmental concerns that about half the states in the U.S. have imposed some sort of regulations on fertilizer use.
If your lawn is not rich in natural organic matter, nitrogen plays an important role. Addressing soils that arent amended with organic materials Landschoot continues, In cases where soils are not amended with compost, nitrogen is almost always needed for rapid establishment. Our research shows a greater influence of nitrogen compared to phosphorus on the rate of turf establishment, so if you cant use phosphorus , an application of 1 lb. quick-release nitrogen per 1,000 sq. ft. will speed up seedling development.
How Should Starter Fertilizer Be Applied
Once youve received your soil test, selected an appropriate starter fertilizer for your soil and know the needed amounts, applying it over the lawn area is relatively basic. Just pour the required amount into a standard fertilizer spreader and evenly apply the starter fertilizer over the planting site. Once applied, work the product 4 to 6 inches into the soil, if you are planting grass seed or sod after the application. If you are applying the product after you apply grass seed, spread the product over the soil and water into the soil.
When it comes to using a starter fertilizer for new sod or grass seed, thereís a definite benefit to its use to promote the healthiest growth and establishment of your lawn in the quickest amount of time. Of course, donít go overboard with its use and think more is better. As with many things in life, too much of a good thing can be bad and too much starter fertilizer for your developing lawn can affect it negatively through burning. A soil test takes the mystery out of what your soil lacks and lets you know what strength of starter fertilizer your grass requires and how much. Used properly, it wont be long before your bare feet are enjoying the feel of your healthy lawn.
Don’t Miss: Trugreen Weed Control Cost
Fall Seeding And Fertilizing
Contrary to popular opinion, fall is the best time of the year for lawn care. Fertilization, weed and thatch control, establishment of new lawns, and renovation of poor quality lawns should be done over the next few weeks.
Seeding in the FallYour most successful seeding time is right around Labor Day. Seeding 2 weeks before or after that easy-to-remember holiday gives your new seedlings time to build strong roots. Reseeding in the fall gives you a thick, lush lawn at the start of spring. One that easily fends off weeds and stands up to summer stress. In fact, overseeding with grass seed and fertilizer in the fall can make your lawn up to 49% thicker next spring!
Blue Seal Lawn Seed offers an elegant, dark-green uniform lawn with the legendary durability and low maintenance requirements of tall fescues. Once established, it tolerates traffic, heat, drought, shade and poor conditioned soils, while requiring less fertilizer and water than other cool-season grasses. Germinates best in warm soil, early fall or late spring. Seeding Rate: 200 sq. ft./lb. 400 sq. ft./lb. .
Fertilizing in the FallFall conditions are great for lawns. Grass roots start to store nutrients the grass will need when it wakes up again in the spring. So you want to help those roots grow by fertilizing. Your best bet is to feed once in early fall and once more about 6 to 8 weeks later, around Thanksgiving. Deliver the nutrients grass needs to get through the winter and come up strong the following year.
How Do You Know If Grass Seed Is Germinating
The label on a grass seed package provides important information, including the germination rate. A rate of 90-95% is preferred, but some grass varieties will typically be found in the 80% range. The higher, the better. An 85% germination rate means that if you plant 100 seeds, 85 of them should sprout and grow.
Also Check: Does Lowes Service Lawn Mowers
How Often Should I Fertilize My Grass
lawnsfertilizertograsswhenfertilizergrassto fertilizewhengrassHere are the easy, step-by-step instructions for overseeding your lawn:
How Long After Planting Grass Seed Can You Walk On It
After seeding, avoid walking on your lawn for at least 4 weeks. Seedlings germinating below the topsoil are extremely fragile. Even if you cant see them, they can be damaged or killed by foot and vehicle traffic. Young grass sprouts are also very susceptible to being damaged or uprooted by walking on them or mowing.
Read Also: What Kills Violets But Not Grass
What Nutrients Are Most Important For A New Lawn
Generally speaking, you are best to fertilize your lawn as one of the final steps prior to laying down sod or planting new grass seed. Grass requires a range of nutrients to achieve its full growth potential, and most important are nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium .
The problem is that most grass fertilizers contain these nutrients in percentages designed to stimulate existing grass growth, and these concentrations are often not the same as required by new grass. Therefore, its important that you understand what these fertilizer numbers mean and use them to help you select the best product.
