The key to having the lawn that will make you the envy of all your neighbors is fertilizer. Fertilizer is rich with nutrients that are not always found in soil, but are essential for your grass to be healthy. The three most important minerals that are in fertilizer are: nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. These ingredients give your soil the nutrients that it is missing in order for your grass to grow healthily, lush and green. From weeds and everyday wear and tear, a lot of good nutrients are taken out of your lawn, and fertilizer puts it back in.
If you happen to have a lot of time to devote to the task of creating and maintaining a lush lawn, then there are quite a few things that you need to know about fertilizer.
No Two Lawns are Exactly the Same
Lawns are all different and therefore require different percentages of each vitamin in their growing processes. On each fertilizer bag, there are three numbers separated by dashes, such as 12-24-12. Each number corresponds to how much of each element is in each bag. The first number is for nitrogen, the second is for phosphorus, and the third is for potassium. Nitrogen gives grass its’ green color in addition to its thickness. Phosphorus helps your lawn to maintain strong roots, and potassium helps your lawn become resistant to drought and sickness. You need to have a proper understanding of how nutrient-rich your grass already is, because having too many vitamins can backfire. Having a professional assess your lawn will make your fertilizer-buying experience an easier task, and you will have more knowledge about which combination is the best for your lawn.
Know the Right Time of Year
Depending on where you live and what type of grass is growing in your lawn, you’ll need to plan to fertilize at different times of the year. In the south, we have warm season grasses. This means that these grasses grow the best in hot weather and should be fertilized before the temperature reaches between 80 and 95 degrees.
Go Organic?
This is more of a personal preference, but whether you choose to purchase organic or chemical based fertilizers can have an effect on your lawn. They each have their benefits and their downfalls:
Benefits
Organic:
- Better for soil overall
- Releases nutrients over time instead of all at once
- Flexible formulas
- Various forms
- Better for environment
- Easier to maintain healthy lawn after a few uses
- Better for the environment
Chemical
- Available almost everywhere
- Variety of formula combinations
- Inexpensive
- Easy application process
Downfalls
Organic
- Slow release
- Limited availability
- Can attract bugs
- Pets will be inclined to roll around in it
- Some forms of organic fertilizer are harder to use
- Not available everywhere
Chemical
- Short life-span
- Absorbs moisture easily when in storage
- Chemical run-off
- Could possibly decrease soil fertility
- Some nutrients are missing
- Sometimes there is too much phosphorus
It’s important to weigh the benefits and the problems that each type of fertilizer can have before making a purchase. Having a professional do this process for you can teach you which type is better for you and your lawn.
Frequency
Overall, you need to fertilize when the health of your lawn is in bad condition. How to determine how your lawn is doing? Use a soil test once or twice a year. They are easy to use and will tell you the pH level of your lawn, which will tell you how healthy or unhealthy your lawn is. If for some reason doing a soil test is unappealing to you, you can tell that your lawn is suffering if it looks pale or won’t grow. When applying, it is recommended to use a very little amount and just water more frequently and follow the instructions on the bag.
Confused? Intimidated?
If you’re standing in the lawn care section of your home improvement store and can’t decide which fertilizer to buy, or how to read your soil test, it may be time to call in a professional. Landscaping companies offer their clients fertilization services that will assist them about how to fertilize their lawns. These companies have employees that have the knowledge to provide the best service to give your lawn the care that it needs so that it is the lushest and greenest lawn in the neighborhood.
If you would like an estimate of your lawn, or would like a soil test performed, call us at (407) 268-6222.
