Granular Fertilizers Vs Liquid Fertilizers
Granular lawn feed as the name suggests is composed of granules of fertilizer. Liquid fertilizer on the other hand consists of a water soluble particles that mix with water to form a liquid solution.
Liquid fertilizers get absorbed almost immediately, directly through the roots and leaves. And Depending on the quality of the lawn beforehand, you may need to apply the liquid fertilizer about once or twice a month.
Some granular fertilizers on the other hand will only require two applications per year, and this is because they release their nutritional value to the soil far more slowly than their liquid fertilizer counterparts.
How Often Should You Put Epsom Salt On Your Lawn
Some homeowners like to use Epsom salt as a natural lawn fertilizer in the spring to facilitate lush green growth. Epsom salt contains magnesium, which is key to seed germination, chlorophyll production, and improving the uptake of nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur.
To try this method, add 2 tablespoons to each gallon of water used on the lawn. If you have a sprinkler system, lightly sprinkle the salt directly atop the grass and then allow the system to water it into the sod.
Where And When Should Fertiliser Not Be Used
You should not use fertiliser meant for use in the spring in the autumn or winter months spring fertilisers encourage plant growth which is not needed in the winter months where the harsher temperatures and weather conditions can damage any new plants. Always make sure you are using the right sort of feed for the time of year. There is also no real need to apply fertiliser to frozen ground or very dry ground as it will not be absorbed properly. When applying fertiliser you should be careful to not allow fertiliser to enter water sources like rivers or lakes as this can be harmful.
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Finally Apply Fertilizer In The Winter
The winter fertilizer application should you get one helps maintain color and health throughout the cold months.
Now, if you are a diehard do it yourself, you can apply the applications yourself.
However by the time you buy the needed fertilizers and chemicals and factor your time, the cost will be about the same.
Most people dont know this, but if you tackle it yourself, you should work with a good local supply company, such as your local CO-OP, or your locally owned lawn and garden shop. Heres why, typically these stores will have a more knowledgeable staff than the big box stores.
How To Use Granular Fertilisers
To ensure even coverage, use a fertiliser spreader. Check the packaging for the suggested spreading rate, and try to work on an overcast day or in the late afternoon/early evening.
Once youve applied the granules, water off the fertiliser from the grass to prevent burn damage. Do this after application and again the next day, then water regularly for the next 3 weeks to supplement the growth.
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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 avoid the use of any chemical products 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.
How Regularly Should You Fertilize Your Lawn
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There’s no doubt that lawns need fertilizer, but it’s easy to make mistakes, like applying the wrong nutrients or fertilizing at the wrong time. If you fertilize your lawn when it doesn’t need it, you’re essentially throwing money away, so it’s essential to apply fertilizers at the right time, and use no more than necessary.
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How Much And Which Fertilizer To Use
Lawn fertilizers fall into three categories: granular slow-release, liquid water-soluble, organic, and synthetic. In most cases, granular slow-release fertilizer is the best to use because it slowly feeds and releases nitrogen into the grass over a period of months.
For the amount of fertilizer to use, the rule of thumb is to apply no more than one pound of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet of lawn in a single feeding. How this translates into the exact fertilizer amount depends on the percentage of nitrogen in the fertilizer. If you use a fertilizer with a high percentage of nitrogen, such as 30-0-4, you will need less fertilizer than when using a 24-0-5 fertilizer. Always follow the directions on the fertilizer label.
The only way to know for sure how much fertilizer your lawn needs is to do a soil test in a specialized laboratory . Everything else is mere guesswork and overdoing the fertilizer can be more detrimental to the lawn than using no fertilizer at all. While you can fix an overfertilized lawn, in the absence of a soil test, being a minimalist is the safest approach to avoid problems in the first place.
What Does Dormancy Mean
Plant dormancy literally refers to a state during which a perennial plant is sleeping . It is a defense mechanism plants have to help them through hard times, such as periods of cold, heat, or drought. It is a temporary state of metabolic inactivity or minimal activity. The plant may look dead, but it’s really just sleeping.
Warm-season grasses go totally dormant in winter in all but the warmest areas of the U.S., such as South Florida: They’re hitting the pause button and just waiting for winter to be over, after which time they’ll pick up where they had left off.
Cool-season grasses go dormant in summer . Cool-season grasses also experience a period of semi-dormancy in winter . However, activity can remain vibrant at the root level for them throughout winter: They are building reserves for their big growth spurt in spring.
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No Matter What Fertilize Your Lawn
As you can see, there are a number of different options for applying fertilizer throughout the year. The baseline program for lawn fertilization is to dispense fertilizer to cool season grasses in the early fall and to warm season grasses in the late spring beyond that, you can choose based on your lawn health and your level of commitment whether you need a more rigorous program.