Most grass fertilizers have either too high of a concentration of N, P and K or take the form of so-called weed and seed fertilizers, and neither of these are sufficient for newly sprouted grass seedlings nor freshly laid sod. Freshly laid grass seed or sod requires easy access to these essential nutrients.
The problem is that most fertilizers are actually too strong and will end up causing fertilizer burn or completely killing your newly planted grass. Similarly, the various weed and seed fertilizers are also not sufficient for new grass, as these products generally contain various additional chemicals that can actually stop grass seeds from sprouting or can harm or even kill the new seedlings.
Let Abc Nurture Your New Grass For You
Does implementing a year-round fertilization schedule sound like a lot of work? It can be if you do it all on your own. Plus, there are many ways that you can make a mistake, which will put you right back at square one. Avoid these problems by letting ABC Home & Commercial Services do the hard work for you. Our professional lawn care technicians have been keeping lawns all across the south looking their best for generations, and we can help your yard, too. Schedule a service today.
Also Check: How To Bring My Lawn Back To Life
Can You Put Grass Seed On Top Of Grass
Overseeding is spreading grass seed over an existing lawn. Done right, its a straightforward process that gets results. As grasses mature, thinning is normalespecially if you enjoy your lawn and use it often. Overseeding keeps your lawn competitive and steeped in youth and vigor, without starting over from scratch.
Determining The Type And Amount Of Fertilizer For Your New Grass
Since the fertilizer you choose should be based on soil makeup and growth area, start by learning those two things.
Measure the square footage of the new grass youre trying to grow in order to determine how much fertilizer you need to purchase. Then get a soil test done to learn which nutrients are present in your soil and which ones youre lacking.
Having a soil test done may sound complicated, scary, expensive or all three, but its actually really easy. In most areas, there are a number of options available to you. Texas A& M even allows you to send in soil samples and get results back!
Once you know the makeup of your soil, you can determine which fertilizer ratio is best for your lawn. Many homeowners discover that their lawns already contain enough phosphorous and potassium and opt for nitrogen-only fertilizer.
If you do use phosphorous, be careful. Phosphorous levels can easily build up too much in soil, resulting in runoff that ends up in surface waters. This is bad for the environment because it can harm fish habitats and increase algal blooms.
Some homeowners are also looking for advice on choosing an eco-friendly fertilizer for your lawn. As more options become available, organic fertilizers have grown in popularity as individuals are working to find a balance between growing and maintaining a healthy lawn and minimizing the use of chemical products on their property.
Read Also: Stay Off My Lawn Signs
Dethatch Before You Overseed
A thick layer of thatch forms a barrier between the grass and the soil. If you spread grass seed on a lawn with heavy thatch, the seed will not reach the soil. Without soil contact, your grass will not sprout and establish itself. Check the thatch layer in your yard and dethatch if necessary before seeding.
- Thick thatch prevents grass seed from reaching the soil where it can root.
- Rent a dethatcher or power rake to remove thatch buildup before overseeding.
- Thatch soaks up water and fertilizer, robbing nutrients and moisture from the soil and grass seed.
In addition to preventing your grass seedlings from taking root, thick thatch also acts like a sponge, absorbing water and fertilizer before it can penetrate the soil. Fertilizing on thick thatch will be far less effective. Removing thatch prior to overseeding helps you deliver more lawn starter fertilizer to your grass seeds.
Should You Fertilize After Dethatching
Yes, you should fertilize after dethatching. Your grass has not been able to receive the nutrients and water it needs, and you need to help it recover. Once you finish dethatching and watering your grass, you can fertilize.
You can use either a liquid quick release or a granule slow release fertilizer. Use a fertilizer that is rich in nitrogen in the spring and early summer, but as the winter approaches, you can change to one that is rich in phosphorus to prepare for the winter.
Recommended Reading: How To Remove Mold From Plastic Outdoor Furniture
Related Guide For Should You Seed Or Fertilize Your Lawn First
Should I use fertilizer in the spring?
The very best time to fertilize your lawn is in the spring, when the soil temperaturenot the air temperaturereaches 55º Fahrenheit. You’ll know when the soil warms up to 55º because the lilacs will begin to blossom and the grass will start growing.