Keep in mind, as well, that some lawn care enthusiasts rely on mulching alone to fertilize their lawn. Others do not agree with using chemical fertilizer products and find other ways to nurture their lawn with essential materials.
Whether you are a beginning lawn care enthusiast or a seasoned pro, there is no one right way to fertilize your lawn. Choose the plan that is right for you based on your time commitment, cost considerations and overall lawn health.
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Why Use Lawn Fertiliser
Most lawns will grow fairly well in the UK without needing the application of a lawn fertiliser. However, if you want to improve the general health and appearance of your lawn, using a fertiliser can be a good way to ensure your grass gets the nutrients it needs to stay healthy, green and lush. Proper use of lawn fertiliser can keep your lawn in good condition and will encourage strong, dense grass growth. Not only does lawn fertiliser improve the appearance of your lawn but it can also help your turf to recover from wear and tear and the effects of any harsh weather conditions. Keeping your turf well fertilised with a balanced nutrient programme can also stop your lawn from becoming weak, patchy and thin which can make the grass more susceptible to moss and weeds. Lawns in poor conditions are also more likely to be affected by diseases.
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What Happens If You Use Too Much Fertilizer On Lawn Grasses
If you use an immoderate amount of fertilizer on lawn, the salt and nitrogen level will rise in the yard, and you may receive brown patches with crunchy yellow leaves on your lawn. Also, spreading more fertilizer can burn the grass, causing it to turn brown. So, to avoid this mishap, follow the fertilizer packages directions and only apply the recommended amount.
How To Apply Fertilizer To Cool
Don’t fertilize a dry lawn. Instead, wait until the day after a rain, when the soil is moist. It’s also best to time your application so there’s at least a few days before the next rain so your fertilizer doesn’t get washed away before it gets absorbed into the soil. Calculate how much fertilizer you’ll need for your lawn. Use a spreader or broadcaster, walking your lawn in a regular pattern to scatter the fertilizer as evenly as possible.
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Apply Your Fertilizer When Grass Is Growing
No matter how frequently you fertilize your lawn, the rule of thumb you should follow is that you should apply fertilizer while your grass is growing the fastest.
Over applying fertilizer runs a big risk to your yard:
- Its bad for the environment, since runoff pollutes local streams.
- It runs the risk of burning your grass, which is when you sap grass of natural nutrients causing it to brown.
- Lastly, youre wasting money by buying too much fertilizer.
Use The Right Spreader
When applying lawn fertilizers, always use a lawn spreader. Never spread product by hand! A broadcast spreader with a side-shield feature like the EdgeGuard® feature is great for most lawns. This makes application along the lawn’s perimeter easy by shutting off half the spreader flow, so product is only applied on the lawn and not on non-lawn areas like the driveway, sidewalk, or landscaping. A drop spreader is another option for small spaces because the application area is much narrower. Learn more about which spreader is right your yardby reading our article “Which Spreader Is Best for Your Yard?”
Fill the spreader hopper with your lawn fertilizer, then set the spreader to the recommended setting listed on the product package. If the product package does not provide a spreader setting, it is not intended for lawn use.
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Do You Apply Lawn Fertilizer Before Or After Rain
After Rain, The Soil Will Absorb Nutrients Better
It is best to do so after rain. After rains, your lawn is in good condition to absorb nutritional compost and get the most of its nutrients.
Rainwater from the heavy rain may still be present in the topsoil layers, mixing with your fertilizer and surrounding the plant roots. It is more difficult to sprinkle nutritional compost on arid soil that hasnt had rain in a long time.
Here are some pointers to assist you in taking care of your garden and keeping it healthy.
Too Much Lawn Fertilizer
Applying too much lawn fertilizer can adversely affect your grass, such as burning the leaves, promoting excess growth, and encouraging thatch build-up. These problems can lead to a less healthy lawn that is more difficult to care for. The best way to avoid these problems is to consult a horticulturist and have your soil quantity tested to guarantee that you are applying the right amount of fertilizer for your lawn.
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When To Apply Popular Us Fertilizers
Below is a guide detailing how often to apply popular U.S. lawn fertilizers such as Scotts or Pennington. It also states the key features of the fertilizer. Please note that the table only lists the multi-purpose fertilizers. There are fertilizers available for specific grass types such as St Augustine or Bermuda however, the products below are suitable for all types of grass.
Please note that the table below includes Amazon Affiliate links.
*NPK = Nitrogen, Phosphorous, Potassium
Understanding Whats In Your Lawn Fertilizer
When choosing a fertilizer, youll need a basic understanding of the fertilizers NPK rating.
NPK rating is the fertilizers levels of:
- Phosphorous, and
For a standard lawn, a good choice for your first application of the season is around a 20-5-10 NPK rating.