When should I start fertilizing my lawn in the spring?
Apply early spring lawn fertilizer once between February and April, when your grass is starting to green up and begin to actively grow .
Do you water after fertilizing lawn?
Fertilizer and Water
After grass dries, apply fertilizer. Then lightly water again. This second watering is vitally important, because it washes fertilizer off grass blades and into soil. You can also time fertilizer application between rainfalls to let rain wash fertilizer into soil.
When should I fertilize my lawn?
To ensure optimal health, fertilize heavily in the fall and lightly in early spring. You can choose either slow- or quick-release fertilizer types, but be sure to apply the treatment before the temperatures peak in summer when these grasses will most likely go dormant.
Boost Seed Growth With Compost
Compost is an excellent natural fertilizer, but theres one catchthe nitrogen in compost is contained in uric acid, and uric acid evaporates quickly when exposed to light. So, a thin layer of compost spread over your lawn will quickly lose most of its fertilizing power. There is a solution though. If your lawn was recently aerated it has thousands of tiny holes. You can spread compost over a recently aerated lawn to fill these holes and inject nitrogen-rich fertilizer into the soil.
- Compost is a great natural fertilizer that boosts grass seed growth.
- Only spread compost on your lawn if it has recently been aerated. Compost will retain more of its nitrogen content when it is used to fill aeration holes.
- Rake a thin layer of compost over your grass seedsit may lose most of its nutrients but it will serve as a protective layer to keep seeds moist and safe from birds.
Its a great idea to spread compost after aerating and overseeding. The compost will fill the aeration holes to funnel nutrients in the soil. Excess compost on the top of your grass seeds will keep them protected from drying out.
Also Check: How Do I Get Rid Of Rust In My Lawn
When And How To Fertilize Your Lawn
In some ways, lawns are a lot like people. Operating at the peak of beauty and performance requires a good diet and proper care. Lush, thick, green lawns depend on properly timed, properly balanced nutrition to look and grow their best. Understanding when and how to fertilize your lawn can help you and your grass stand out from the rest.
Return To Regular Maintenance
Keep your newly revived lawn looking its best with a regular, comprehensive maintenance plan that includes diligent watering, best mowing practices and proactive overseeding. A simple weekday lawn maintenance schedule can keep your lawn lush and your weekends free.
For a simple, all-in-one approach to a thicker lawn, you can put your lawn on the fast track with Pennington Lawn Booster. This easy-to-use product simplifies overseeding to give your lawn the boost it needs. In just one application, your lawn will grow quicker, thicker and greener than ordinary grassguaranteed.
Available in formulas for sun & shade or tall fescue lawns, Lawn Booster combines three essentials: seed, fertilizer and soil enhancer. Lime-enhanced, pure-bred Pennington Smart Seed, backed by years of breeding and research, adds beauty and sustainability. Once established, these water-conserving grasses require up to 30 percent less water than ordinary grasses. That’s year after year, for the life of your lawn. Plus, they stay green up to three weeks without watering. That means less work and more leisure time for you.
For the lawn of your dreams, don’t wait to overseed until your lawn looks less than its best. Give your lawn the boost it needs, step-by-step or all-in-one. Pennington’s here with premium grass seed and lawn care products to help you keep your lawn at its peak.
Pennington, One Step Complete, Smart Seed, and Ultragreen are trademarks of Pennington Seed, Inc.
Also Check: Spike Aerator Lowes
How Do You Pick Up The Thatch After Dethatching
There are several different ways to pick up thatch after you finish dethatching. You can use a lawn sweeper that attaches to the back of your tractor. They also have push lawn sweepers. This is an easy way to pick up the thatch, and it works well if you have a larger yard.
Another option is to use a rake and rake up the thatch. Then, you can bag it or place it in your compost pile. You will want to use this method of clean up on small yards when you dont have a lot to clean up. It can get tiring to rake a large yard by hand.
If you have a leaf blower, you can use it to pick up the thatch. You will still need to get it to a central location such as your compost pile or bag it to go out. Leaf blowers can be noisy, but they work well if you have one.
No matter which method you use, make sure that you pick up the thatch after you finish dethatching. You need to make sure that the debris isnt left behind to settle back in and prevent your grass from receiving the nutrients and water it needs.