That means the fertilizer is comprised of 20% nitrogen, 5% phosphorous, and 10% potassium. Those three are the primary nutrients for grass, similar to how people need a proper balance of macro nutrients to thrive.
- Nitrogen makes your lawn grow and green quickly, and its essential throughout the season.
- Phosphorous promotes healthy root development. Thats why its recommended to apply high phosphorous fertilizers early in the season to help your grass develop strong roots early. If you water regularly and well, your lawns roots will be able to withstand drought and dryness in the hottest part of summer. However, Phosphorous in high concentrations is bad for the environment, so more places are regulating the allowed amounts or banning it altogether.
- Potassium promotes overall grass growth for a healthy, balanced lawn.
Synthetic fertilizers are more potent and have higher NPK ratings, while organic fertilizers have lower ratings.
The higher potency of synthetic fertilizers is why they have more immediate results in making your grass green. However, thats also why they are unsustainable.
Synthetic fertilizers inhibit your lawns ability to fend for itself, since the fertilizer replaces its natural processes.
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How To Fertilize The Lawn
Discover how easy it is to feed your turf with fertilizer. For best results, start with an easy and inexpensive soil test, which tells you how much fertilizer to apply and what formulation to use.
Follow the directions on the fertilizer bag most fertilizers are formulated to supply about 1/2 to one pound of nitrogen per feeding.
Step 1Step 1Determining Fertilizer Type
Lawn fertilizers are distinguished by the N-P-K numbers on the front of the bag. These letters stand for Nitrogen , Phosphorus and Potassium and represent the percentage by weight of each of those nutrients in the fertilizer. Nitrogen helps plants grow and green up, Phosphorus stimulates deep root development and Potassium provides all around health and disease/drought resistance. Choosing the right combination depends on a number of variables including sunlight exposure and climate.
Step 2Step 2Measure Out Fertilizer
Follow the directions on the bag carefully. Determine the size of your yard then measure out the right amount of fertilizer. Depending on the measurement, using the whole bag may mean you’re applying too much or too little. Never apply more fertilizer than the soil test or fertilizer label instructs. Even distribution is key. A great way to do this is to use a quality spreader, which ensures that the nutrient particles are evenly over the lawn, which will keep the health and colour consistent throughout.
Choosing The Right Lawn Fertilizer Product
All lawns are different, and selecting the right fertilizer product to meet your lawns needs may seem overwhelming at first. Dont worry. Scotts has the right product to meet all of your lawn fertilizer needs. All Scotts® Turf Builder® granular fertilizer products feed for up to 2 months, and each application should be spaced 6 to 8 weeks apart.
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How Much Fertilizer To Apply
When it comes to fertilizer, more is not always better. Applying too much fertilizer can do more harm than good, leading to brown patches and bare spots and even destroying your grass entirely.
A general rule is to apply 1 pound of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet of lawn. However, its always best to follow the directions on the fertilizer package since different products contain different levels of nutrients.
Pro Tip: NPK of 16-4-8 contains 16% nitrogen, 4% phosphorus, and 8% potassium. All lawns need these three elements for proper growth, although the ideal proportions may vary depending on the type of grass.
To Figure How Much Nitrogen Fertilizer To Apply To Lawns:
- Divide rate of nitrogen desired by percent nitrogen in bag
- Multiply answer found by square footage of lawn and divide by 1,000
EXAMPLE: 15-5-10 fertilizer, 7,000 sq ft, want to apply 1 lb. nitrogen/1,000 sq ft
- 1 pound divided by .15 = 6.66, round to 6.7
- 6.7 multiplied by 7,000 = 46,900 divided by 1,000 = 46.9, or 47 pounds
Therefore, need about 47 pounds of 15-5-10 fertilizer to cover entire lawn
After calculating how much to apply, when to apply is the other important decision. Early fall is a key time for fertilizing lawns in northern Illinois. The schedule below outlines when to apply based on how many applications are to be made annually and desired lawn quality. Use controlled-release nitrogen fertilizers in May and September and a fast-release source in late fall. Consider Mother’s Day, Labor Day and Halloween as reminders or favorable times to fertilize lawns in nothern Illinois.
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Is It Ok To Apply Fertilizer In The Rain
Using Fertilizer Before Rain Not only will the fertilizer be ineffective, but you will have wasted the money you put into it as well. Its fine to spread your fertilizer before it rains as long as its more mild or light conditions. Contrarily, its not usually healthy to fertilize your lawn during a drought.
How Often To Fertilize Lawn
Over-fertilizing is a thing. If once a year is right for your lawn, stick with that and dont get carried away. Fertilizer can be a valuable tool to keep a lawn healthy, dense and looking great, but it can also create environmental concerns if not used responsibly. Follow the label instructions on your fertilizer as each product has unique specifications and needs.
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